Environment and Ecology Part 2: Biodiversity Hotspots — Himalaya to Western Ghats, Exam-Ready Notes

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Civil ExamsCivil Services1 min read

India sits across four of the world 36 hotspots; the criteria are two numbers.

On this page

  1. The four
  2. Criteria and counts
  3. Ethics and law
  4. Revise in 30 seconds

The four

  • Himalaya; Indo-Burma; Western Ghats-Sri Lanka; Sundaland (Nicobar islands).

Criteria and counts

  • Hotspot bar: at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species plus 70% habitat already lost.
  • India: about 45,000 plant species, roughly a third endemic; four hotspots on one map.

Ethics and law

  • Summit and sea-level hotspots differ in threat drivers: grazing and dams vs plantations and mining.

Revise in 30 seconds

  • Four hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, Sundaland.
  • Criteria: 1,500 endemics AND 70% habitat lost.

Quick revision

  • Himalaya; Indo-Burma; Western Ghats-Sri Lanka; Sundaland (Nicobar islands).
  • Hotspot bar: at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species plus 70% habitat already lost.
  • India: about 45,000 plant species, roughly a third endemic; four hotspots on one map.
  • Summit and sea-level hotspots differ in threat drivers: grazing and dams vs plantations and mining.
  • Four hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, Sundaland.
  • Criteria: 1,500 endemics AND 70% habitat lost.