Biodiversity hotspot

As biodiversity hotspots regions of the world are referred to, in which a large number of endemic plant and animal species found and their nature is particularly vulnerable.

Most of these regions are distributed around the equator. The countries in which there are hotspots which cover less than 10 percent of the earth's surface, but are home to 70 percent of the global abundance of life ( the living beings). The common area of the 34 appointed hotspot regions corresponds to only 2.3% of the total land area of the earth. Originally covered the 34 hotspots once 15.7% of the land surface of the earth. 86 % of the habitat of the hotspots have been destroyed by man. 2.3% of the global land area is home to 50 % of all plant species, 55 % of all freshwater fish species and 77 % ( 22,022 ) of all land vertebrates. Based on the observed number of land vertebrates in the hotspots of the total number of species occurring in the hotspots is however far more appreciated. In terms of endemism in the hotspots was found that 42 % of all terrestrial vertebrates and 50 % of the world's flora occur only in the 34 identified biodiversity hotspots.

A similar concept is that of the mega diversity countries. However, it applies only to States.

Development of the research field

Conservation biologists have found that it is globally considered regions with a large density of endemic species, which are usually near the equator. The concept of biodiversity hotspots was developed by the biologist Russell Mitter Meier and Norman Myers in the late 1980s. The trigger was perceived as a dilemma question of which areas have the greatest importance for the protection of species. The aim was to combine conservation efforts meaningful world.

Mitter Meier had primate conservation programs around the world analyzed from the viewpoint of priorities. He found out that most countries are home to two-thirds of all four species of primates. He expanded his investigation from other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and selected groups of insects. The term biodiversity hotspot itself coined in 1988, the British biologist Myers. As a biological basis for the identification of a region as a hotspot where the diversity of plant species was used. The background to this was that the identification and recording in plants is less expensive as well as that depends on the diversity of other species of the existing plant resources. Myers led by both dimensions plant endemism and habitat loss through categorizations of biogeographic regions.

1990 supplemented Meyrs already designated hotspot areas to further eight hotspots. Among these were four areas with a Mediterranean climate. 1996 revised the non-profit organization Conservation International, whose focus of the protection of " biodiversity hotspots ", the list of the most vulnerable hotspots.

Criteria

Conservation International initially laid down two strict criteria according to which a region is identified as a hotspot:

1999 CI identified 25 biodiversity hotspots according to these criteria in the book Hotspots: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions. In 2005, the organization posted an update entitled Hotspots Revisited: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions.

The criteria used for the identification of biodiversity hotspots are controversially discussed in the professional community. Firstly, the question is raised whether the threat to biodiversity should be included in the definition of a hotspot. Second, the consideration of other groups of organisms or the observation of animals by plants leads to different results.

The biodiversity hotspots by region

North and Central America

• California Floristic Province
• Caribbean Islands
• Subtropical mountain forests of Mexico and the southwestern United States ( Madrean Pine - Oak Woodlands )
• Mesoamerica

South America

• Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest )
• Cerrado
• Valdivian Rainforest (Chilean Winter Rainfall - Valdivian Forests)
• Tumbes - Chocó - Magdalena
• Tropical Andes

Africa

• Kapflora (Cape Floristic Region)
• Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
• Region in the African mountains and in the south of the Arabian Peninsula (Eastern Afromontane )
• Guinean Forests of West Africa - Guinean forest of West Africa
• Horn of Africa
• Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands
• Maputaland - Pondoland - Albany
• Succulent Karoo

Europe and Central Asia

• Caucasus
• Irano - Anatolian (Iraq Anatolia )
• Mediterranean ( Mediterranean Basin )
• Central Asian mountain range ( Ural )

Asia -Pacific

• East Melanesian Islands
• Eastern Himalayas
• Indo- Burma
• Japan
• Mountain range of southwest China ( Mountains of Southwest China)
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Philippines
• Polynesia - Micronesia
• South Australia
• Sunda ( Sundaland )
• Wallacea
• Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

Biodiversity hotspots of national importance in Germany

Across Germany, 30 biodiversity hotspots were identified using data from the Habitats Directive habitat types and the occurrence of different species groups. They have a particularly high density and diversity of characteristic species, populations and habitats. The hotspot regions are spread all over Germany and comprise approximately 11 % of the country. The natural area typical variety of landscapes, habitats and ecological communities, and the region-typical, natural and historically developed biodiversity of these areas is to be maintained. Because of this, a concept is developed for each hotspot and exemplary actions are implemented. A long- term security of hotspots to be achieved through " regional partnerships " from cities and towns, conservation stakeholders, and economic and social partners.

Strategy to protect biodiversity hotspots

After the regions with special high species richness and a particularly precarious protection situation had been identified, several programs have been launched. The concept of hotspots is now part of many global institutions such as the MacArthur and Moore Foundations, the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility. In addition, many NGOs working on protection of hotspots. A total of $ 750,000,000 (2003) have been invested in the implementation of the strategy so far. This is the largest sum ever invested in a conservation project.

The thesis of the hotspots is based on the fact that conservationists can not protect all endangered species with the existing funds from donations. Therefore, the activists had priorities when planning their activities shall be: Where can be achieved with the existing money of the largest " conservation value "?

The biodiversity hotspots are situates in most cases in social and economic development and emerging markets. Therefore, in most cases, logistical and financial support from Western states and organizations part of the strategy.

Twelve mega diversity countries met in 2002 in Cancún, Mexico and joined the declaración de Cancún, who joined up in 2003 two more states.