ci_biodiversity_hotspots
created_on
2023-05-04T13:11:58.897529
updated_on
2024-10-04T16:27:25.374890
resolution_description
nan
geographic_coverage
Global (land only)
citation
Conservation International. “Biodiversity hotspots.” Accessed through Global Forest Watch on [date]. www.globalforestwatch.org
title
Biodiversity hotspots
source
Conservation International
license
[CC BY SA 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
overview
First defined in 1988 by scientist Norman Myers, biodiversity hotspots are areas characterized by high levels of endemic plants coupled with significant habitat loss. Specifically, a region must meet the following criteria to achieve Conservation International’s hotspot classification:<br><br>- At least 1,500 species of vascular plants (>0.5% of the world’s total) are endemic<br>- At least 70% of the original natural vegetation has been lost<br><br>When Myers first defined the term, he identified 10 tropical forest hotspots. The need to pinpoint priority conservation regions led Conservation International (CI) to adopt the term and reassess the hotspot concept. In this process, CI introduced quantitative thresholds (see above) and added additional regions. At that time, there were 25 hotspots. Because of the constant change in environmental threats and the improved understanding of biodiversity, CI has since revisited the hotspots to refine boundaries, update information, and add new regions. This process produced an additional 10 hotspots, bringing the total to 35.
function
Displays Conservation International’s biodiversity hotspots—defined regions around the world where biodiversity conservation is most urgent because of high levels of endemism and human threat
cautions
This layer only displays the land-based portion of biodiversity hotspots, although some hotspots extend offshore
why_added
Show important areas for biodiversity globally
id
c592bc24-3755-46fa-a3e6-79d82c27c6db