7 Biodiversity Hotspots Around the World That You Should Know

Madagascar is the world’s second-largest island after Indonesia and is over 150 million years old. Filled with rare species of plants and animals, scientists believe 85% of the island's animals and 90% of the plants are endemic, which means they can only be found there. Threats to the island’s biodiversity include decreased rainfall, deforestation, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Stretching along the eastern coast of Brazil, the Atlantic Forest region is considered Latin America’s most important region for biodiversity aside from the Amazon Forest. The Atlantic Forest contains 250 species of mammals, 340 species of amphibians, 1,023 species of birds and 20,000 species of trees. With only 12% of the original forest remaining, the top threats to this region include illegal logging and climate change.

Located along North America's Pacific Coast, California's Floristic Province is home to some of the tallest trees in the world as well as over 8,000 plant species. The coastline’s unique trees include the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood, both of which are endangered. Threats to California’s biodiversity include rising sea levels, habitat loss, pollution, and urbanization.

This region of South Africa contains 9,000 species of plants, 69% of which are found nowhere else in the world. Notable plants in the Floristic Region include the king protea (South Africa’s national flower), the Red disa, and Clanwilliam cedar. The main threats to South Africa’s Floristic Region include agricultural and urban expansion as well as ecosystem degradation.

The Philippines is commonly referred to as “Asia’s Pearl of the Orient” due to the island’s rich culture and beautiful landscape. The Philippines is home to more than 52,000 species, making up 70% of the world’s biodiversity. This biodiversity hotspot contains some of the highest concentrations of critically endangered species on the planet, with threats including invasive species, land degradation, and climate change.

If you’ve ever vacationed in Thailand, you know why this beautiful country has made the list! As one of the most biodiversity-rich countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand contains 15,000 plant species, making up 8% of the global total. Unique animal species that call Thailand home include the Asian Elephant, Sunda Pangolin and Indochinese Tiger. Thailand’s rich biodiversity is threatened by deforestation due to agricultural practices, illegal timber harvesting, and increased floods and draughts due to climate change.  

This region extends from western Venezuela to northern Chile and Argentina, and includes portions of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The Tropical Andes contains the highest number of plant and animal species, making it the leader of the 36 biodiversity hotspots. Of the 30,000 species of plants found in The Tropical Andes, roughly 50-60% of these plants are considered endemic. It also contains 570 species of mammals, with the majority being rodents and bats. Threats to the tropical Andes include mining, overexploitation of species and deforestation.