This ppt contains the full package of the Hotspots of India. It contains all the details of the endemic as well as endangered species in all the four hotspots . Its made in such a way so that its easy to understand to every single pupil who is going through this presentation.

1. HOTSPOT-
INDIA AS A MEGA
BIODIVERSITY
HOTSPOT PRESENTED BY:
MAINAK DHARA (53)
KAUSTABH GANGULY(55)
NAYAN SENGUPTA(51)
LOKNATH DAS (54)
ISHANI JOARDER(56)

2. BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
❖ A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region that is both
a significant reservoir of biodiversity and is threatened with
destruction.
❖ Concept was first introduced by Norman Myers , in a paper
published in the journal Nature.
❖ The hotspots represent an opportunity to help conserve the
diversity of life on earth.
❖ To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot on Myers 2000 edition of
the hotspot-map, a region must meet two strict criteria: it
must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular
plants as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70% of
its primary vegetation.

3. Criteria:
❖ It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants
(> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics.
❖ It has to have lost ≥ 70% of its original native habitat.
❖ 36 hotspots have been identified all over the world , most
of them are located in tropical areas.
❖ These sites support nearly 60% of the world’s plant , bird
mammal, reptile, and amphibian species , with a very high
share of those species as endemics.

4. Hotspot conservation initiatives
❖ Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a global program
that provides funding and technical assistance to nongovernmental
organizations and participation to protect the Earth's richest
regions of plant and animal diversity .
❖ The World Wide Fund for Nature has derived a system called the
"Global 200 Ecoregions", the aim of which is to select priority
Ecoregions for conservation within each of 14 terrestrial, 3
freshwater, and 4 marine habitat types.
❖ Birdlife International has identified 218 “Endemic Bird Areas”
(EBAs) each of which hold two or more bird species found
nowhere else. Birdlife International has identified more than 11,000
Important Bird Areas all over the world.

5. BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN INDIA :
❖ Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region (and
that falling in Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China and
Myanmar).
❖ Indo-Burma: Includes entire North-eastern India, except
Assam and Andaman group of Islands (and Myanmar,
Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China).
❖ Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands (and
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines).
❖ Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Includes entire Western Ghats
(and Sri Lanka).

6. INDIA AS MEGA BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
❖ India is rich in biodiversity from north to south & from east to west.
❖ 15,000 species of flowering plants, 53,430 species of insects; 5050
species of molluscs, 6,500 species of other invertebrates; 2,546
species of fishes; 1228 species of birds, 446 species of reptiles, 372
species of mammals and 204 species of amphibians have been
identified. India’s biodiversity is estimated to be over 45,000 plant
species representing about 7% of the world’s flora and India stands
tenth in 25 most plant-rich countries of the world. Its variety of
animal life represents 6.5 percent of world’s fauna.
❖ To preserve the rich biodiversity, nine biosphere reserves have been
set up in specific biogeographic” zones: the biggest being in the
Deccan Peninsula in the Nilgiris covering Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, and Karnataka. Others include the Nanda Devi in
Uttarakhand in the Western Himalayas, the Nokrek in Meghalaya,
Manas, and Dibru Saikhowa in Assam, the Sunderbans in the
Gangetic plain in West Bengal, Similar in Orissa, the Great Nicobar
and the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu.

7. THE HIMALAYAS
❖ The Himalayan region, with its diverse
climatic conditions, is home to many
uncommon, endemic and endangered
species of flora and fauna.
❖ Biodiversity surveys in the past decade
have identified 31 mammal species, 209
bird species, 12 reptile species, nine
amphibian species and 125 insect species.
❖ Amongst the fauna are 218 species of fish,
74 species of amphibian, 149 species of
reptile, 528 species of bird and 241 species
of mammal. The animal life of the
Himalaya is distinctly different from that
of the plains.

8. OVERVIEW
Stretching in an arc over 3,000 kilometers of northern
Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the northwestern and
northeastern states of India, the Himalaya hotspot includes
all of the world's mountain peaks higher than 8,000 meters.
This includes the world’s highest mountain, Sagarmatha (Mt.
Everest) as well as several of the world’s deepest river
gorges. This immense mountain range, which covers nearly
750,000 km², has been divided into two regions: the Eastern
Himalaya, which covers parts of Nepal, Bhutan, the
northeast Indian states of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and
Arunachal Pradesh, southeast Tibet (Autonomous Region of
China), and northern Myanmar; and the Western Himalaya,
covering the Kumaon-Garhwal, northwest Kashmir, and
northern Pakistan. While these divisions are largely artificial,
the deep defile carved by the antecedent Kali Gandaki River
between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains has been
an effective dispersal barrier to many species.

9. VITAL SIGNS

10. SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM :
Taxonomic group Species Endemic species Endemism(%)
Plants 10000 3160 31.6
Mammals 300 12 4
Birds 977 15 1.5
Reptiles 176 48 27.3
Amphibians 105 42 40
Freshwater Fishes 269 33 12.3

11. INDO-BURMA
❖ Encompassing more than 2 million km² of tropical
Asia, Indo-Burma is still revealing its biological
treasures.
❖ Six large mammal species have been discovered
in the last 12 years: the large-antlered muntjac,
the Annamite muntjac, the grey-shanked douc,
the Annamite striped rabbit, the leaf deer, and
the saola.
❖ Bird life in Indo-Burma is also incredibly diverse,
holding almost 1,300 different bird species,
including the threatened white-eared night-
heron, the grey-crowned crocias, and the orange-
necked partridge.

12. OVERVIEW
The Indo-Burma hotspot encompasses 2,373,000 km² of
tropical Asia east of the Ganges Brahmaputra lowlands.
Formerly including the Himalaya chain and the associated
foothills in Nepal, Bhutan and India, the Indo-Burma hotspot
has now been more narrowly redefined as the Indo-Chinese
subregion. The hotspot contains the Lower Mekong
catchment. It begins in eastern Bangladesh and then extends
across north-eastern India, south of the Brahmaputra River,
to encompass nearly all of Myanmar, part of southern and
western Yunnan Province in China, all of the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Cambodia and Vietnam, the vast
majority of Thailand and a small part of Peninsular Malaysia.

13. Hotspot original Extent 2,373,057
Hotspot Vegetation Remaining 118653
Endemic Plant Species 7000
Endemic Threatened Birds 18
Endemic Threatened Mammals 25
Endemic Threatened Amphibians 35
Extinct Species 1
Human Population Density 134
Area Protected 235758
Area Protected(km^2) in Categories i-IV 132283
VITAL SIGNS

14. SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM :
Taxonomic group Species Endemic species Endemism(%)
Plants 13500 7000 51.9
Mammals 433 73 16.9
Birds 1266 64 5.1
Reptiles 522 204 39.1
Amphibians 286 154 53.8
Freshwater Fishes 1262 553 43.8

15. SUNDALANDS
❖ Sundaland, also referred to as the Sundaic area, is a
bio-geographical area of south-eastern Asia.
❖ Sundaland hosts 25% of Earth’s fishes and 17% of
Earth’s birds. Some of the animals found in the
Sundaland include Proboscis monkeys, Komodo
dragons, Asian Arowanas, Java hawk-eagles, Bali
starlings, and pig-tailed langurs.
❖ It hosts approximately 10% of the flowering species on
Earth. About 60% of the 25,000 vascular plants in
Sunda are endemic. These islands have over 2,000
orchid species and hosts Rafflesia and Titan Arum
which buds the largest flower on Earth.

16. The Sundaland hotspot covers the western half of the Indo-Malayan
archipelago, an arc of some 17,000 equatorial islands, and is
dominated by two of the largest islands in the world: Borneo
(725,000 km²) and Sumatra (427,300 km²). As sea levels changed
during the Pleistocene, this connection periodically disappeared,
eventually leading to the current isolation of the islands. The
topography of the hotspot ranges from the hilly and mountainous
regions of Sumatra and Borneo, where Mt. Kinabalu rises to 4,101 m,
to the fertile volcanic soils of Java and Bali, the former dominated by
23 active volcanoes. Granite and limestone mountains rising to 2,189
m are the backbone of the Malay Peninsula.
OVERVIEW

17. Hotspot original Extent 1,501,063
Hotspot Vegetation Remaining 100571
Endemic Plant Species 15000
Endemic Threatened Birds 43
Endemic Threatened Mammals 60
Endemic Threatened Amphibians 59
Extinct Species 4
Human Population Density 153
Area Protected 179,723
Area Protected(km^2) in Categories i-IV 77,408
VITAL SIGNS

18. SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM :
Taxonomic group Species Endemic species Endemism(%)
Plants 25000 15000 60.0
Mammals 380 172 45.3
Birds 769 142 18.5
Reptiles 452 243 53.8
Amphibians 244 196 80.3
Freshwater Fishes 950 350 36.8

19. THE WESTERN GHATS
❖ The Western Ghats,. a 1600 km long mountain range that runs parallel
to the western coast of India are one of the world’s eight “hottest”
hotspots in terms of their significance for biodiversity conservation
efforts.
❖ The range is home to at least 84 amphibian species, 16 bird species,
seven mammals, and 1,600 flowering plants which are not found
anywhere else in the world.
❖ The largest and tallest wild cattle species in the world, the Gaur or
Indian Bison, is to be found their largest concentration here.
❖ The heaviest member of the Hornbill family, their impressive size and
colour have made them important in many tribal cultures and
rituals.The Great Hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years . They
are also crucial to the seed dispersal of several tree species since they
are avid fruit eaters.
❖ The Nilgiri Tahr also called Ibex, is the state animal of Tamil Nadu and
is another endemic species to this region.
❖ Other than that Wandaroo and Nilgiri Marten are also common
species.

20. OVERVIEW
The Western Ghats of southwestern India and the highlands
of southwestern Sri Lanka, separated by 400 kilometers, are
strikingly similar in their geology, climate and evolutionary
history. The Western Ghats, known locally as the Sahyadri
Hills, are formed by the Malabar Plains and the chain of
mountains running parallel to India's western coast, about
30 to 50 kilometers inland. They cover an area of about
160,000 km² and stretch for 1,600 km from the country's
southern tip to Gujarat in the north, interrupted only by the
30 km Palakkad Gap.

21. Hotspot original Extent 189,611
Hotspot Vegetation Remaining 43,611
Endemic Plant Species 3049
Endemic Threatened Birds 10
Endemic Threatened Mammals 14
Endemic Threatened Amphibians 87
Extinct Species 20
Human Population Density 261
Area Protected 26,130
Area Protected(km^2) in Categories i-IV 21,259
VITAL SIGNS

22. SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM :
Taxonomic group Species Endemic species Endemism(%)
Plants 5916 3049 51.5
Mammals 140 18 12.9
Birds 458 35 7.6
Reptiles 267 174 65.2
Amphibians 178 130 73
Freshwater Fishes 191 139 72.8

23. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
❖ Habitat degradation : The main threat to biodiversity is clearing of land for
pasture and monocultures, which involve growing single crops on an industrial scale.
❖ Pollution : Chemical pollution from pesticides is a major concern in the hotspot.
These inputs are widely used in agriculture, to avoid the constant buildup of weeds,
pests, fungi and disease.
❖ Dams : Most of the important rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric plants,
which are source of electric power.
❖ Invasive species : Introduction of Cassia,Lantana ,parthenium grow faster and
higher than native grasses. Plantations of such kind cover vast areas, and there are
plans for expansion.
❖ GMOs : Environmental groups are deeply concerned about impacts of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) on native biodiversity in India. More research is needed on
genetic contamination by GMO crops like gm maize, gm soyabean etc.

24. CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
❖ Government legislation: Governments have the power to control what is done to the
habitats within their country. Legislation that protects natural habitats by outlawing
development, harvesting of natural resources, or other human exploitation has a
huge impact on maintaining natural biodiversity.
❖ Nature preserves: Nature preserves are a form of government regulation and are
often known as National Parks . They protect a region and the organisms that live
there from certain forms of development and provide access for people to visit
them.
❖ Reducing amount of invasive species: Invasive species are sometimes introduced to
an area on purpose, but also sometimes by accident in cargos must be thoroughly
checked before it is offloaded .

25. CONTD..
❖ Habitat restoration: After an area is damaged by human impacts we can try
to return to its natural state. This means bringing back the plants and
animals that are naturally found there. This has been shown to be a
promising way of returning biodiversity to a region.
❖ Captive breeding and seed banks: Captive breeding is when animals in
captivity (often at zoos) are bred. On the positive side it provides the
opportunity to increase the population of species, so they can be
reintroduced into the wild
❖ Research: Understanding how species interact within their environment is
crucial to protecting them. As humans further understand species
interaction we find new and more direct ways to help protect organisms and
maintain biodiversity.

26. CONTD..
❖ Reduce climate change: We need to move away from fossil fuels and towards
alternative energy sources and natural or sustainable products. Reducing the
effects of climate change requires a worldwide effort.
❖ Sustainable living: Some of the most prominent ecolabels are Energy Star, USDA
Organic, and Rainforest Alliance Certified .Our consumption of natural resources
is one of the main reasons for biodiversity loss, so it is our responsibility to
consume products that are produced in the most sustainable way
possible.Sustainable living is something that we can each choose to do on a daily
basis.
❖ Education: As with most environmental topics, education is one of the keys to
success. Educating people about the importance of biodiversity conservation
increases public awareness of the issue.

27. CONCLUSION
In 1988, Norman Myers published the first of a series
of high-impact articles on global biodiversity
hotspots that opened the way for a new strategy of
nature conservation. Although not entirely free
from criticism, the hotspot approach has played an
important role in conservation prioritization. Since
it is not possible to conserve all biodiversity due to
lack of resources, international conservation
agencies have used it as the most effective
approach to minimize species extinction on a
global scale.

28. THANK YOU.