Major Biodiversity Hotspots in Asia

Numerous important biodiversity hotspots, or areas of great ecological significance and high levels of species diversity, may be found in Asia. These hotspots are troves of rare flora and wildlife, from the Central Asian Mountains to the lush forests of the Western Ghats. They promote the maintenance of the world's biodiversity and have great conservation value.

These fragile ecosystems must be protected and preserved for the sake of both the present and the future generations, but they also face significant difficulties.

Features of Major Biodiversity Hotspots in Asia

Here are the descriptions of major biodiversity hotspots in Asia −

Mountains of Central Asia

The Central Asian Mountains are a hotspot for biodiversity. "Central Asia" is commonly used to refer to the entire group comprising the five former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The hotspot includes a variety of habitat types, such as alpine tundra, temperate coniferous forests, and montane grasslands and shrublands. It is recognized by Conservation International, which includes the Pamir and Tian Shan ranges as well as other Central Asian montane and alpine ecoregions.

East Melanesian Islands

The Melanesia region of Oceania is home to this biogeographic zone. The hotspot, which covers an area of around 100,000 square km, is made up of 1,600 islands to the east and northeast of the island of New Guinea. This hotspot is made up of six ecoregions. Large portions of the region in this hotspot are covered in tropical rainforests. There are about 8,000 types of vascular plants in this area, including 3,000 unique species.

There are also 360 species of bird that inhabit here, of which 40% are endemic. Of the 85 mammal species found in the East Melanesian Islands, over half are unique to these islands. Among the mammals present here, bats have the widest range. Additionally noteworthy is the region's diversity of invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

New Caledonia Hotspot

One of the richest biodiversities in the world is found in New Caledonia. A wide range of habitats, including coral reefs, atolls, and islands of all sizes, can be found in this biodiversity hotspot. The species that live on the islands of New Caledonia exhibit high degrees of endemism. Here, one can find 22 endemic species of terrestrial birds, including the New Caledonian crow, laurel forest pigeon, and New Caledonian parakeet.

The only native mammals in this area are six endemic species of bats. The offshore waters of New Caledonia contain the highest biodiversity of Volutomitridae in the entire world. There are also several indigenous reptile species in this area. The two main dangers to New Caledonia's wildlife are deforestation and invasive species.

Philippines

About 7,641 islands make up the independent country of the Philippines, which is renowned for its biodiversity and endemism. The archipelago has a territory of over 300,780 square kilometres. There are about 1,100 species of terrestrial vertebrates in the nation, including 170 bird species and 100 mammalian species that are unique only to that region. In the previous ten years, 16 new mammalian species have been found here. A wide variety of plants, including the Rafflesia and rare orchids, can be found in the area's rainforests. Here, one can find pythons, cobras, and large saltwater crocodiles.

Some of the indigenous species found here include the cloud rats, Philippine tarsier, and Philippine eagle. The wildlife in the area is seriously at risk from deforestation brought on by illegal logging. Between 1990 and 1999, the area's forest cover decreased from 70% to only roughly 18.3%. The species in this area face a catastrophic extinction rate of 20% by the end of the current century, according to biologists.

Sundaland And Nicobar Islands of India

Sundaland, a biogeographical region in Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Nicobar Islands archipelago are part of this biodiversity hotspot. There are a striking number of unique plants and animals in the area. The area is home to a variety of ecosystems, including lowland and montane rainforests, swamp forests, meadows, grasslands, and even mangroves. Nearly 60% of the many kinds of vascular plants found here are local to the area. The fauna found here includes Komodo dragons, proboscis monkeys, Sumatran tigers, orangutans, pig-tailed langurs, etc.

Wallacea

A series of Indonesian islands located between the continental shelves of Australia and Asia are part of this ecological hotspot. Sulawesi, Lombok, Flores, Timor, and other significant islands may be found in this region. There are significant amounts of island endemism in the Wallacea's flora and fauna. Since the islands in the area are isolated from one another by a large body of water, their unique diversity is also quite important.

Anoa, a type of dwarf buffalo, and babirusa, a type of deer pig, are two examples of indigenous species. The renowned Amboina king parrot is one of the prominent birds on the island of Seram. Wallacea is home to a wide variety of habitats, including mangroves, montane forests, moist broadleaf forests in the tropics, etc.

Indo-Burma Hotspot

Conservation International has recognized Indo-Burma as a biodiversity hotspot. East of the Ganges-Brahmaputra plains, Indo-Burma spans 2,373,000 square kilometres (916,000 sq mi) of tropical Asia. The hotspot includes 33 terrestrial ecoregions, including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, mangroves, tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests.

One of the ecosystems on Earth that is most in danger of being destroyed is the Indo-Burma Hotspot. The current threat is even more concerning because the hotspot is also one of the most species-rich and has numerous endangered species that are unique to it.

Western Ghat

The Western Ghats are home to more than 5,000 blooming plants, 139 animals, 508 bird species, and 179 amphibian species, making them one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Here are at least 325 globally endangered species. Along with Sri Lanka, this mountain range is regarded as one of the eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity in the world. Some of the nicest non-equatorial tropical evergreen forest specimens in the world can be found in the forests of the Western Ghats. A potential UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Western Ghats.

Caucasus Hotspot

At this biological intersection, endemic species that are unique to this area coexist with species from Central and Northern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. There are roughly 6,400 plant species in the Caucasus Hotspot, of which more than 25% are exclusive to the area. Nine of the 17 unique plant genera found here are connected to high alpine environments. A notable concentration of commercially significant plants, including wild relatives of crops like wheat, rye, and barley as well as nuts and fruits like apples, apricots, and walnuts, are also present in the area.

Irano-Anatolian Hotspot

Conservation International has identified the Irano-Anatolian region, which includes parts of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, as a biodiversity hotspot. It encompasses the Zagros, Alborz, and Kopet Dag mountain ranges as well as the highlands of the central and eastern Anatolian Plateau. Many of Turkey's 1,200 unique species only occur to the immediate east or west of the Anatolian Diagonal, a floristic line that cuts through Inner Anatolia, and over 400 plant species are exclusively found there. Additionally, four endemic and endangered viper species can be found in the hotspot.

List of Major Biodiversity Hotspots in Asia

Here's a table of major Biodiversity Hotspots in Asia and their locations −

Biodiversity Hotspot	Location
Mountains of Central Asia	Central Asia
East Melanesian Islands	Melanesia, Asia-Pacific
New Caledonia	Melanesia, Asia-Pacific
Philippines	Southeast Asia
Sundaland and Nicobar Islands	Southeast Asia, India
Wallacea	Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific
Indo-Burma	South Asia, Southeast Asia
Western Ghats	South India
Caucasus	West Asia, Europe
Irano-Anatolian	West Asia

Conclusion

The Mountains of Central Asia, East Melanesian Islands, New Caledonia, Philippines, Sundaland and Nicobar Islands, Wallacea, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats, Caucasus, and Irano-Anatolian regions are just a few of Asia's key biodiversity hotspots. These hotspots have a high conservation importance, diversified ecosystems, and endemic species.

They are essential to preserving the region's natural balance and biodiversity. For their distinctive flora and fauna to survive over the long term, these hotspots need to be protected and preserved.

Frequently Asked Question

What is the location of the Three Gorges Dam?

The Three Gorges Dam is located in Sandouping, Hubei Province, China.

Which dam is the tallest in India?

The Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India.

What is the installed capacity of the Tarbela Dam?

The Tarbela Dam has an installed capacity of 4,888 MW.

Where is the Mangla Dam located?

The Mangla Dam is located in the Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.

Which region in Asia is known for its high biodiversity?

The Western Ghats region in South India is known for its high biodiversity.

What is the longest earthen dam in the world?

The Hirakud Dam in India is the longest earthen dam in the world.