Major Biodiversity Hotspots of India

The Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma area, and (parts of) Sundaland are only a few of the four key biodiversity hotspots in India. These hotspots are well known for the variety of their ecosystems, high levels of biodiversity, and the existence of endemic species. From the majestic Himalayan Mountain ranges to the verdant Western Ghats, these areas are essential to maintaining India's natural heritage and providing habitat for a vast number of plant and animal species.

The preservation of these priceless locations for future generations depends on conservation initiatives.

Features of Major Biodiversity Hotspots of India

Here are the four major biodiversity hotspots of India and their descriptions −

The Himalayas

Mountains represent the most variety of geology, climate, species and habitat types, flora and fauna that we are aware of, making up to 27% of the land area on Earth. Major mountain ranges like the Andes, Alps, and Himalayas are known for being hotspots for biodiversity around the world. A great illustration of the significance of mountains for biodiversity is the Himalayas, a network of mountain ranges spanning about 3.000 km across the five nations of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China: India is one of the 17 "megadiverse countries" on our globe, hosting over 8% of the biodiversity of the earth on only around 2.4% of its total land area.

The Himalaya and its surroundings are to blame for this recognition. Only around 18% of the nation's land is covered by the Himalayas, which are home to about 40% of all species unique to the Indian subcontinent.

With Mount Everest and eight other of the world's tallest peaks, the Himalayan Mountains comprise the world's highest mountain range. While it is challenging to catalogue the biodiversity of this hostile landscape, we do know that 3,500 of the 9,000 plant species that have been identified there are indigenous to the Eastern Himalaya. The region's biodiversity is seriously threatened by anthropogenic activities such deforestation, habitat fragmentation, pollution, rising population, climate change, and wildlife hunting.

The highlands are home to approximately 160 species that are endangered by extinction and have the highest endemism rates. These species include the three largest herbivores on the continent: the Asian elephant, greater one-horned rhinoceros, and wild water buffalo, as well as the densest population of Bengal tigers. With a total of 10,000 plant species, the region has one of the most diverse collections of alpine flora in the entire world.

The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats Mountain range, which predates the Himalayas, is a geomorphic phenomenon of tremendous significance with distinctive biophysical and biological processes. The Indian monsoon weather pattern is influenced by the high montane forest ecosystems at the site. The location offers one of the world's best examples of the monsoon system, which helps to moderate the tropical climate of the area. It is regarded as one of the eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity in the world and has an extraordinarily high level of endemism and biological diversity. The site's forests are home to at least 325 species of fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and other wildlife that are globally threatened. These forests are some of the best examples of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere.

The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are on the conservation watch list because they are a rich but extremely vulnerable region that urgently needs biodiversity conservation initiatives. 16 birds, 124 reptiles, 159 amphibians, 16 mammals, 189 fish, 69 odonates, 36 butterflies, and 1,600 flowering plants are among the endemic species that are reported here, despite the harmful consequences of human activity and climate change.

The Indo-Burma region

East of the Ganges-Brahmaputra plains, Indo-Burma spans 2,373,000 square kilometres (916,000 sq mi) of tropical Asia. Indo-Burma, which formerly encompassed the Himalayan Mountain range and its corresponding foothills in Nepal, Bhutan, and India, has been more specifically designated as the Indo-Chinese subregion. The Lower Mekong watershed is located in this region. It starts in eastern Bangladesh and spreads across north-eastern India, south of the Brahmaputra River, to include almost all of Myanmar, all of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, all of Cambodia and Vietnam, the vast majority of Thailand, and a small portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It also includes all of Yunnan Province in southern and western China.

The hotspot also includes a number of offshore islands, including Hainan Island (of China) in the South China Sea and the Andaman Islands (of India) in the Andaman Sea. It also includes the coastal lowlands of southern Guangxi and Guangdong in China. The Lower Mekong watershed is included within the hotspot. 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.

The Sundaland

About 17 000 equatorial islands make up the Sundaland Hotspot, which is located in the western half of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago and is dominated by three of the largest islands in the world: Borneo, Java, and Sumatra. Actually, connected to Asia thousands of years ago, Sundaland's islands finally lost that connection as sea levels rose and fell over time. With latitudes at 11 degrees South and 19 degrees North and longitudes of 92 degrees East and 127 degrees West, this biodiverse hotspot is located near to the equator. Lowland rainforests, mangrove forests, swamp forests, coral reefs, montane forests, subalpine forests, and many more types of life-sustaining ecosystems can be found in the area.

However, the expansion of industrial forestry has led to the Sundaland Hotspot, like many tropical regions, being directly exploited. The hotspot's forests are being cut down for commercial purposes, and the animals that live there are increasingly falling prey to the transnational trade in wildlife. Although conservation efforts are still being made, much more needs to be done for this crucial component of the world's biodiversity.

There are numerous diverse ecosystems embedded in the vast landmass known as Sundaland. Mangrove forests, peat swamp forests, tropical rainforests, and mountainous forests are a few of them. The vast biodiversity of the plant and animal species present in Sundaland is well-known. The Rafflesia, dipterocarps, and orchids are examples of plant species. Three birds that are unique to the region are the Bali Starling, Javan Hawk-Eagle, and Javanese Lapwing. Sundaland's borders are also home to larger animals including the Pig-Tailed Langur, Javan and Sumatran Rhinos, both species of orangutans (Bornean and Sumatra), the Proboscis monkey, and the Bornean and Sumatra orangutans.

List of Major Biodiversity Hotspots in India

Here is a table showcasing the four major biodiversity regions in India, the Indian states covered under them, and their approximate areas −

Biodiversity Region	Indian States Covered	Approximate Area (sq. km)
The Himalayas	Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal	Approximately 595,000 sq. km
The Western Ghats	Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Gujarat	Approximately 140,000 sq. km
The Indo-Burma region	Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and parts of Myanmar (Burma)	Approximately 540,000 sq. km
The Sundaland	Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, and parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar (Burma)	Approximately 250,000 sq. km

Conclusion

The Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma area, and parts of Sundaland are four of India's key biodiversity hotspots. These areas are distinguished by distinctive ecologies, abundant biodiversity, and endemic species. They are essential for preserving the harmony of nature and supplying homes for a variety of plants and animals. Deforestation, habitat loss, climate change, and human activity are additional dangers to them. To safeguard and preserve these priceless locations for future generations, conservation activities are crucial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are biodiversity hotspots?

Biodiversity hotspots are regions with a high concentration of unique and threatened species. They are characterized by high levels of biodiversity and endemic species.

How many biodiversity hotspots are there in India?

India has four major biodiversity hotspots: The Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma region, etc.

What states are covered under the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot?

The Himalayan biodiversity hotspot covers Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Which states are included in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot?

The Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot covers Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Gujarat.

What states are covered under the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot?

The Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot covers Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and parts of Myanmar (Burma).

What regions are included in the Sundaland biodiversity hotspot?

The Sundaland biodiversity hotspot includes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, and parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar (Burma).