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Biodiversity In India Article
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Biodiversity Hotspot – Cool Name For A Hot Topic
from:Almost every region of the world has at least one biodiversity hotspot, with a globe wide total of 34 biodiversity hotspots to date. These hotspots contain our richest biological treasures, but are the most at risk from human and natural abuses.
A biodiversity hotspot is an area that is particularly rich in plant and animal life, but is in grave threat of being destroyed. There are two major criteria for an area to be declared a biodiversity hotspot: It must have at least 1,500 endemic species of vascular plants, giving it more than .5% of the world's total of these plants, and must have lost a minimum of 70 percent of its original habitat. Further, the combined area of the world's biodiversity hotspots only covers about 2.3% of Earth's land surface.
A biodiversity hotspot does not arise out of a vacuum. While it can occur because of damage caused by man or by natural changes to the environment, the damage done by man is, by far, the greater threat.
There are currently four North/Central American biodiversity hotspots – The California Floristic Province, the Caribbean Islands, the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands, and Mesoamerica – and the first two are excellent examples of how these spots fare.
Home of the giant sequoia and the coastal redwood, the California Floristic Province is also the home of a number of threatened species, like the giant kangaroo rat and the desert slender salamander. Some of the last existing California condors also live here. According to Conservation International's Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, the bulk of the destruction here is caused by commercial farming, expansion of urban areas, pollution and road construction. There are currently 4 threatened species of birds, 5 of mammals, and 8 of amphibians.
The Caribbean Islands are three large groups of islands in the ocean between North and South America: The Bahamas, the Lesser Antilles, and the Greater Antilles. While the majority of this biodiversity hotspot is ocean, approximately 89,000 square miles is land. Elevations vary from about two miles to about minus a quarter of a mile below sea level. The low-lying islands are generally semi-arid and sustain scrub lands, but the trade winds tend to make the higher elevations wetter, allowing a much greater variety of forestland. Both scrub land and forest have been decimated by deforestation and encroachment of civilization. Threatened species include giant shrews, and the Cuban crocodile. There are currently 48 threatened species of birds, 18 of mammals, and 143 of amphibians.
These are just the biodiversity hotspots in our own backyard, so to speak. It is clearly of the utmost importance to prevent further damage to any biodiversity hotspot, because they not only provide information to prevent disease, and sustain many forms of life besides humans, but because they are – in and of themselves – some of the planet's greatest treasures.
Biodiversity In India Specific links
Biodiversity In India News
IGNOU launches online course on biodiversity - New York Daily News
 GreaterKashmir.com | IGNOU launches online course on biodiversity New York Daily News ... an appreciation programme on sustainable management of biodiversity on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity Tuesday. The programme was launched by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) director general S. Ayyappan. Overfishing will result in disappearance of fish species in 50 years: Official Ocean acidification threat to marine life Gujarat takes lead in biodiversity; experts to attend international meet today |
'India lacks a good brand ambassador for biodiversity' - Times of India
'India lacks a good brand ambassador for biodiversity' Times of India LUCKNOW: In order to save biodiversity, there is a need to have a good biodiversity ambassador. India, however, lacks a good brand ambassador as far as biodiversity is concerned. The views were expressed by Syed Ajmal Khan, from the Centre for Advanced ... |
Brazilians Are Number One in the World in Biodiversity Awareness - Brazzil Magazine
Brazilians Are Number One in the World in Biodiversity Awareness Brazzil Magazine This year's survey involved 8000 consumers - 1000 each from Brazil, France, Germany, India, Peru, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Almost all the Brazilians (97 per cent) said that they have heard about biodiversity, ... |
India to soon take the lead in biodiversity conservation - Hindu Business Line
 The Hindu | India to soon take the lead in biodiversity conservation Hindu Business Line India will be at the forefront of biodiversity conservation globally over the next two years as the host country for the 11th Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biodiversity, according to the Convention's Executive Secretary, ... Convention on biodiversity to be held in Oct Need for biodiversity conservation |
Use NREGA framework for conserving biodiversity: official - IBNLive.com
Use NREGA framework for conserving biodiversity: official IBNLive.com He said the concerned department's scheme would move forward and in the process, also conserve biodiversity. "We want to make sure that in India, all the schemes and all programmes, specially on development, especially on providing employment, ... |