International Day of Biodiversity 2024: World's 8 best biodiversity hotspots; the one in India is no surprise

The International Day of Biodiversity, celebrated annually on May 22, is a United Nations-sanctioned event dedicated to raising awareness about the vital importance of biodiversity and the urgent need to protect it.

This year, the theme for the International Day of Biodiversity is "Be Part of the Plan." The theme highlights the importance of a unified and coordinated effort to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, and supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Here are 9 most amazing biodiversity hotspots from around the world.

The Amazon Rainforest spans across nine countries — Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and French Guiana, covering approximately 5.5 million square kilometres. It is the largest tropical rainforest in the world, hosting approximately 390 billion individual trees divided into 16,000 species, and about 10% of the known fauna on Earth. The rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate by acting as a significant carbon sink, no wonder the rainforest is also known as the Lungs of the Earth.

The Congo Basin is the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world, spanning six countries – Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. It covers about 3.7 million square kilometres and is a biodiversity haven with more than 600 tree species and 10,000 animal species.

Madagascar, along with the surrounding Indian Ocean islands (Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Reunion), boasts an exceptional level of endemism. Approximately 90% of the island’s plant and animal species are found nowhere else on Earth. Notable species include lemurs, the fossa (a carnivorous mammal), baobab trees and the traveller’s palm. The island's diverse habitats range from rainforests and dry deciduous forests to spiny deserts.

Sundaland includes the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and surrounding islands. This biodiversity hotspot is characterised by its tropical rainforests, which are among the oldest and most biologically rich in the world. Key species include the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Bornean pygmy elephant, and the Rafflesia arnoldii (the largest flower in the world). The region is also home to a vast array of birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

Stretching from southern Mexico to Panama, the Mesoamerican forests comprises various ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, and dry forests. This region is a biodiversity hotspot with numerous endemic species, such as the resplendent quetzal, Baird's tapir, and many unique orchids and bromeliads. The forests provide critical habitats for jaguars, howler monkeys, and a variety of amphibians and reptiles.

The Western Ghats, spread across the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat, is one of the world's most biologically diverse regions. It is home to more than 7,400 species of flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, and 6,000 insect species, many of which are endemic. Notable wildlife includes the Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, Malabar hornbill, among many others.

The Atlantic Forest once covered a vast area along the Atlantic coast of Brazil, extending into Paraguay and Argentina. Sadly, today, only about 15% of its original cover remains. There are around 20,000 plant species, 1,000 bird species, 300 mammal species, and numerous amphibians and reptiles. Unique species include the golden lion tamarin, maned three-toed sloth, and various endemic orchids and bromeliads.

The Indo-Burma hotspot comprises a vast region with diverse landscapes, including tropical forests, wetlands, and grasslands. This area is incredibly rich in biodiversity, with numerous endemic species such as the saola (a rare bovine), the Irrawaddy dolphin, and the giant ibis. The region is also home to a wide variety of plants, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

The Philippines archipelago, consisting of over 7,000 islands, is a critical biodiversity hotspot with a high rate of endemism. The islands host unique species like the Philippine eagle, tarsier, and numerous endemic plants and marine life. The country's diverse ecosystems include tropical rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.