Question

Explain as to how protection of biodiversity hotspots alone can reduce up to $30\%$ of the current rate of species extinction.

Answer 1

Biodiversity hotspots:

Hotspots are areas which have a large number of species (species richness) and a variety of different species which are not present elsewhere (endemic species).



Significance of protection of biodiversity hotspots:

• These hotspots cover less than 2 percent of the Earth’s land area and comprise more than $40\%$ of the world’s plant species and nearly $35\%$ of terrestrial vertebrate species.
• Thus, conservation and protection of biodiversity hotspots can help reduce the ongoing mass extinctions by almost 30 per cent.