A hotspot of biodiversity is a region that has an exceptionally high number of different species, especially species found nowhere else on Earth, but that is also under serious threat from human activities.

In conservation science, the concept is defined more precisely. For an area to be called a biodiversity hotspot, it must:

  • Contain at least about 1,500 species of endemic vascular plants (around 0.5% of the world’s total) – meaning these plants occur only there and nowhere else.
  • Have already lost at least about 70% of its original natural vegetation, showing that it is highly threatened and urgently needs protection.

In simple terms: a biodiversity hotspot is a very rich but very endangered pocket of life on the planet, where conserving a relatively small area can protect a huge number of unique species. Scientists and conservation groups focus on these areas first because saving them gives the biggest possible benefit for global biodiversity with limited time and resources.