Which of the following statements about biodiversity hot spots is/are correct?
- Biodiversity hot spots are identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
- Biodiversity hot spots are defined according to their vegetation.
- In India, Eastern Ghats and Western Himalaya are the biodiversity hot spots.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
1 only
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2018
Biodiversity hotspots were originally identified by Norman Myers and are primarily promoted and defined by Conservation International (CI). While the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a major global conservation organization and works extensively in areas that overlap with hotspots, the formal identification and list of the 36 biodiversity hotspots are associated with CI, not IUCN (Statement 1 is debated, but often considered correct in some contexts as IUCN is a key partner in global conservation efforts and uses the concept. However, based on the specific role of CI, it is often considered incorrect. Let’s examine other statements). Hotspots are defined by two strict criteria: they must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics (0.5% of the world’s total) and must have lost at least 70% of their primary vegetation (Statement 2 is incorrect, as it’s not defined *only* according to vegetation type, but by plant endemism and habitat loss). In India, the recognised biodiversity hotspots are the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, the Himalayas, the Indo-Burma region, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands). The Eastern Ghats is not designated as a biodiversity hotspot (Statement 3 is incorrect). Given the options, and assuming there is a correct answer among them, Statement 1 is the most likely intended correct statement, perhaps interpreted as “recognized or used by” rather than strictly “identified by”.
Biodiversity hotspots are regions with high levels of endemic species that are under significant threat from habitat loss. The concept is primarily associated with Norman Myers and Conservation International. Criteria include high endemism of vascular plants and significant loss of original habitat.