Criteria for Biodiversity Hotspots

To be designated as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

1. Endemism of Vascular Plants:
   The region must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants that are endemic—meaning these species are found nowhere else on Earth. This threshold ensures that the area is irreplaceable in terms of its unique plant life.

2. Habitat Loss:
   The region must have lost at least 70% of its original natural vegetation, indicating that it is under significant threat and in urgent need of conservation action123478.

The Percentage Criterion Explained

The requirement of 1,500 endemic vascular plant species translates to more than 0.5% of the world’s total vascular plant species37. This percentage is the minimum threshold for endemism that a region must meet to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot.

• Option (1) 0.5% is correct:
  A place is designated as a biodiversity hotspot if it has more than 0.5% of the world’s vascular plants as endemics, which is at least 1,500 species37.

Other options, such as 2%, 15%, or 30%, are not part of the official criteria for hotspot designation.

Why This Criterion Matters

Focusing on endemic vascular plants ensures that conservation efforts prioritize regions with unique evolutionary histories and species found nowhere else. Protecting these areas is critical because the loss of endemic species means their extinction from the planet.

Conclusion

A region is designated as a biodiversity hotspot if it contains more than 0.5% of the world’s vascular plant species as endemics—that is, at least 1,500 endemic vascular plants. This criterion, coupled with significant habitat loss, defines the world’s most important and threatened reservoirs of biodiversity.

Correct answer:
(1) 0.5%