Species extinction is a natural process, yet the current rate at which species are disappearing is significantly higher than historical averages. An endangered species is a plant or animal population at considerable risk of extinction in the near future. This risk arises from a sudden decline in their numbers or the destruction of their natural living spaces. Scientists estimate that over 40% of all living species on Earth are presently at risk of extinction. This accelerated loss of biodiversity highlights a global concern, prompting efforts to understand where these species are most threatened.
Global Biodiversity Hotspots
Specific regions have been identified as “biodiversity hotspots” due to their exceptional species diversity and the severe threats they face. To qualify, an area must meet two criteria. First, it must contain at least 1,500 endemic species of vascular plants. Second, the region must have lost 70% or more of its original natural vegetation.
Currently, 36 such areas have been identified globally. Although these hotspots collectively cover only about 2.5% of the Earth’s land surface, they are home to more than half of the world’s endemic plant species. They also support nearly 43% of all endemic bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species. Protecting these small but biologically rich and threatened areas is considered an effective strategy for conserving much of the planet’s biodiversity.
Key Regions Facing High Endangerment
Many of the world’s most endangered species are concentrated within these biodiversity hotspots, which include diverse ecosystems such as tropical rainforests, oceanic islands, and coral reefs. Tropical rainforests, like the Amazon, represent the largest reservoirs of plant and animal species, hosting approximately one-quarter of all terrestrial species. Within the Amazon, iconic endangered species include the jaguar, the giant otter, and the Amazon river dolphin.
Islands often exhibit high levels of endemism due to their geographic isolation, making their species particularly vulnerable. Madagascar, an island off the east coast of Africa, is an example, with 80% to 90% of its plant and animal species endemic. Over 100 species of lemurs, primates found only in Madagascar, are endangered or critically endangered. Other unique endangered species on the island include the ploughshare tortoise and the fossa.
Marine environments also contain hotspots, with the Coral Triangle in the western Pacific Ocean as an example. This region, spanning 6 million square kilometers across six countries, is considered the epicenter of marine biodiversity. It harbors 76% of the world’s coral species, 37% of its reef fish species, and six of the seven known sea turtle species. All marine turtles in the Coral Triangle are threatened with extinction.
Threats Driving Endangerment in These Areas
The concentration of endangered species in these hotspots is driven by human activities that degrade or destroy their habitats. Habitat loss and fragmentation, often resulting from agricultural expansion, urbanization, and deforestation, are major threats. For instance, millions of acres of the Amazon rainforest are cleared annually for agriculture and logging, directly destroying the living spaces of countless species. In Madagascar, slash-and-burn agriculture and logging are drivers of deforestation, impacting endemic species.
Climate change also poses a major threat, leading to altered habitats, rising temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events like cyclones and droughts. In marine environments such as the Coral Triangle, climate change contributes to coral bleaching and ocean acidification, harming coral reefs. These environmental shifts disrupt delicate ecological balances, pushing vulnerable species closer to extinction.
Illegal wildlife trade and poaching further exacerbate the decline of many species within these regions. Animals like lemurs and radiated tortoises in Madagascar, and jaguars in the Amazon, are targeted for illegal trade. Overfishing and destructive fishing practices, including the use of dynamite and cyanide, devastate fish populations and damage fragile marine ecosystems, particularly in areas like the Coral Triangle. Pollution from sources like agricultural runoff, mining, and coastal development also contaminates waterways and marine habitats, imperiling species.