3.1.12 (HL)—Biodiversity hotspots

A hotspot matters when many species—especially endemic and threatened ones—are concentrated where habitat loss is high.

Use species richness, endemism and threat evidence together. Tropical forests often score highly, but high biodiversity alone does not prove a formal hotspot designation.

A region with 500 endemic plants and rapid habitat loss may be a stronger priority than a species-rich region with intact habitat.

Threat or habitat-loss criteria; richness alone is insufficient.

‘Tropical’ is not a formal hotspot label by itself; check the stated criteria and data.