Biodiversity Hotspot- Mesoamerica

Biodiversity Hotspot- Mesoamerica

A biodiversity hotspot is a region on Earth that is a critical reservoir of bio diversity that is threatened by destruction so much that it must have lost about 70% of its original habitat (Mendelsohn & Balick, 1995). Mesoamerican forests are known to be the third largest of the world's hotspots that is susceptible to destruction and damage. It is one of the twenty five biologically rich areas of the world which have sadly lost around 70% of its habitat in a short time period. Missouri Botanical Gardens is our chosen institution that is conducting research in Mesoamerica since as long as 1920s, conducted various conservation programs in the region with an objective to turn it into a flora Mesoamerica in Spanish (Mooney & Cleland, 2001). Their widespread species include howler monkeys, quetzals, migrant bird species and 17,000 plant species.

The institutions is dedicated to conduct projects and research based on this hotspot in order to study the ways through which sustainable lining at this hotspot could be improved and enhanced. The genetic isolation of wildlife populations is being under consideration of this institution and several initiatives are underway to benefit the endangered plants and animals from its conservation programs (O'Brien & Everrnann, 1982). The vital signs of the Mesoamerica including important statistics regarding its habitat are given below:

Hotspot Original Extent (km²)

1,130,019

Hotspot Vegetation Remaining (km²)

226,004

Endemic Plant Species

2,941

Endemic Threatened Birds

31

Endemic Threatened Mammals

29

Endemic Threatened Amphibians

232

Extinct Species†

7

Human Population Density (people/km²)

72

Area Protected (km²)

142,103

Area Protected (km²) in Categories I-IV*

63,902

Importance of Hotspots

Hotspots are important regions which hold immense significance to the population on a planet. Mesoamerica, being the third-largest hotspot of the world, protects the Central America's biodiversity from a probably habitat loss. The hotspot is of special significance when man-made disasters struck the world, since then, it serves as distinctive ...