Number of hot spots are identified across the globe?

Options

A. 20
B. 3
C. 34
D. 50

Answer

To answer the question about the number of biodiversity hotspots identified across the globe, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Biodiversity Hotspots**:
- Biodiversity hotspots are regions that are rich in species diversity and have a high number of endemic species. These areas are crucial for conservation efforts because they contain a significant amount of the world's biological wealth.

2. **Criteria for Hotspots**:
- To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two main criteria:
a. It must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics.
b. It must have lost at least 70% of its original habitat.

3. **Global Identification**:
- As of now, a total of **34 biodiversity hotspots** have been identified globally. This number has increased from an initial count of 25 hotspots, with 9 additional hotspots added later.

4. **Significance of Hotspots**:
- Although these hotspots cover only about 2% of the Earth's land area, they are vital for conserving a large percentage of the planet's biodiversity. Protecting these areas can help mitigate ongoing mass extinctions.

5. **Hotspots in India**:
- Among the 34 hotspots, three are particularly significant in India:
a. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
b. Indo-Burma
c. Himalaya

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the answer to the question is that there are **34 identified biodiversity hotspots across the globe**.