Why are the Western Ghats in Keralam considered a biodiversity hot spot?

The Western Ghats in Keralam are recognized as a biodiversity hot spot because they constitute a biologically rich yet threatened region that supports an extraordinary array of life.12

The area's ecological significance is driven by several key factors:

• Diverse Ecosystems: The region features a wide range of habitats, including tropical wet evergreen forests, tropical deciduous forests, and montane grasslands. These environments house significant genetic resources, such as wild relatives of various grains, fruits, and spices, as well as numerous medicinal plants.12
• Species Richness: The Western Ghats contain more than 30 percent of all bird, fish, mammal, and plant species found in India. The region is home to globally threatened flora and fauna, including approximately 17 percent of the world’s tigers and 30 percent of the world’s Asian elephants.1
• Unique Wildlife: Keralam’s portion of the range supports diverse fauna, including gaurs, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri tahrs, and king cobras.2

This high level of endemism and the presence of over 300 globally threatened species underscore the critical importance of protecting this UNESCO World Heritage site.1