India’s biodiversity hotspots are concentrated in four physiographically distinct regions, each with a different conservation challenge. Compare the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalaya, Indo-Burma and Sundaland hotspots.
Subtopic: Biogeography · Biodiversity Hotspots
How to structure your answer
Introduction: India is one of 17 megadiverse countries and contains four of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots — Western Ghats, Himalaya, Indo-Burma and Sundaland (Nicobar group).
Body — three dimensions: (1) Western Ghats: 1,600 km Tapi to Kanyakumari; UNESCO World Heritage 2012; 7,402 plant species, 139 mammals; endemism over 30% in amphibians; Gadgil Report 2011 vs Kasturirangan Report 2013 on ESA. (2) Eastern Himalaya: Nepal-Sikkim-Arunachal-Northeast; over 10,000 plant species; key reserves — Kanchenjunga, Namdapha, Sikkim Biosphere Reserve; threatened by hydroelectric projects (Lower Subansiri). (3) Indo-Burma: Northeast hills and Manipur, Mizoram, southern Yunnan; Hoolock gibbon, Mizo wild orange — under jhum cultivation pressure. (4) Sundaland (Nicobar Islands): Great Nicobar — Nicobar megapode, Nicobari shrew, leatherback turtle nesting; threatened by Great Nicobar Holistic Development project. Common policy: Biological Diversity Act 2002 (NBA, SBB, BMC); 2023 Amendment eases ABS compliance.
Conclusion: Each hotspot needs region-specific governance; centralised Biodiversity Act framework requires careful state-level implementation, especially after the 2023 amendment.
Written within the word limit
133 words · target 150 words · 9 min
Introduction: India is one of 17 megadiverse countries and houses four of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots — Western Ghats, Himalaya, Indo-Burma and Sundaland — each physiographically distinct.
Body: The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012, harbour 7,402 plant species and over 30% amphibian endemism; the Gadgil Report (2011) and Kasturirangan Report (2013) frame its ESA debate. The Eastern Himalaya, with over 10,000 plant species, faces hydroelectric pressure (Lower Subansiri) in reserves like Namdapha and Kanchenjunga. Indo-Burma's hill ecosystems shelter the Hoolock gibbon under jhum-cultivation stress, while Sundaland's Great Nicobar — home to the Nicobar megapode and leatherback turtle — is threatened by the Holistic Development project. The Biological Diversity Act 2002 and its 2023 amendment govern access and benefit-sharing.
Conclusion: Each hotspot demands region-specific governance; Gram Sabha and SBB-BMC capacity will decide whether the 2023 dilution of ABS norms costs India its biodiversity advantage.
What an examiner expects to see
- India one of 17 megadiverse countries
- Four hotspots — Western Ghats, Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland
- Western Ghats — 7,402 plants, >30% amphibian endemism
- Gadgil Report 2011 vs Kasturirangan Report 2013
- Eastern Himalaya — 10,000+ plants, Kanchenjunga Biosphere
- Indo-Burma — Hoolock gibbon, Mizo wild orange
- Sundaland — Nicobar megapode, leatherback turtle
- Biological Diversity Act 2002 — NBA, SBB, BMC
- Biodiversity (Amendment) Act 2023 — ABS provisions diluted
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- Silent Valley NP, Kerala — Western Ghats
- Namdapha NP, Arunachal — Eastern Himalaya
- Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram — Indo-Burma
- Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve — Sundaland
- Kasturirangan ESA covers 56,825 sq km of Western Ghats