A research group of Dr. Yuta Kobayashi of Yokohama National University has identified a biodiversity hotspot that has not yet been recognized.By leading to certification, it is expected to promote nature conservation activities that can still be saved around the world.
Biodiversity hotspots are areas where more than 7% of the pristine nature has been destroyed, but more than 1500 endemic plant species inhabit, and international NGOs and NPOs are actively engaged in conservation activities. It is being carried out.Currently, 36 places in the world are certified as biodiversity hotspots, and Japan is one of them.The purpose of this study is to clarify why biodiversity hotspots are functioning as habitats for many endemic species while being overly destroyed.
The study selected and compared the destruction of nature at biodiversity hotspots with areas where more than 1500 species of endemic plants were said to have grown before the ecosystem was destroyed, and used land use for the past 500 years. I examined the history.The results show that land-use modification has been relatively slow at biodiversity hotspots.By reducing the rate of land use progress, it is possible to mitigate biodiversity loss.
It was speculated that some comparative areas are very likely to meet the criteria for biodiversity hotspots due to the relatively slow land modification.The study proposed three regions in Mongolia, Russia, and China (Altai, Sayan Mountains, Amur River basin, and subtropical forests in southeastern China) as potential biodiversity hotspots.
Biodiversity hotspots are also known as the Earth's Emergency Room (ER).It is expected that the results of this research will promote ecological research in the Far East region, where delays have been pointed out, and realize the recognition of new biodiversity hotspots.
Paper information:[Biological Conservation] Reconsidering biodiversity hotspots based on the rate of historical land-use change
