Editing IPCC:AR6/WGII/Cross-Chapter-Paper-1 (section)

=== FAQ CCP1.1 | Why are biodiversity hotspots important? ===

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''Biodiversity hotspots are regions that are exceptionally rich in species, ecologically unique and which may contain geographically restricted species. They are thus priority targets for nature conservation.''

Recognising that the Convention on Biological Diversity definition of biodiversity includes the variation within and between species and of ecosystems, different schemes have been applied to define hotspots, leading to hundreds of different areas being proposed as hotspots. However, all identify a set of priority areas that cover a small portion of the Earth, but house an exceptionally high proportion of its biodiversity. Because biodiversity underpins all life on Earth, these hotspots have significant global value as they contain species and habitats that are found nowhere else. Their loss would mean loss of species and habitats that provide wild and farmed food, medicine and other materials, and services such as climate regulation, pollination and water purification, all of which maintain the health of the ecosystems we depend upon.

Healthy ecosystems, with flourishing biodiversity in natural conditions, are more resilient to disturbances, whether natural or human in origin. Environmentally sustainable development inside and outside hotspots could help reverse human impacts on biodiversity. The hotspots also capture and store carbon, thereby helping to mitigate climate change. Prioritisation of protecting biodiversity in hotspots thus benefits nature conservation and helps mitigate climate change. A global network of protected areas and restoration initiatives inside biodiversity hotspots can also help increase resilience to the effects of climate change on biodiversity.

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