The term biodiversity hotspot doesn't just mean a place with lots of species; it signifies a region facing an extinction crisis. These areas, identified by Conservation International, are the most threatened, species-rich reservoirs on Earth. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria: It must contain at least 1,500 species of endemic vascular plants (meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth). It must have lost at least 70% of its original natural veg