Practice Tests
IELTS Reading (AC) Task 1 #123

A. A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region that is both a significant reservoir of biodiversity and is under threat from human activities. The concept was first developed by ecologist Norman Myers in 1988 to identify priority areas for conservation efforts. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth, and it must have lost at least 70% of its original primary vegetation.

B. The 36 recognised biodiversity hotspots around the world, which include areas such as the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, the islands of New Zealand, and the Mediterranean Basin, represent just 2.4% of the Earth''s land surface. However, they are disproportionately important for global biodiversity. These regions hold more than half of the world''s plant species as endemics and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species as endemics. This extraordinary concentration of unique life in such a small area makes their preservation a matter of critical global importance.

C. The threats facing these hotspots are immense and varied. The primary driver of habitat loss is human activity, including agriculture, logging, urbanisation, and mining. Invasive species introduced from other parts of the world can outcompete or prey on native flora and fauna, driving them towards extinction. Furthermore, climate change is emerging as a major threat, altering habitats and forcing species to adapt or move, which is often not possible in these fragmented and isolated ecosystems.

D. The hotspot concept has been highly influential in guiding conservation strategy and funding worldwide. By focusing limited resources on these specific, highly threatened areas, conservation organisations aim to achieve the greatest possible impact in stemming the global tide of species extinction. The approach highlights the urgent need for targeted action, combining habitat protection, sustainable management practices, and community involvement to safeguard these irreplaceable cradles of life for future generations.