They are a group of nations that harbor the majority of Earth’s species and are therefore considered extremely biodiverse. They are home to a high number of endemic species-those not found anywhere else in the world. These countries are critical to global conservation efforts and hold vast genetic species and ecosystem diversity.
The term was coined by Russell Mittermeier, a leading primatologist and conservationist. The classification was formalized by Conservation International in the 1990s. 17 countries are officially recognized as megadiverse.
Inida, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Philippines, South Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, United States, Venezuela, Australia, Papua New Guinea are the Megadiverse Countries. These nations collectively hold more than 70% of Earth’s biodiversity.
India as a Megadiverse Country: It holds 8% of global species despite occupying only 2.4% of land area. It has high endemism in reptiles, amphibians and flowering plants.
Criteria for Megadiversity Status:
1.High species richness, especially endemic species
2.Presence of diverse ecosystem: forests, wetlands, coral reefs, deserts etc
3.Significant ecological, evolutionary, and genetic diversity
4.Unique biogeographic regions and large number of indigenous species
Importance of Megadiverse Countries:
1.Global biodiversity conservation depends heavily on these countries
2.Many face deforestation, habitat loss, climate change, and illegal wildlife trade
3.They are vital for medicinal resources, food security and climate regulation.
