Today, human beings face one of the greatest challenges in all of history: avoiding the loss of biodiversity. Large fires, clandestine logging and soil exploitation threaten to destroy the most wonderful places on the planet. For this reason we want to recognize the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world and their natural value.
It must be taken into account that these megadiverse places, as Russell Mittermeier called them in 1997, are not exceptionally large. In reality, what makes these countries part of the largest group in the world is that they have an immense variety of species in their territory.
These 12 countries, although they occupy less than 10% of the earth’s surface, have other characteristics that make them niches for life. For example, they have at least 5,000 species of endemic, marine plants and a wide variety of species that deserve to be conserved.
Also in: 150,000 beautiful nature illustrations to explore biodiversity (and they’re all free)
The 12 countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world
This country is home to 20% of the sweets on the entire planet. It has wetlands, forests, fields and savannahs in which nearly 44,000 different species of plants flourish.
The 2019 fires made it clear that losing a place as diverse as it is is a possibility. For the first time, the world observed the fragility of a space that is home to between 660,000 species of fauna and 700,000 species of flora, in addition to having the largest barrier reef in the world.
This economic giant is also home to incredible natural spaces. One of its most famous destinations is Zhangjiajie, whose landscapes are revealed in the Avatar movie. More than 1,200 species of birds live here, as well as Tibetan antelopes and southern tigers.
Colombia
Sailing towards the American continent, a little to the south, is Colombia. This country contains no more and no less than 10% of the entire world’s biodiversity. In an area of 1.1 million square kilometers, amphibians and birds soar through the Andes or travel across the .
Islands and numerous volcanoes join a small part of the Amazon rainforest, creating the best habitat for thousands of species of flora and fauna. This country is a small natural treasure that protects macaws, toucans, sloths and more.
USA
National parks are built to highlight the biodiversity of the American country. With a wide variety of ecosystems such as tropical forests and deserts, species such as the puma, the raccoon or the bald eagle take refuge among the most attractive parks in the world.
Philippines
Nearly 7,000 paradise islands with volcanoes and rice fields make up the Philippine archipelago. The second largest coral reef in the world is joined by whales, thresher sharks and other animals that make this place a huge attraction.
India
Secretly, India is home to two of the “hottest” biodiversity spots. These areas are recognized for concentrating the largest number of species in their soils and landscapes. The Western Ghats or mountainous areas where the rainforests and the Himalayas meet are home to the extraordinary Bengal tigers or the Nilgiri monkey.
Indonesia
This archipelago with some 17,000 islands distributed in the western and eastern parts boasts a very vast biodiversity of fauna. The dunes, mangroves, and beaches preserve thousands of species that, unfortunately, are in danger of extinction due to the wildlife trade.
Madagascar
This island is a paradise of endemic flora and fauna. Lemurs are some of its most popular creatures, although there are also turtles and chameleons. If a place fits perfectly on this list, it is Madagascar.
Mexico
Deserts, rainforests, beaches, mangroves, temperate forests, etc. No matter how you look at it, Mexico is a natural niche. The most abundant wildlife on the planet is found here, and the Gulf of California is home to 40% of the world’s marine mammal species.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Africa also has some paradises that protect different species of flora and fauna. In the Congo River basin, for example, the okapi and the pygmy chimpanzee live, covered by strips of forest. Likewise, there is the Virunga Mountains National Park, which keeps mountain gorillas under protection.