Mesoamerica

Percentage original vegetation in unchanged condition: approximately 20%
Percentage of region that is protected: approximately 13%

*Of species known since 1500

Mesoamerica, which encompasses most of Central America, is one of the largest of the world’s hotspots, covering an area of over one million sq. km. The major ecosystems in the area are dry forests, montane forests, lowland forests, coniferous forests, subtropical wet forests, and rain forests.
Mesoamerica provides habitat for more than 4,000 endemic species, including quetzals, howler monkeys, and 17,000 different plants. The hotspot serves as a corridor for hundreds migrant bird species. Over 350 endemic species of amphibians make their home in the montane forests.
Human effects on the area include habitat loss from activities such as deforestation for growing crops, raising livestock, and logging. Fungal disease and climate change have also diminished the amphibian populations.

Sundaland

Percentage original vegetation in unchanged condition: approximately 7%
Percentage of region that is protected: approximately 12%

*Of species known since 1500

Sundaland encompasses much of Indonesia and Malaysia and includes Borneo and Sumatra, two of the world’s largest islands. Among the ecosystems of the hotspot are lowland rainforests, beach forests, mangroves, montane forests, and peat swamp forests.
Sundaland is home to tigers, monkeys, turtles, and the endemic orangutans.
Harmful human activities on Sundaland include deforestation to clear land for rubber, palm, and pulp production. Hunting of tigers, monkeys, and turtles for food, medicine, and the international pet trade has also had an impact on this hot spot.

Polynesia–Micronesia Percentage original vegetation in unchanged condition: approximately 21% Percentage of region that is protected: approximately 7% Species Number of species Number of endemic species Plants 5,330 3,074 Mammals 16 12 Birds 292 163 Reptiles 64 31 Amphibians 3 3 Freshwater fishes 96 20 Extinct Species* 43

*Of species known since 1500

The Polynesia–Micronesia hotspot covers a huge area containing 4,500 islands spread across the Pacific Ocean. The various ecosystems include mangroves, coastal wetlands, tropical rainforests, cloud forests, savannahs, open woodlands, and shrublands.
Over the last 200 years in Polynesia–Micronesia, 25 species of birds have gone extinct. One of the threatened bird species is the Hawaiian honeycreeper, which is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
Harmful human activities in this region include the introduction of invasive species, overhunting, and habitat destruction.