Island Biodiversity Hotspots:

Why in News?  The article highlights the often-overlooked ecological impacts of tropical cyclones, particularly on biodiversity in island hotspots. The findings from the study are timely, considering the intensification of cyclones due to climate change.

Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains

Prelims : Affected species In Indain Islands

Mains :   GS 3 (  Environment & Ecology)

Key Points:

Focus on Island Biodiversity Hotspots:

• Severe cyclones disproportionately affect biodiversity hotspots, especially islands.
• 75% of all severe cyclones struck island hotspots, with 95% hitting five specific regions:
  1. Japan
  2. Polynesia-Micronesia
  3. The Philippines
  4. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands
  5. The Caribbean islands

Species Vulnerability:

• Island species are at a higher extinction risk due to their isolated evolution and limited populations.
• Cyclones have caused abrupt extinctions, such as the Bahama nuthatch after Hurricane Dorian (2019).

Cyclone Threat Watchlist:

• 60 species were identified as “storm-threatened” and could face extinction after just one severe cyclone.
• Most of these species are confined to a single location on a single island.

Conservation Gaps:

1. • Only 24 of the 60 species are under active conservation efforts, and just six are part of captive breeding programs.
   • Coordination and rapid response are lacking in addressing biodiversity loss due to cyclones.

Recommendations:

1. • Establish a task force under the IUCN to focus on cyclone-threatened species.
   • Enhance conservation efforts with better planning, rapid response, and international collaboration.
   • Raise awareness about the overlooked ecological impacts of cyclones on biodiversity.

Global Context:

1. • Climate change is intensifying cyclones, making their effects on biodiversity more severe and unpredictable.
   • The article calls for balancing human recovery efforts with ecological conservation to ensure sustainable outcomes.