150 -- Mapping the History of Human Population and Development in Global Biodiversity Hotspots, 1000 to 2000 CE

Biodiversity (biological diversity) refers to the diversity of all life on Earth, including ecosystems and species. Currently, 36 areas globally are classified as biodiversity hotspots, defined as a region that contains high biodiversity levels that are also threatened by human population and development. The specific requirements for this classification follow two criteria: it hosts 1,500 endemic vascular plants, and at most 30% of its area is covered in original native vegetation present. This research maps the history of biodiversity hotspots with respect to changes in human population and land use from 1000 to 2000 CE. Results show that the biodiversity hotspots faced a major increase in pressure from human population from 1800 to 2000 CE. New Caledonia, a biodiversity hotspot in the South Pacific Ocean, is the least threatened hotspot as the percentage of undeveloped land has been consistently 100% from 1000-2000 CE. Sundaland and Indo-Burma, in Southeast Asia, are two of the most threatened hotspots since the population drastically increased from 3,339,947 to 203,272,736 and from 8,082,816 to 330,874,368 respectively between 1000-2000 CE. The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka hotspot is the most threatened when examining the percentage of undeveloped land since it stayed consistently at 0.18% between 1000 to 1800 CE and then decreased to 0.04% in 2000 CE.