Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Megadiverse
Describing a country or region that contains an exceptionally high proportion of the Earth's total species diversity, typically housing at least 5,000 endemic plant species and/or significant marine biodiversity; applied to the 17–18 nations identified by Conservation International as harbouring the majority of the world's biological richness
Mega (Greek — very large, great) + diverse (Latin diversus — turned different ways)
"India is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, hosting approximately 7-8% of all recorded species despite covering only 2.4% of the Earth's land area — a biodiversity richness that places heightened obligations on its conservation policies under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002."
High relevance for GS3 (Environment & Ecology — biodiversity, conservation). Key facts: India is one of 17 megadiverse countries (Conservation International list). India covers 2.4% of land area but has 7-8% of world's recorded species, 4 biodiversity hotspots (Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, Sundaland). Megadiverse status strengthens India's obligations under CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), Nagoya Protocol, and Biological Diversity Act 2002. Related to National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and biopiracy prevention.
