Abstract
and its rich biodiversity hotspots under high anthropogenic pressure Due to a complex biogeographic history, Southeast Asia hosts very distinct animal and plant communities, as well as unique ecoregions. Southeast Asia is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, but it also faces significant threats to its biodiversity. This region is notable for hosting some of the important biodiversity hotspots, a term that has entered both scientific and non-scientific literature in the last two decades. In his 2000 paper, Myers provided an ad-hoc definition of a biodiversity hotspot as an area that contains at least 1,500 endemic vascular plants and has lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation (Myers et al., 2000). Biodiversity hotspots are therefore closely linked to plant biogeography and diversity, as well as environmental degradation. One must understand that biodiversity hotspots are not only defined as places with high biodiversity; they are also areas under significant historical and current anthropogenic stress. This concept allows decision-makers at the international level to prioritize certain areas over others for biological conservation policies. The entirety of Southeast Asia, if we restrict it to the ASEAN countries, falls within four distinct biodiversity hotspots (see Figure 1). Consequently, biodiversity conservation is a priority throughout this part of the world. The continental part is entirely covered by the Indo-Burma hotspot, while Borneo, Sumatra, and Java fall within the Sundaland hotspot. The Philippines is itself a distinct hotspot, and the territories of Sulawesi, the Maluku Islands, and Timor-Leste correspond to the Wallacea hotspot.