Our County

The center of a biodiversity hotspot

This article originally appeared in our newsletter, Landmarks, Fall 2007

Biodiversity is measured by the number of different native species. A biodiversity hotspot is an area with an extraordinarily high concentration of native species, which also face great risk. Endemism is the occurrence of species that are found nowhere else.

Conservation International has identified 25 global biodiversity hotspots – places that make up just 0.2% of the earth’s land surface and yet harbor 9% of all endemic species. The California Floristic Province (shown in green), running from Oregon into Baja, is the only such hotspot in North America – and Santa Cruz County is right in the middle of it.

California is a biodiversity hotspot as a result of its highly variable geology and climate, which create a diversity of habitats that support numerous endemic plants and animals. Here are some amazing facts about the biodiversity in our backyard.

• Number of known species in California: 6,717 (more than any other state)*
• Percentage of California species at risk of extinction: 28.5% (more than any other state except Hawaii)*
• Number of endemic species (found nowhere else) in California: 1,295
(more than any other state except Hawaii)*
• Number of climate zones in California: 20**
• Number of soil types in California: 1,800**
• Number of different habitats in California: 380**
• Acres in the Sandhills habitat: 4,000
• Acres of the Sandhills the Land Trust is working to protect: 700
• Number of known endemic species in the Sandhills: 7

Sources: *The Nature Conservancy, Ranking of America’s Biodiversity, ** Conservation International, Hotspots •