Guess which country has the most plant biodiversity? Over 46,000 species recorded (world ranking)

The Brazil is confirmed world leader for plant biodiversityboasting beyond 46,000 species recordedaccording to data from the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew in the United Kingdom. This botanical richness is distributed in unique biomes such as the Amazon, the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest each characterized by exceptional flora.

The Amazon, often described as the “lung of the planet”, home to an immense variety of plants, while the Cerrado stands out as the most biodiverse savannah in the world. However, there are also lesser-known ecosystems, such as rock field.

The latter, a mosaic of vegetation that extends along the Espinhaço mountain range, has an extraordinary concentration of endemic species and represents 15% of the country’s flowering plants on less than 1% of the territory. Its importance is recognized globally, with the designation as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO thanks to the endemic and rare species, many of which are still being studied, that it hosts.

Colombia is in second place and China is in third

In second place in the global ranking we find the Colombiawith beyond 26,000 species. This country, located in the heart of the Andes and the Amazon, is home to an extraordinary variety of native plants. However, here too deforestation and agricultural expansion represent serious threats to the conservation of biodiversity. Colombia is investing in reforestation projects and the protection of mountain ecosystems, crucial to maintaining the ecological stability of the region.

There Chinathird place with approx 24,000 speciesstands out for the diversity of its biomes, which include temperate, montane and subtropical forests. Despite rapid industrialization, the country has initiated conservation programs, such as creation of nature reservesto protect its rare plants and face the challenges of climate change.

These three nations share not only extraordinary botanical richness, but also the conservation challenges. Deforestation, agricultural expansion, mining and climate change are reducing the range of many species, increasing the risk of extinction. Many habitats are destroyed before all the species are cataloged or included in their ecological role.

Plant biodiversity represents one invaluable global resource to protect. For this reason, assessment protocols such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List are fundamental tools for determining the conservation status of species and establishing protection priorities.