Read the passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:

Species diversity on earth is not uniformly distributed. It is generally highest in the tropics and decreases towards the poles.Earth's fossil history reveals the incidences of mass extinctions in the past. Earth's rich biodiversity is vital for the very survival of mankind. It is believed that communities with high diversity tend to be less variable and more productive. The reasons of conserving biodiversity are narrowly utilitarian, broadly utilitarian and ethical. Biodiversity conservation may be in situ as well as ex-situ.

Which of the following hot spots does not cover India's biodiversity regions?

Amazon forests

The correct answer is Option (2) → Amazon forests

'Biodiversity hotspots' are regions characterized by exceptionally high levels of species richness and a high degree of endemism, meaning that many species found in these areas are unique and not found anywhere else in the world.

Biodiversity hotspots – Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and the Himalayas – are located in regions of India with exceptionally rich biodiversity. Despite covering less than 2 percent of the Earth's land area, these hotspots collectively house an extremely high number of species. By implementing strict protection measures in these hotspots, it is possible to reduce the rate of ongoing mass extinctions by almost 30 percent.

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the planet" due to its immense size and importance in maintaining global oxygen levels, is facing significant challenges. The Amazon rain forest (it is so huge that it is called the ‘lungs of the planet’) harbouring probably millions of species is being cut and cleared for cultivating soya beans or for conversion to grasslands for raising beef cattle.  This widespread destruction of the rainforest is jeopardizing the habitat of countless species.