An alternative approach has been to identify areas with the highest number of endemics or species with a restricted geographical range. Assessments of this nature have been very of ten done at a country level (single country endemics) rather than in some identifiable region in a country (site or area endemics). It is relevant that single country endemic species are given high conservation priority at the global level because they are unique. If such species are lost, they can never be replaced. Here again, prioritising is done at the country level.

Myer's work on identification of global hot spots is an important step towards determining areas where conservation requirements are greatest, and where the potential benefits from conservation measures should be maximised at a global level. The essential criterion to be met with in qualifying as a global "hot spot" is the

i) presence of at least 0.5% of 1,500 of the world's 300,000 vascular plant species as endemics.

ii ) the threat criterion which decrees that a hot spot should have lost 70% or more of its natural vegetation,

iii) the presence of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and their endemism serve as a back-up to further facilitate comparison among the "hot-spots".