Centers of Diversity

Centers of Diversity are regions where a particular group of plants, animals, or microbes has the greatest variety of different species and genetic traits. These areas are important because they hold the most natural variation, which can be vital for breeding, adaptation, and resilience. For example, a center of diversity for a crop like rice might include regions where many rice varieties naturally occur, offering valuable traits such as drought tolerance or disease resistance. Identifying these centers helps scientists conserve biodiversity and improves efforts for breeding resilient species to meet future challenges.