The tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot spans 1,542,664 square kilometers across western South America. It contains the world's richest flora, with over 30,000 plant species, 15,000 of which are endemic to the region. The tropical Andes also have the highest levels of endemism for amphibians, with 673 of 981 species being found nowhere else. However, the region faces numerous threats to its biodiversity, including mining, oil exploration, urban growth, and climate change.