In Situ And Ex Situ Conservation Of Biodiversity

Two types of methods followed  to protect biodiversity. In-situ conservation and Ex-situ conservation. In-situ conservation focuses on protection of species within their natural habitats, while ex-situ conservation focuses on protecting species outside their natural environment. 

In-situ Conservation:

In-situ conservation is the protection of species within their natural habitats or ecosystems. It focuses to preserve the natural environment and the evolutionary adaptations that allow species to thrive in the wild. It helps maintain ecological integrity by protecting both wildlife and the environment. Conserving species in their natural surroundings ensures they continue to interact with other species in the food web. In-situ conservation is the on-site conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species.

In-situ Conservation Examples:

• National Parks: The national park protects the entire plants, animals, and landscape of the region. Cultivation of land, forestry, and grazing are not allowed at all. Human activities like poaching, logging, or mining are strictly prohibited. The difference between a Sanctuary and a National Park mainly lies in the vesting of rights of people living inside. Unlike a Sanctuary, where certain rights can be allowed, in a National Park, no rights are allowed.
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Wildlife sanctuary is a protected area where wild animals and birds are conserved and protected in their natural habitat. Wildlife Sanctuaries are home to various endangered species. The capturing, killing, and poaching of animals are strictly prohibited. However, human activities like the collection of firewood, grazing etc. are allowed up to some extent. Wildlife sanctuaries can be created for particular species. Settlements not allowed (few exceptions: tribal settlements do exist constant; efforts are made to relocate them).A Sanctuary can be promoted to a National Park. There are more than 500 wildlife sanctuaries in India.
• Biosphere Reserves: Biosphere Reserve is a large protected area for the conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resources, and traditional tribal life in the area. Biosphere Reserves contains core protected zones, buffer zones, and transition areas to promote sustainable development alongside conservation. It contributes to the protection and preservation of the natural ecosystem and culture of the region. It may also contain other protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries or national parks. The Biosphere Reserve example are Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve contains Satpura National Park and Bori and Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Sacred Groves: Sacred groves comprise of patches of forests or natural vegetation that hold deep religious and spiritual meaning to indigenous communities. Sacred grooves are tracts of forested land that are protected by the community living around them. The community attaches some religious or cultural significance to the protected forest land. It helps protect many rare, threatened, and endemic plant and animal species found in that region. These spaces areprotected by local communities because of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals. India is estimated to have around 100,000 to 150,000 sacred groves (IUCN).  

Advantages of In-situ Conservation

• The wildlife species are preserved within their natural habitat. They easily adjust and adapt to their surrounding. Protecting species in their natural habitats allows and safeguards the natural variation within populations. This is crucial for species’ adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
• It conserves the entire ecosystem, not just one particular species. Protects entire ecosystems, ensuring the survival of interdependent species.
• It is a more economical and convenient method.
• The chances of recovery are high.
• Maintains the integrity of ecosystems by preserving natural processes, interactions, and dynamics essential for ecosystem health and resilience.
• It allows for the sustainable use of natural resources by local communities, promoting a balance between conservation and human needs.
• It often aligns with the preservation of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, particularly in areas where indigenous practices contribute to biodiversity conservation.
• Often more cost-effective than ex-situ conservation in the long term.
• Creates opportunities for environmental education and public awareness.

Disadvantages of In-situ Conservation:

• Conditions that threaten the survival of the organism will still be present.
• The genetic diversity of the region may already have decreased.
• Endangered habitats may be fragmented and may affect the survival of the species.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict:Proximity of human settlements to protected areas can lead to conflicts, such as crop damage by wildlife or poaching, complicating conservation efforts.
• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:Human activities such as urbanisation and infrastructure development lead to habitat fragmentation, isolating species and reducing genetic flow.
• Resource Constraints:Insufficient funding, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of trained personnel often hinder effective conservation efforts.
• Illegal Activities:Poaching, deforestation, and encroachment remain significant challenges.
• Climate Change:Changing climate patterns can alter habitats, forcing species to migrate or adapt. In such a scenario, Protected Areas may no longer represent the ideal conditions for some species.
• Invasive Species: Non-native species can disrupt ecosystems by outcompeting, preying on, or spreading diseases to native species.

Ex-situ Conservation:

Ex-situ conservation involves safeguarding species outside their natural habitat, often when in-situ measures are not feasible or when a species is critically endangered. This approach provides controlled environments to breed, research, or restore populations. In ex-situ conservation, threatened animals and plants are taken out of their natural habitat and placed in a unique and ideal setting where they can be protected and given special care. Zoological parks, botanical gardens, gene banks, and cryopreservation serve the above purpose.It can serve as a backup plan if the wild population becomes too low or if their natural habitat is severely threatened.

Ex-situ Conservation Examples

• Botanical Gardens: Places where various plant species are grown and preserved for research, education, and public display. A botanical garden is a garden specially meant for the collection, cultivation, preservation, and display of a wide variety of plants, which are typically labeled with their botanical names. They serve the purpose of scientific research, conservation, display, and education like the National Botanical Garden, Lucknow. To study the taxonomy as well as growth of plants. To study the introduction and acclimatization process of exotic plants. It augments conserving rare and threatened species.
• Zoos:A zoological park is a facility where animals are kept within bundaries for public display and are often bred for conservation purposes. Zoological parks increase the public interest in the understanding of wildlife and are centers for recreation and education.
• Seed Banks and Gene Banks: Collections of seeds and genetic material to preserve the genetic diversity of crops and wild plants. A gene bank is a biorepository that preserves the genetic material. It is a collection of seeds, plants, tissue cultures, etc., of potentially valuable species. The national gene bank at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Delhi is primarily responsible for conservation of unique accessions on long-term basis, as base collections for posterity, predominantly in the form of seeds. Seeds of different genetic strains of commercially important plants can be kept for long periods in seed banks. Gene Banks preserves genetic material, such as DNA, sperm, and embryos, from endangered species. These resources can be used for research, breeding programs, and potential future reintroductions. Seed Banks store seeds under specific conditions to preserve genetic diversity. They have considerable advantages over other methods of ex situ conservation, such as ease of storage, the economy of space, relatively low labour demands and consequently, the capacity to maintain large samples at an economically viable cost.
• Cryopreservation: Freezing and storing genetic material like seeds, sperm, , tissues, extracellular matrix, organs, eggs, or embryos for future use. Cryopreservation is the long-term process of keeping live cells, tissues, and other biological samples frozen at sub-zero temperatures for storage and preservation. The sample is commonly kept at -80 °C using solid carbon dioxide or -196 °C using liquid nitrogen. It preserves the biological material, and the genetic integrity of the material is stored like the one present in IARI, New Delhi. It is a useful method for long-term storage of germplasm, especially for plant species that are difficult to conserve as seeds due to low desiccation tolerance. For aquatic species, it has limited application because female gametes and fertilised eggs usually cannot be frozen. For livestock, it usually means the preservation of germplasm for the purpose of genetic conservation. This distinction is more relevant for livestock than for other sectors because it is more widely applied for uses other than conservation.
• Aquariums: Controlled environments that maintain a wide range of aquatic species, helping in conservation and public awareness.

Advantages of Ex-situ Conservation

• It protects endangered species from external threats like predation and poaching.
• Selective breeding programs can be implemented.
• Animals and plants can be bred to increase their numbers if endangered
• Health of individual animals can be monitored and medical assistance given as required
• Populations can be more effectively managed and divided if disaster strikes.The genetic diversity of the population is preserved
• It is invaluable for research and public education.
• It has the potential to reintroduce organisms back into their natural habitat.Modern reproductive technology can increase the chances of reproductive success.
• Conservation sites can be used as attractions to raise funds for further conservation efforts. Conservation sites can be used for education

Disadvantages of Ex-situ Conservation

• The individual animal is living outside its natural habitat.
• Animals may not adjust to the new environment.
• Animals can be exposed to a wide range of different diseases
• Animals may not survive reintroduction into the wild.
• Nutritional issues may arise
• Captive population have limited genetic diversity
• It is expensive to maintain.

Differences Between In-situ and Ex-situ Conservation

 In-situ and Ex-situ conservation are two crucial approaches to preserving biodiversity. While in-situ conservation focuses on protecting organisms within their natural habitats, ex-situ conservation involves safeguarding them in controlled environments.

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