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In situ and ex situ are two important strategies of biodiversity conservation. Wildlife sanctuaries and zoological parks are the examples of in situ and ex situ conservation of biodiversity. Both type of biodiversity conservation strategies differ from each other in terms of methods and areas that are covered and protected. Overall, there are three primary goals of conservation of biodiversity which are:
- Conservation of species diversity,
- Supporting all lifeforms on earth, and
- Sustainability of species and their surroundings.
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In Situ Conservation
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The type of biodiversity conservation in which species are protected in their natural habitat is called in situ conservation. This approach of conservation promotes the interactions between species and their surroundings.
- Wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves, and sacred groves are protected areas that come under the category of in-situ conservation.
- It is also called on-site conservation as species and their population in this case are protected in their natural habitat.
- The method is not helpful in cases when there is excessive decline of species and their diversity.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wildlife sanctuaries are the zone where wild animals and birds are kept under proper care. These are the prohibited areas where only trained staff members are allowed to feed and regular checkup. Poaching, hunting, and killing are strictly prohibited in these areas. As per recent data, there are 573 wildlife sanctuaries found in India.
National Parks
The protected areas authorized by the national government for the conservation of the natural environment are called national parks. Heavy restrictions are imposed on these areas for grazing, forestry, and land cultivation. Jim Corbett national park in Uttarakhand is considered as the first national park in India.
Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere reserves are special protection zones for all wildlife, plants, and tribal settlements. The primary goals of setting biosphere reserves are to protect the culture of tribals, and maintain the ecological balance. There are three specialized zones in a biosphere reserve: Core zone, Buffer zone, and Transition zone.
Sacred Groves
The areas which are protected by the local communities to preserve their religion and cultural interests are called sacred groves. Sacred groves help in the conservation of rare, and endangered animal and plant species in the khasi and jaintia hills of Meghalaya.
Ex Situ Conservation
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Ex situ conservation is a unique type of biodiversity conservation in which vulnerable, critically endangered species are protected in a private space.
- The species are taken out from their natural habitat and are conserved in a private space with proper care and minimum human interference.
- Ex-situ conservation is also called off-site conservation and includes zoological parks, botanical gardens, and gene banks.
Zoological Parks
Zoological parks or zoos are the special attractions for tourists where all the vulnerable animals are kept in a man-made environment.
Botanical Gardens
As the name suggests, botanical gardens are the areas where plant species are collected, cultivated, and preserved under suitable conditions. Here, a variety of rare plant species are also preserved which is helpful in research and study.
Gene Banks
Gene banks are laboratory setup for preserving seedlings and cuttings. These are utilized in studying genetic material of plant species or in plant tissue culture.
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Differences between In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation
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Here are some important differences between in-situ and ex-situ biodiversity conservation mentioned below:
| Basis of Comparison | In Situ Conservation | Ex Situ Conservation |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A type of on-site conservation in which species are conserved in their natural habitat is called in situ conservation. | A type of on-site conservation in which species are first taken out from their natural habitat and then kept in a unique protected area with extra care is called ex situ conservation. |
| Habitat | Protection of species in their natural environment. | Animals and plant species are conserved in man-made environments. |
| Protection | This method is suitable for conservation of species that are abundantly found in nature. | Rare, vulnerable, and critically endangered species are conserved through this strategy. |
| Advantages | A large population of animals are conserved in a natural habitat. | Animals which are not found abundantly are conserved through this strategy. |
| Cost | Less Expensive | Very Expensive |
| Research Potential | Limited | Very High |
| Examples | Biosphere reserves, sacred groves. | Gene banks, botanical gardens. |
Things to Remember
- In-situ and ex-situ conservation are two strategies of biosphere conservation.
- Sacred groves, biosphere reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries are included in in-situ conservation.
- Gene banks, botanical gardens, and zoological parks are included in ex-situ conservation.
- Rare, vulnerable, and critically endangered species are conserved in ex-situ biodiversity conservation.
- In situ and ex situ approaches are often utilized together for successful biodiversity protection.
Sample Questions
Ques. Can urbanization and overpopulation disturb biodiversity? (2 marks)
Ans. Yes, the excessive rise in population and urbanization disturbs the biodiversity in following ways:
- Population density is greatly affected by urbanization which in turn leads to loss of flora and fauna species.
- Rapid urbanization leads to habitat loss and destruction.
Ques. What do you understand by the term on-site conservation? (2 marks)
Ans. A unique approach to protect the environment and endangered species in their natural habitat is called on-site conservation. This is also called in-situ conservation which includes national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, etc.
Ques. What are endemic species? (2 marks)
Ans. A special category of species that are found in a particular area and nowhere else in the world is called endemic species. Lion-tailed Macaque in Western Ghats of India, and Asiatic Lion in the Gir forest of Gujarat are the two important examples of endemic species.
Ques. What are biodiversity hotspots? (3 marks)
Ans. The regions which consist of a large number of endemic species, and few endangered species that have suffered from habitat loss are called biodiversity hotspots. Following are the four biodiversity hotspots in India:
- The Western Ghats of India,
- The Himalayas,
- Indo-Burma Region, and
- Sundaland region
Ques. What are the disadvantages of ex situ biodiversity conservation? (3 marks)
Ans. The maintainence of endangered species are only possible through ex situ biodiversity conservation. However, this strategy of conservation is also associated with few limitations such as:
- Maintainence and care of species is expensive.
- Adaptation to a new environment becomes difficult for some species.
- Limited genetic diversity
Ques. What are the advantages of in situ conservation? (3 marks)
Ans. In situ conservation also called on-site conservation has some advantages which are as follows:
- Since species are conserved in their natural habitat in the case of in-situ conservation, adaptation is not a problem unlike ex-situ conservation.
- Rate of recovery in this case is very high.
- The whole natural environment is conserved through this strategy, not just one particular species.
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