BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION
In-situ
biodiversity conservation (Natural Home)
·
In this case, we identify an area with
high biodiversity (= this area has lot of number and variety of plants and
animals)
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And then, we isolate and protect this
area from human activities by establishing a natural park/sanctuary/biosphere
reserve etc.
·
Very essential for big animals like
elephants, rhinos, tigers: they require huge area.
Difference
between a national park, wildlife Sanctuary, and a biosphere reserve
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National Park
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No human activity or settlement
allowed.
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Villagers cannot graze their
animals, Extremely strict rules about jungle produce collection (Tendu
leaves, Honey etc.)
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Wildlife Sanctuary
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People are not allowed to live (some
exceptions though) but some human activities are allowed, such as grazing,
firewood collection.
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Tourism is permitted
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A Sanctuary can be upgraded as a
National Park. However a National Park cannot be downgraded as a Sanctuary.
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Biosphere Reserves
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Biosphere reserve People are allowed to live, own private
land and carry on their traditional activities. (In the outer-zone)
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Ex-Situ
biodiversity conservation (artificial home)
Examples: seed
banks, zoo, botanical gardens, aquariums
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Seed Banks
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They store seeds at extremely low
temperature and humidity.
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Advantage: can save large variety of
plant species in a very small space.
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Disadvantage: Every seed has an
expiry date, you cannot store it for an indefinite time. So every once in a
while, you have to take out the seeds, germinate them and get new seeds and
store them again.
Multinational companies such as
Monasoto have excellent infrastructure for these activities, but they care
for storing the seeds of commercially viable species only. Ex. Wheat, maize,
rice, potato, brinjal etc. for doing research and development on them, and
create new hybrid varieties.
They have no interest in protecting
some unknown grass or fruit of jungle on the verge of extinction, this duty
falls on the (inefficient) government agencies.
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Zoo
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We can bring some endangered species
in zoo, try to breed them, and reintroduce their offsprings in the jungle.
(done in case of pandas, orangutans etc.)
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Central Zoo Authority of India
Enforces minimum standards and norms
for upkeep and health care of animals in Indian Zoos
Restrains mushrooming of unplanned
and ill-conceived Zoos that were cropping up as adjuncts to public parks,
industrial complexes and waysides.
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Disadvantages:
Not all species can breed in
captivity. Life expectancy of Caged Ex-situ animal is less compared to its
in-situ cousin.
Offsprings born in captivity, have
problems in adjusting and surviving in jungles.
Tiger cub born in zoo, feeding on
readymade meat, living in a small area, cannot easily survive in a jungle. It
doesn’t know how to efficiently move in a jungle and hunt animals.
Zoos require huge land, lot of
funds, trained personnel.
Zoos concentrate on protection and
breeding of big and popular species such as Tiger, Panda, orangutans, etc. as
it brings more public support and funds.
But small and unknown species such
as frogs and birds get neglected.
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Botanical Garden
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They do not get as much media
attention, public support and charity like the zoos.
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