In-Situ Conservation and Ex-Situ Conservation!

    Conservation is the protection,
preservation, management, or restoration of wildlife and natural resources such
as forests and water. Through the conservation of biodiversity and the survival
of many species and habitats which are threatened due to human activities can
be ensured. There is an urgent need, not only to manage and conserve the biotic
wealth, but also restore the degraded ecosystems.

Humans have been directly or indirectly dependent on biodiversity for
sustenance to a considerable extent. However, increasing population pressure
and developmental activities have led to large scale depletion of the natural
resources.

Conservation is the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of
wildlife and natural resources such as forests and water. Through the
conservation of biodiversity and the survival of many species and habitats
which are threatened due to human activities can be ensured. There is an urgent
need, not only to manage and conserve the biotic wealth, but also restore the
degraded ecosystems.

Types of Conservation:

Conservation can broadly be divided into two types:

1. In-situ conservation

2. Ex-situ conservation

In-situ Conservation:

In-situ conservation is on site conservation or the conservation of genetic
resources in natural populations of plant or animal species, such as forest
genetic resources in natural populations of tree species.

It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in
its natural habitat, either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat itself, or
by defending the species from predators.

It is applied to conservation of agricultural biodiversity in agro forestry
by farmers, especially those using unconventional farming practices. In-situ
conservation is being done by declaring area as protected area.

In India following types of natural habitats are being maintained:

1. National parks

2. Wildlife sanctuaries

3. Biosphere reserves

INDIA has over 600 protected areas, which includes over 90 national parks,
over 500 animal sanctuaries and 15 biosphere reserves.

1. National Parks:

A national park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of
the wildlife and where activities like forestry, grazing on cultivation are not
permitted. In these parks, even private ownership rights are not allowed.

Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed. They
are usually small reserves spreading in an area of 100 Sq. km. to 500 sq. km.
In national parks, the emphasis is on the preservation of a single plant or
animal species.

Table. List of some major National
Parks of India:

S.No.	Name	State	Established	Area (in km2)
1.	Corbett National Park	Uttarakhand	1921	1318.5
2.	Dudhwa National Park	Uttar Pradesh	1977	490.29
3.	Gir National Park	Gujarat	1965	258.71
4.	Kanha National Park	Madhya Pradesh	1955	940
5.	Kanger Ghati National Park (Kanger Valley)	Chhattisgarh	1982	200
6.	Kaziranga National Park	Assam	1974	471.71
7.	Nanda Devi National Park	Uttarakhand	1982	630.33
8.	Sariska National Park	Rajasthan	1955	866
9.	Silent Valley National Park	Kerala	1980	237
10.	Sundarbans National Park	West Bengal	1984	1330.12

2. Wildlife Sanctuaries:

A sanctuary is a protected area which is reserved for the conservation of
only animals and human activities like harvesting of timber, collecting minor
forest products and private ownership rights are allowed as long as they do not
interfere with well-being of animals. Boundaries of sanctuaries are not well
defined and controlled biotic interference is permitted, e.g., tourist
activity.

Table. List of some major Wildlife Sanctuaries of India:

S.No.	Name	State	Established	Area (in km2)
1.	Ghana Bird Sanctuary	Rajasthan	1982	28.73
2.	Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary	Jharkhand	1954	183.89
3.	Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	1940	321.55
4.	Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary	West Bengal	2012	216
5.	Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan	1960	288.84
6.	Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park)	Tamil Nadu	1989	117.10

3. Biosphere Reserves:

It is a special category of protected areas where human population also
forms a part of the system. They are large protected area of usually more than
5000 sq.km. A biosphere reserves has 3 parts- core, buffer and transition zone.

1. Core zone is the inner zone; this is undisturbed and legally protected
area.

2. Buffer zone lies between the core and transition zone. Some research and
educational activities are permitted here.

3. Transition zone is the outermost part of biosphere reserves. Here
cropping, forestry, recreation, fishery and other activities are allowed.

The main functions of biodiversity reserves are:

1. Conservation:

To ensure the conservation of ecosystem, species and genetic resources.

2. Development:

To promote economic development, while maintaining cultural, social and
ecological identity.

3. Scientific Research:

To provide support for research related to monitoring and education, local,
national and global issues.

Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as ‘living laboratories’ for testing
out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity.