biodiversity conservation

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity typically measures variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level. Terrestrial biodiversity is usually greater near the equator, which is the result of the warm climate and high primary productivity. 

Biodiversity Conservation

Conservation of biological diversity is essential for the survival of the human race.

Objectives and advantages of biodiversity conservation

·         Conservation of biological diversity leads to conservation of essential ecological diversity to preserve the continuity of food chains.

·         The genetic diversity of plants and animals is preserved.

·         It ensures the sustainable utilisation of life support systems on earth.

·         It provides a vast knowledge of potential use to the scientific community.

·         A reservoir of wild animals and plants is preserved, thus enabling them to be introduced, if need be, in the surrounding areas.

·         Biological diversity provides immediate benefits to the society such as recreation and tourism.

·         Biodiversity conservation serves as an insurance policy for the future.

Biodiversity conservation method

In-situ biodiversity conservation

In-situ conservation means the conservation of species within their natural habitats, this way of conserving biodiversity is the most appropriate method for biodiversity conservation. In this strategy you have to find out the area with high biodiversity means the area in which number of plants and animals are present. After that this high biodiversity area should be covered in the form of natural park/ sanctuary/biosphere reserve etc. In this way biodiversity can be conserve in their natural habitat from human activities

Ex-Situ conservation methods

Ex-situ conservation involves the conservation of biological diversity outside of their natural habitats. This involves conservation of genetic resources, as well as wild and cultivated or species, and draws on a diverse body of techniques and facilities.

Ex-situ Biodiversity conservation can be done as following:

• By forming Gene banks: In this store seeds, sperm & ova at extremely low temperature and humidity.

• It is very helpful to save large variety of species of plants & animals in a very small space. e.g. sperm and ova banks, seed banks.

• Forming Zoo and botanical garden: for research purpose and to increase public awareness collecting living organisms for aquaria, zoos and botanic gardens.

• Collections of In vitro plant tissue and microbial culture.

• Captive breeding of animals and artificial propagation of plants, with possible reintroduction into the wild.