In-situ conservation is the process of preserving a threatened plant or animal species in its natural habitat. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, natural reserves, biosphere reserves, and sacred grooves are examples of in-situ conservation techniques. In addition to ensuring the sustainability of the environment and ecology, this method safeguards the local population. Unlike ex situ conservation, in situ conservation usually appears in protected areas or habitats. This article will explain to you about In-situ conservation which will be helpful in preparing the Environment Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

In-situ Conservation - Concept

• The preservation of genetic resources in naturally occurring populations of a plant or animal species is known as in-situ conservation.
• It keeps the material where it was originally discovered and preserves the natural process of evolution which is not the case in ex-situ preservation.
• Biosphere reserves, national parks, sanctuaries, reserved forests, protected forests, and nature reserves are all forms of legal protection for ecologically distinct and biodiversity-rich locations in India.
• Turkey appears to be the first nation to have a national strategy for the preservation of genetic variation in its natural habitat.

In-situ Conservation - Purpose And Use

• Approaches to in-situ management can either focus on populations of certain species (species-centered approaches) or entire ecosystems (ecosystem-based approaches).
• The purpose of both strategies is the same:
• Allowing a species population to self-replicate and keep its potential for further development, thereby paving biodiversity the way to survive within the context of the ecosystem in which it has been located.
• This necessitates the preservation of the ecological and evolutionary processes taking place within the natural system as well as its constituent parts (populations, species, communities, and biophysical systems).
• Conservation efforts focus on the environments where a target species gained its unique characteristics.
• It might be a natural habitat or one that has been significantly altered by human activities.
• For instance, domestic or agricultural species may have acquired distinctive features in areas where humans predominate.
• Therefore, farmers must conserve agro-ecosystems employing widespread traditional farming methods in order to preserve agricultural biodiversity.

In-situ Conservation - Facilities

National Parks

• They are the locations that the government has designated for the preservation of the environment.
• Compared to a wildlife sanctuary, a national park has additional restrictions.
• A national park's primary goals are to conserve biodiversity and the local natural environment.
• Their limits are set and clearly defined. No human activity is permitted here.
• Private tenancy rights and livestock grazing are prohibited in this area.
• Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand), Kanha Tiger National Park (Madhya Pradesh), and Kaziranga National Park (Assam) are a few examples.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

• Wildlife Sanctuaries are similar to national parks.
• Additionally, it is a protected area set aside for wildlife conservation. At wildlife sanctuaries, endangered species are given special attention.
• It also protects the plant species, allowing for the legalization of human activities like timber harvesting, small forest product production, and private property rights.
• In India, there are 543 wildlife sanctuaries, 50 of which are Project Tiger-managed tiger reserves.
• In India, further initiatives include Project Rhino, Project Indian Bustard, and a few eco-developmental initiatives have been started.
• On April 1st, 1973, Kailash Sankhala introduced Project Tiger, one of the most effective conservation initiatives, to India.

Biosphere Reserves

• Protection of wildlife and flora has become crucial. Although it can be difficult, protecting and conserving animal and plant species is essential if humans are to survive.
• The term "biosphere reserve" refers to a protected area of land or a coastal environment where the land is divided into separate zones for a variety of uses.
• Core Area: Unaltered ecosystems are legally protected as part of the natural or core zone.
• Buffer Zone: The buffer zone encircles the core region. It supports a wide range of resource use tactics.
• Transition Zone: The transition zone is located at the very edge. It is a protected area for the local populations of animals, plants, and people.
• Nanda Devi (Uttarakhand), Manas (Assam), Dibru Saikhowa (Assam), Great Nicobar, Sunderbans (West Bengal), and Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh) are few examples of India's biosphere reserves.

A Biosphere Reserve

In-situ Conservation in Agriculture

• Using in situ conservation strategies in agriculture is a successful strategy to enhance, preserve, and employ conventional or native kinds of crops.
• Such techniques connect farmers' experience and fieldwork with the beneficial results of scientific study.
• A variety's accessions from a germplasm bank and those that farmers have multiplied are first examined together in a producer's field and a lab, under various conditions and pressures.
• As a result, the scientific understanding of the native variety' production traits is improved.
• Later, reproducible conditions are used to cross, combine, and multiply the best tested accessions. Finally, the producers are given access to these improved accessions.
• So, instead of being encouraged to replace their own kinds with commercial ones or to give up on their crop, farmers are allowed to grow improved choices of their own variety.
• This method of agricultural biodiversity conservation works better in remote places where commercial varieties are impractical because of climatic and soil fertility restrictions, or where the flavor and cooking qualities of traditional varieties makeup for their lower yields.

In-situ Conservation - Advantages

• Cost Efficient: In-situ conservation is an inexpensive and practical strategy to preserve biological variety.
• The species is allowed to develop in its native environment, where it has been developing for a long time, with the elimination of factors that are harmful to the species' survival.
• This significantly lowers the cost of conservation activities.
• Protection of Entire Ecosystem: We safeguard the complete ecosystem or natural habitat in order to guarantee the continued existence of the species.
• Naturally, the system needs a sufficient number of herbivores to provide food for the predators in order to protect a population of carnivores.
• There must be plenty of green foliage for herbivores to eat in order to keep the number of herbivores stable.
• As a result, a high number of organisms are preserved via the process.
• Free Play of Natural Agents: In a natural system, organisms not only survive and reproduce, but also change with time.
• A natural ecosystem permits the free play of natural forces, such as drought, storms, snow, temperature fluctuations, heavy rain, fires, diseases, etc., which give organisms the chance to adapt to the environmental conditions and develop into better adapted living forms.

In-situ Conservation - Disadvantages

• Survival: Fragmented endangered habitats may not have enough space to guarantee the survival of these species.
• Decline in Genetic Diversity: There may already be a significant decline in genetic diversity.
• Diseases and Interspecific Competition: There may still be diseases or interspecific competition, for example, that threaten the local organisms.
• Poaching And Tourism Activities: The developing area can present a chance for poachers and ecotourists to do harm.

Historic Citizen Movements to Conserve Biodiversity

Chipko Movement

• It is a social-ecological movement that used hugging trees to stop them from falling as a form of peaceful resistance and Gandhian satyagraha.
• Early in the 1970s, when awareness of rapid deforestation grew, the contemporary Chipko movement was born in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas.
• On March 26, 1974, a group of peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, took action to stop the cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional forest rights that were threatened by the contractor system of the state Forest Department.
• This action is considered the turning point in this conflict.
• Numerous such acts were sparked by their deeds at the local level around the area.
• By the 1980s, the movement had extended over all of India, which helped to shape people-sensitive forest policies that ended open tree-cutting in places like Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.
• However, the first known instance of Chipko was in the village of Khejarli in the Jodhpur area in 1730 AD when 363 Bishnois under the leadership of Amrita Devi gave their lives to hug green Khejri trees, which were revered by the locals.

Appiko Movement

• In India, the Appiko movement was a groundbreaking environmental conservation movement.
• The peasants of the district of Karnataka province in southern India started a similar initiative to safeguard their forests after being inspired by the Chipko movement in Himalayan Uttarakhand.
• Salkani men, women, and kids "hugged the trees" in Kalase forest in September 1983 (In Kannada, "hugging" is referred to as "appiko").
• Southern India saw a new consciousness as a result of the Appiko movement.

Conclusion

Historically, in-situ conservation over ex-situ conservation was the chosen method for conserving biodiversity. Ex-situ measures can't protect processes or habitats that can be preserved by in-situ measures, hence in-situ methods are considered to be more holistic in their approach (e.g. soil microbial processes, evolutionary processes, specific ecosystems such as coral reefs or species with highly specialised needs). Thus, the most significant single contribution that members of our generation may make to the future is a global plan to achieve the preservation of the greatest quantity of biodiversity feasible.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What is the primary focus of in-situ conservation?

A. Conservation of species in artificial habitats
B. Conservation of species in their natural habitats
C. Reintroduction of species into the wild
D. Genetic engineering of endangered species

2. Which of the following is an example of in-situ conservation?

A. Zoological parks
B. Seed banks
C. Wildlife Sanctuaries
D. Botanical gardens

3. In-situ conservation helps maintain which of the following?

A. Captive breeding programs
B. Genetic diversity within natural populations
C. Artificial ecosystems
D. Cloned species

4. Which of the following is NOT a method of in-situ conservation?

A. National Parks
B. Biosphere Reserves
C. Seed Banks
D. Marine Protected Areas

5. In-situ conservation is important because it:

A. Relocates species to artificial environments
B. Conserves species in their natural ecosystems
C. Protects species only in zoos
D. Focuses on genetic engineering

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the importance of in-situ conservation in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.

Answer: In-situ conservation is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and the ecological balance of natural ecosystems. By protecting species in their natural habitats, in-situ conservation ensures the continued survival of species, allowing them to evolve, reproduce, and adapt to changing environmental conditions. This method of conservation also helps maintain genetic diversity, which is critical for the long-term survival of species. Additionally, in-situ conservation plays a key role in preserving ecosystem services like pollination, nutrient cycling, and water purification, all of which contribute to the stability and functioning of ecosystems.

Q2: Evaluate the role of protected areas in in-situ conservation efforts in India.

Answer: Protected areas such as National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves play a pivotal role in in-situ conservation efforts in India. These areas provide legal protection to endangered species and ecosystems, safeguarding them from human activities like deforestation, poaching, and habitat destruction. Protected areas also contribute to the conservation of India's rich biodiversity by maintaining the ecological integrity of habitats where species can thrive. Furthermore, these areas are essential for conserving flagship species such as tigers, elephants, and rhinos, ensuring their continued survival and preventing their extinction.

Q3: Compare in-situ and ex-situ conservation methods, highlighting the advantages of in-situ conservation for species preservation.

Answer: In-situ conservation involves protecting species within their natural habitats, while ex-situ conservation focuses on conserving species outside their natural environments, such as in zoos, botanical gardens, and seed banks. The key advantage of in-situ conservation is that it allows species to continue their natural life processes, including reproduction and adaptation, within their ecological context. In-situ conservation also preserves the interactions between species and their ecosystems, which is critical for maintaining genetic diversity and ecosystem services. In contrast, ex-situ conservation is useful for preserving species that are critically endangered or for reintroducing species into the wild, but it lacks the ability to maintain the complex ecological interactions found in natural habitats.

Previous Year Questions on In-Situ Conservation

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021

Question: Which of the following is an example of in-situ conservation?
A. Botanical gardens
B. Wildlife Sanctuaries
C. Seed Banks
D. Zoological Parks

Answer: B

Explanation: Wildlife Sanctuaries are an example of in-situ conservation, as they protect species within their natural habitats.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 3)

Question: Explain the significance of in-situ conservation in the context of biodiversity conservation.

Explanation: In-situ conservation is a fundamental approach to conserving biodiversity by protecting species in their natural habitats. It ensures that species continue to evolve in their ecological context, maintaining genetic diversity and allowing natural evolutionary processes to occur. In-situ conservation also helps preserve ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification, and soil fertility, which are vital for the overall health of the environment. By safeguarding endangered species and ecosystems, in-situ conservation plays a critical role in preventing biodiversity loss and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources.