Various Methods of Conservation of Biodiversity
Approximately 25% of species face endangerment globally from human impacts like habitat loss, climate change, overharvesting, and pollution. To sustain ecosystems essential for human economies and welfare, conserving global biodiversity is an urgent priority requiring diverse conservation strategies. There are several ways and means towards conservation of biodiversity as follows:
In Situ Conservation
In situ conservation focuses on protecting species in their natural habitats through designated protected areas like:
- National Parks
- Wildlife sanctuaries
- Biosphere Reserves
- Gene Sanctuaries
- Conserved Forests
- Marine Sanctuaries
- Protected Forests and wetlands
The conservation in such areas involve various levels of prohibiting development/extraction. Though in situ conservation remains fundamental, protected areas currently safeguard only 15% of land and freshwater systems plus 8% of oceans. Expanding in situ conservation on private lands through policy innovations like tax incentives and conservation easements can help augment protections.
Ex Situ Conservation
Ex situ techniques involve raising threatened species outside native habitats in specialized facilities like:
- Botanical Gardens
- Seed Banks
- Gene Banks
- Zoos
- Aquariums
- Captive Breeding Programs
- In Vitro Fertilization
- Cryopreservation
- Tissue Culture
Such facilities help establish additional populations, conduct research, and educate the public while retaining around 17,000 threatened species. Expanding ex situ conservation provides a reintroduction source to restore endangered species numbers if in situ protections fail.
Complimentary Conservation Methods
Gene Banks
Gene banks function as genetic repositories by cryogenically freezing reproductive material like seeds or cells. They provide cost-effective biodiversity insurance by allowing future propagation if species vanish. Over 1,700 plant gene banks globally preserve genetic diversity for crop wild relatives that harbor beneficial traits.
DNA Storage
Storing DNA samples lasts over 1,000 years and costs far less than maintaining live specimens. Emerging high-tech DNA banks help conserve animals like amphibians vulnerable to extinction. This DNA could someday support ‘de-extinction’ efforts reviving lost species through hybridization or cloning methods if society deems ethical.
Private Land Incentives
Shared public-private initiatives better provide habitat at scales sustaining wildlife migrations and ecosystem flows. Voluntary incentives rewarding landowners who conserve species can effectively offset economic costs from development restrictions on private lands. Such programs now protect over 400 threatened species throughout patnerships covering over 650 million acres.
Biological Control
Introducing species’ natural predators as biological controls combats invasive pests that decimate native biodiversity. Species like the Asian lady beetle and mongoose have controlled crop pests and venomous snakes respectively. However, ecological complexity mandates careful oversight given risks of newer problems from such introduced species.
Assisted Migration
Assisted migration experimentally translocates endangered species to regions that are predicted to remain hospitable under climate change scenarios. This approach remains controversial given uncertainties, yet supporters contend it could rescue species that would otherwise perish from habitat alterations outpacing their adaptive capacities. Context-specific application is vital for minimizing unintended harms.
Conserving global biodiversity depends on holistically integrating these diverse techniques according to contextual priorities. While expanding in situ and ex situ protections remains foundational, supplemental approaches help address specialized conservation needs from genetic resources to ecosystem adaptations.
