Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora?
Contents13
- ABiosphere Reserve
- BBotanical Garden
- CNational Park
- DWildlife Sanctuary
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Answer: (B) Botanical Garden
The answer is (b) — Botanical Garden.
This is NOT an in-situ conservation site.
IN-SITU conservation = protecting species IN their NATURAL HABITAT ('in the original place'):
- Biosphere Reserves (✓ in-situ): Large areas with multiple ecosystems, minimal human intervention. Example: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- National Parks (✓ in-situ): Strictly protected areas, no human activities allowed. Example: Jim Corbett National Park.
- Wildlife Sanctuaries (✓ in-situ): Protected areas where limited human activities (grazing, timber collection) may be allowed. Example: Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
EX-SITU conservation = protecting species OUTSIDE their natural habitat ('out of the original place'):
- Botanical Gardens (✗ NOT in-situ): Plants collected from various places and grown in an artificial setting for research and preservation. Example: Indian Botanical Garden, Kolkata.
- Other ex-situ examples: Zoos, seed banks, gene banks, aquariums, cryopreservation.
Memory trick:
In-situ = 'In' the natural place.
Ex-situ = 'Exit' from the natural place.
In-situ conservation protects species in their natural habitat while ex-situ conservation protects species outside their natural habitat in artificial settings.
Botanical gardens are ex-situ conservation sites where plants from different locations are artificially maintained for research and preservation, unlike biosphere reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries which preserve species in their original ecosystems.
In-Situ Conservation
Environment in-situ Biosphere Reserve National Park Wildlife Sanctuary
In-Situ Conservation: Protecting Species in Natural Habitats
In-situ means conserving species in their natural habitat ('in the original place')
Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries are all in-situ methods
Botanical Gardens are ex-situ (artificial environment)
In-situ preserves entire ecosystems, not just individual species
Definition
In-situ conservation protects biodiversity by maintaining species in their original natural environment. This approach preserves not just individual species but entire ecosystems and ecological processes.
Types of In-Situ Protected Areas
Protected Area | Protection Level | Human Activities | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
Biosphere Reserve | Multiple ecosystems | Minimal intervention allowed | Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
National Park | Strict protection | No human activities allowed | Jim Corbett National Park |
Wildlife Sanctuary | Species-focused | Limited activities (grazing, timber) | Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary |
Key Advantages
Maintains natural ecological processes and food webs
Allows evolutionary adaptation to continue in natural conditions
Protects habitat connectivity and migration routes
More cost-effective than maintaining artificial environments
Preserves ecosystem services like water regulation and carbon storage
Botanical Gardens are NOT in-situ — they create artificial environments
Biosphere Reserves allow some human activities but are still in-situ conservation
Don't confuse Wildlife Sanctuaries with National Parks — sanctuaries allow limited human activities
Ex-Situ Conservation
Environment Botanical Garden
Ex-Situ Conservation: Protecting Species Outside Natural Habitats
Ex-situ means conserving species outside their natural habitat ('exit from original place')
Botanical Gardens, Zoos, Seed Banks are ex-situ methods
Used for research, breeding programs, and species recovery
Definition
Ex-situ conservation protects biodiversity by maintaining species outside their natural environment in artificial or controlled conditions. The term means 'out of the original place'.
Ex-Situ Conservation Methods
Method | Purpose | Examples | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
Botanical Gardens | Plant conservation & research | Indian Botanical Garden, Kolkata | Living plant collections |
Zoos | Animal breeding & education | Delhi Zoo, Mysore Zoo | Captive breeding programs |
Seed Banks | Genetic material storage | National Gene Bank, New Delhi | Long-term seed storage |
Gene Banks | DNA preservation | NBPGR facilities | Cryopreservation of genetic material |
When Ex-Situ is Used
Critically endangered species that need immediate intervention
Species whose natural habitat is destroyed or severely degraded
Research and breeding programs for species recovery
Genetic material storage for future restoration efforts
Education and awareness programs for public
Botanical Garden Layout
Source: Frontiers — Frontiers | Research on plant characteristics and ... · www.frontiersin.org
Memory trick: In-situ = 'In' the natural place; Ex-situ = 'Exit' from natural place
Botanical Gardens collect plants from various places — NOT natural habitat conservation
Don't assume all protected areas are in-situ — check if the environment is natural or artificial
Indian Protected Areas Classification
Environment Biosphere Reserve National Park Wildlife Sanctuary
India's Protected Area Categories & Legal Framework
India has over 900 protected areas covering about 5% of total geographical area
Wildlife Protection Act 1972 provides legal framework for most protected areas
National Parks have strictest protection, Wildlife Sanctuaries allow limited activities
Biosphere Reserves follow UNESCO MAB Programme guidelines
Protected Area Hierarchy
# Indian Protected Areas
## National Parks
- 104 parks
- 40,500 sq km
- No human activities
- State govt. notified
## Wildlife Sanctuaries
- 551 sanctuaries
- 118,900 sq km
- Limited activities allowed
- Grazing & timber collection
## Biosphere Reserves
- 18 reserves
- UNESCO recognition
- Multiple ecosystems
- Research focus
## Other Categories
- Conservation Reserves
- Community Reserves
- Tiger Reserves
- Ramsar SitesKey Differences in Protection Levels
Aspect | National Park | Wildlife Sanctuary | Biosphere Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|
Legal Status | Wildlife Protection Act | Wildlife Protection Act | UNESCO MAB Programme |
Human Settlement | Prohibited | May be allowed | Buffer zones allow settlements |
Activities | Research only | Limited grazing/collection | Research & education |
Boundary Changes | Parliament approval needed | State govt. can modify | Flexible zoning |
Primary Focus | Ecosystem protection | Species protection | Sustainable development |
Notable Examples by State
Uttarakhand: Jim Corbett (first National Park, 1936), Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
Rajasthan: Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park
Kerala: Silent Valley National Park, Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (first in India, 1986)
Assam: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park
Jim Corbett was India's first National Park (1936), not first sanctuary
Nilgiri was India's first Biosphere Reserve (1986)
Tiger Reserves can overlap with National Parks — they're not separate categories
Ramsar Sites are wetland-specific, not general protected area categories