Ex-situ Conservation
Ex-situ conservation refers to the protection of biodiversity outside its natural habitat. It acts as a complementary strategy to in-situ conservation by safeguarding endangered species in controlled environments. This method is implemented through botanical gardens, zoological parks, gene banks, and cryopreservation facilities, which ensure the survival and regeneration of valuable species
Botanical Gardens and Zoological Parks
- India has established several botanical gardens for the ex-situ conservation of plant species. The Indian Botanical Garden in Howrah, West Bengal is one of the oldest in the country. Prominent botanical gardens also exist in Ooty, Bangalore, and Lucknow. A more recent example is the Botanical Garden of Indian Republic, set up in Noida in April 2002. It serves as a centre for ex-situ conservation, research, training, and public education on plant diversity.
- Similarly, zoological parks have played a major role in the ex-situ conservation of animal species. Besides serving as centres of education and recreation, they support captive breeding programs for endangered species. Notable successes include the Manipur Thamin Deer (Cervus eldi eldi), White-winged Wood Duck (Cairina scutulata), Gangetic Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), turtles, and the White Tiger.
Gene Banks
- Gene banks are vital for the preservation of genetic diversity in plants, animals, and fishes. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in New Delhi stores seeds of both cultivated crops and their wild relatives. The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, located in Karnal, Haryana, focuses on domesticated animals, while the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Lucknow conserves fish germplasm. These institutions ensure long-term genetic resource conservation.
Cryopreservation
- Cryopreservation involves storing biological materials at ultra-low temperatures (typically -196°C using liquid nitrogen) to halt all metabolic activity. This technique is particularly useful for vegetatively propagated crops and has been applied to meristems, zygote and somatic embryos, pollen grains, protoplasts, and suspension cultures. It is a crucial method for long-term conservation without genetic deterioration.
Molecular-level Conservation
- Modern biotechnology enables molecular-level conservation of biodiversity. DNA libraries, cloned DNA, and even non-viable biological materials stored in gene banks can be used to retrieve valuable genes. This allows for the preservation of genetic traits that may otherwise be lost, ensuring their availability for future research and breeding programs.
Legal Measures for Biodiversity Protection
- India has introduced several legal and policy measures to prevent poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and genetic resource exploitation.
- The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 provides for penalties and punishment against illegal trade and hunting. India is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which came into force on July 1, 1975, and regulates international trade in endangered flora and fauna.
- India also ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on December 29, 1993, during the Rio Earth Summit. The CBD has three primary objectives: conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
- In line with these international commitments, India passed the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which promotes conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing with local communities, ensuring the protection of traditional knowledge and genetic resources.