In-situ conservation

In-situ conservation means "on-site conservation". It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat, either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat itself, or by defending the species from predators. This term refers also to the conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species, such as forest genetic resources in natural populations of tree species, and is increasingly being applied to conservation of agricultural biodiversity in agroecosystems by farmers, especially those using unconventional farming practices. One benefit to in-situ conservation is that it maintains recovering populations in the surrounding where they have developed their distinctive properties. Another is that this strategy helps ensure the ongoing processes of evolution and adaptation within their environments. As a last resort, ex-situ conservation may be used on some or all of the population, when in-situ conservation is too difficult, or impossible.

Wildlife and livestock conservation is mostly based on in situ conservation. This involves the protection of wildlife habitats. Also, sufficiently large reserves are maintained to enable the target species to exist in large numbers. The population size must be sufficient to enable the necessary genetic diversity to survive within the population, so that it has a good chance of continuing to adapt and evolve over time. This reserve size can be calculated for target species by examining the population density in naturally-occurring situations. The reserves must then be protected from intrusion, or destruction by man, and against other catastrophes.

In agriculture, in situ conservation techniques are an effective way to improve, maintain and use traditional or native varieties of agricultural crops. Such methodologies link the positive output of scientific research with farmers experience and field work. First, the accessions of a variety stored at a germplasm bank and those of the same variety multiplied by farmers are jointly tested in the producers field and in the laboratory, under different situations and stresses. Thus, the scientific knowledge about the production characteristics of the native varieties is enhanced. Later, the best tested accessions are crossed / mixed and multiplied under replicable situations. At last, these improved accessions are supplied to the producers. Thus, farmers are enabled to crop improved selections of their own varieties, instead of being lured to substitute their own varieties with commercial ones or to abandon their crop. This technique of conservation of agricultural biodiversity is more successful in marginal areas, where commercial varieties are not expedient, due to climate and soil fertility constraints. Or where the taste and cooking characteristics of traditional varieties compensate for their lower yields^[1].

See also

• Agriculture
• Biodiversity
• Genetic Erosion
• Extinction
• World Conservation Union (IUCN)
• Reintroduction
• Food plot - the practice of planting crops specifically to support wildlife
• Habitat fragmentation
• Wildlife corridor
• Regional Red List

External links

• In-Situ Conservation, The Convention on Biological Diversity
• Ex-Situ Conservation, The Convention on Biological Diversity
• The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
• IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
• The Convention on Biological Diversity
• Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, IUCN
• In situ conservation

• Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, IUCN: CBSG “PHVA” Reports (Population and Habitat Viability Assessment)

• The World Wide Fund for Nature
• African Wild Dog Conservancy
• ONLINE BOOK: “In situ conservation of livestock and poultry”, 1992, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme

References

Other references

• Heywood, V.H. and M.E. Dullo (2005). In situ conservation of wild plant species a critical global review of good practices. FAO, IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute) Rome, Italy. http://www.bioversityinternational.org/Publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=1092.  174 p.
• Jarvis, D.I., L. Meyer, H. Klemick, L. Guarino, M. Smale, A.H.D. Brown, M. Sadiki, B. Sthapit and T. Hodgkin (2000). A Training Guide for In Situ Conservation On-farm. IPGRI, BMZ, Development Cooperation (Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs), FAO, GRST, GTZ, IDRC, SDC. http://www.bioversityinternational.org/Publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=611.  161 p.
• Jarvis, D., B. Sthapit and L. Sears, editors. (2000). Conserving agricultural biodiversity in situ: A scientific basis for sustainable agriculture.. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.. http://www.bioversityinternational.org/publications/Web%5Fversion/541/.