in situ conservation

In situ conservation is the most appropriate method to maintain species of wild animals and plants in their natural habiats. This approach in-cludes protection of total ecosystems through a network of protected areasThe common natural habitats (protectedareas) that have been set for in situ conservation ofwild animals and plants include —1. National parks2. Wildlife sanctuaries3. Biosphere reserves4. Several wetlands, tnangrooves and coralreefs.5. Sacred grooves and Lakes.In situ conservation ilso includes the intro-duction of plants and ani mal species back intoagricultural, horticultural and animal husbandrypractices so that they are cultivated/reproduced fortheir reuse by the farmers/animal husbandrypeople. Farmers and horticulturists have beentraditionally maintaining large genetic diversity ofcrop plants/flowers by savir g seeds for next plant-ing season by a wide variety of indegenously developed practices. For example, tubers,rhizomes, bulbs and seeds of large variety of plant species ai e stored by the far ners/horticulturists fortheir cultivation in the next sieason. Similarly, native species of cattle, which are better adapted to dis-eases, drought and other adverse conditions, arebeing maintained by animal husbandry people.