In-situ conservation means protecting plants and animals in their natural environment. Instead of moving them to a zoo or garden, we safeguard their habitats, like forests and wetlands. Examples of In-situ conservation are national parks, Sacred Groves (SG), Biosphere Reserves, and Wildlife Sanctuaries etc.This way, they can live and grow naturally, helping to maintain a healthy balance in nature and preventing the loss of diverse species.
Sacred groves comprise of patches of forests or natural vegetation – from a few trees to forests of several acres – that are usually dedicated to local folk deities. These spaces are protected by local communities be- cause of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals that run through several generations.
In-situ conservation, also known as on-site conservation, involves preserving biodiversity in its natural habitats, such as national parks, biosphere reserves, and sanctuaries. On the other hand, ex-situ conservation focuses on conserving biological diversity outside its natural environment, using methods like zookeeping, captive breeding, aquariums, botanical gardens, and seed and gene banks.
