In-situ conservation means protecting plant and animal species in their natural habitats, such as forests where tree species live. This method helps keep the environment healthy and ensures ecosystems remain balanced.

The opposite approach is ex situ conservation, which involves moving endangered species to a different location. These species are kept in places like seed banks and gene banks, where people help protect them.

Methods

Nature reserves, also called biosphere reserves, are large areas that help protect wildlife and their environments. These areas are often larger than 5,000 km² (1,900 square miles). They are created to protect species over long periods of time. There are three types of nature reserves:

• Strict Natural Areas
• Managed Natural Areas
• Wilderness Areas

Strict natural areas are set aside to protect the natural state of a region. They are not specifically created to protect certain species. Managed natural areas are created to protect specific species or groups of animals that are at risk of disappearing. These areas are carefully managed to provide the best possible habitat for the species living there. Wilderness areas serve two purposes: they protect natural regions and offer recreational opportunities, such as hiking or camping, without allowing motorized vehicles.

A national park is an area that focuses on protecting wildlife and their environments. National parks also help preserve natural scenery and historical objects. These areas are usually smaller, covering about 100 to 500 km² (40 to 200 square miles). Sometimes, national parks can be found within biosphere reserves.

Wildlife sanctuaries provide better living conditions for animals that are moved there. These areas have habitats designed to allow animals to behave in ways that are natural for their species. Animals that have lived in zoos, circuses, or laboratories are often placed in sanctuaries to live the rest of their lives with more freedom.

Some international groups focus on protecting areas called biodiversity hotspots. According to Conservation International, a region qualifies as a biodiversity hotspot if it meets two conditions:

• It must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants that are found only in that area (about 0.5% of the world’s total).
• It must have lost at least 70% of its original habitat.

Biodiversity hotspots cover only 1.4% of Earth’s land area, but they are home to more than half of the planet’s species.

A gene sanctuary is an area where plants are protected. These areas include biosphere reserves and national parks. Biosphere reserves were created in the 1970s to protect biodiversity while also supporting sustainable development. Each biosphere reserve has three parts: a core area, a buffer zone, and a transition zone. These zones work together to balance conservation and human development.

Since 2004, about 459 conservation areas have been created in 97 countries, 30 years after the biosphere reserve concept was first introduced.

Benefits

One benefit of in situ conservation is that it helps keep populations safe in the environment where they naturally live and develop their unique traits. Another benefit is that this method supports the natural process of species changing and adapting over time. If in situ conservation is too difficult or impossible, ex situ conservation may be used for some or all of the population. This method allows species to survive natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and forest fires. It also costs less money and is easier to use compared to other methods.

Reserves

Wildlife and livestock conservation helps protect the homes of wild animals and farm animals. Large enough areas must be kept to allow target species to live in large numbers. Enough animals must live there to keep their genes varied, so they can keep changing and growing stronger as time passes. Scientists look at how many animals live in certain areas in nature to figure out how big the reserves need to be. These areas must be kept safe from people who might harm them and from other big problems like fires or storms.

Agriculture

In agriculture, in situ conservation methods help improve, keep, and use traditional or native crop varieties. These methods connect scientific research results with farmers' knowledge and work in the fields.

First, samples of a crop variety stored in a germplasm bank and those grown by farmers are tested together in the field and in the lab under different conditions and challenges. This helps scientists learn more about how native varieties grow and produce. Later, the best samples are crossed, mixed, and grown under conditions that can be repeated. Finally, these improved samples are given back to the farmers.

This allows farmers to grow better versions of their own varieties instead of switching to commercial ones or giving up on their crops. This conservation method works better in areas with poor soil or harsh climates, where commercial crops don't grow well, or where traditional varieties are preferred for their taste and cooking qualities even if they produce less.

In India

Approximately 4% of India's total land area is used to protect plants and animals in their natural habitats.

India has 18 biosphere reserves, such as Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand, Nokrek in Meghalaya, Manas National Park in Assam, and Sundarban in West Bengal.

There are 106 national parks in India. Examples include Kaziranga National Park, which helps protect one-horned rhinos; Periyar National Park, which helps protect tigers and elephants; and Ranthambore National Park, which helps protect tigers.

India has 551 wildlife sanctuaries.

Important areas for biodiversity are the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region, and the Sundaland.

India created its first gene sanctuary in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya to protect wild relatives of citrus. Work is also underway to create gene sanctuaries for banana, sugarcane, rice, and mango.

Community reserves were established in India in 2002 through the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act. These reserves give legal protection to forests owned by communities or private individuals that cannot be classified as national parks or wildlife sanctuaries.

Sacred groves are areas of forest where all trees and wildlife are revered and completely protected.

In China

China has 2,538 nature reserves that cover 15% of the country's land. Most of these protected areas are located in the western regions of Tibet, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. These provinces together make up about 56% of all nature reserves in China.

Eastern and southern China are home to 90% of the country's population, and these areas have fewer nature reserves. In these regions, nature reserves often compete with human development projects, such as those for roads and buildings. This competition has led to the South China tiger leaving its natural habitat.

In eastern and southern China, many natural landscapes are broken up into smaller pieces. However, nature reserves in these areas may still offer important shelter for key species and help protect important ecosystem services.