Biodiversity conservation can be defined as the protection, upliftment and management of biodiversity in order to achieve sustainable benefits for present and future generations.

What is Biodiversity Conservation?

Biodiversity conservation is the protection and management of biodiversity to get resources for sustainable development.

Biodiversity conservation has three main objectives:

To preserve the diversity of species.
Sustainable utilization of species and ecosystem.
To maintain life-supporting systems and essential ecological processes.

Biodiversity and its Conservation Methods

Variability of life on Earth can be defined as Biodiversity. It can be conserved in the following ways:

In-situ Conservation
Ex-situ Conservation

In-situ Conservation

In-situ conservation of biodiversity is the way conservation of species takes place within the natural habitat. In this method, the natural ecosystem is maintained and guarded.

The in-situ conservation has several advantages. Following are the important advantages of in-situ conservation:

It is the most cost-saving and easy method of conserving biodiversity.
A large number of living organisms are often conserved simultaneously.
Since the organisms are a part of the natural ecosystem, they will evolve better and may easily suit different environmental conditions.

National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves are certain places where in-situ conservation takes place include

National Parks

These are small reserves maintained by the government. Its boundaries are well fenced and human and animal activities like grazing, forestry, habitat and cultivation are prohibited. For eg., Kanha National Park, Bandipur National Park.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries are the places where only wild animals are found. Human activities like timber harvesting, cultivation, collection of woods and other forest products are allowed here till the time they do not interfere with the conservation project. Also, tourists visit these places for recreation.

Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves can be defined as multi-purpose protected places where the wildlife, traditional lifestyle of the inhabitants and domesticated plants and animals are protected. Tourist and research activities are permitted here.

Ex-situ Conservation

Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity involves the breeding and maintenance of species in artificial ecosystems like zoos, nurseries, botanical gardens, gene banks, etc. There is minimal competition for food, water and space among the organisms

Ex-situ conservation has the following advantages:

The animals are given an extended time and breeding activity.
The species bred in captivity are often reintroduced within the wild.
Genetic techniques are often used for the preservation of species.

Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation

Following are the important strategies for biodiversity conservation:

All the sorts of food, timber plants, livestock, microbes and agricultural animals should be conserved.
Unique ecosystems should be preserved first.
The resources should be utilized efficiently.
Poaching and hunting of untamed animals should be prevented.
The reserves and guarded areas should be developed carefully.
The levels of pollutants should be lessened in the environment.
Deforestation should be strictly prohibited.
Environmental laws should be followed strictly.
The useful species of plants and animals should be conserved in their nature and also as artificial habitats.

Importance of Conserving Biodiversity

It is believed that a place with higher species abundance features a more stable environment compared to a place with lower species abundance. We can further claim the need for biodiversity by considering our degree of dependency on the environment. We are directly dependent on various species of plant for our different needs. Similarly, we rely on various species of animals and microbes for various reasons.

Because of the loss of habitat, over-exploitation of resources, climatic changes, pollution, invasive exotic species, diseases, hunting, etc., biodiversity is being lost. Since it provides us with several economic and ethical benefits and adds aesthetic value, it is vital to conserve biodiversity.

Biodiversity Conservation Map

Biodiversity conservation is one of the major concerns that need to be addressed. The concept map of biodiversity and conservation highlights the methods of biodiversity conservation and the consequences of loss of biodiversity in a flowchart format. Let's have a look at the Conservation map to understand the concept well.

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FAQs on Biodiversity and Conservation Concept Map

1. What is biodiversity conservation as explained in a concept map?

A concept map for biodiversity conservation visually outlines the protection, management, and preservation of Earth's variety of life. It connects the core definition—the safeguarding of species and ecosystems—to its main goals, methods like in-situ and ex-situ conservation, and the reasons why it is necessary, such as habitat loss and over-exploitation.

2. What are the two main approaches to biodiversity conservation?

The two main approaches or strategies for biodiversity conservation are:

In-situ conservation: This method involves protecting species within their natural habitats. Examples include establishing National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves.
Ex-situ conservation: This method involves conserving species outside of their natural habitats in specially created facilities like zoos, botanical gardens, and gene banks.

3. How does in-situ conservation differ from ex-situ conservation? Provide examples.

In-situ conservation focuses on protecting an entire ecosystem, which allows species to evolve and adapt naturally within their environment. An example is the Bandipur National Park. In contrast, ex-situ conservation involves removing a species from its threatened habitat and placing it in a protected, human-managed environment like a botanical garden or zoo. This is often a critical strategy for saving critically endangered species from extinction.

4. What are the primary objectives for conserving biodiversity according to the CBSE syllabus?

As per the CBSE Class 12 curriculum for 2025-26, the three primary objectives for conserving biodiversity are:

To preserve the full spectrum of species diversity, from microbes to mammals.
To ensure the sustainable utilisation of species and ecosystems for human needs.
To maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems, such as pollination and nutrient cycling.

5. Why is it crucial to conserve biodiversity?

Conserving biodiversity is crucial because humans are fundamentally dependent on other species for essential resources like food, medicine, and industrial products. Furthermore, ecosystems with high biodiversity are more stable and resilient, providing critical services such as water purification, pollination, and climate regulation. There are also strong ethical reasons to protect all life forms for future generations.

6. What are some key examples of in-situ conservation sites in India mentioned in the NCERT curriculum?

The NCERT curriculum for Class 12 highlights several key in-situ conservation sites in India. These include:

National Parks: Such as Kanha National Park and Bandipur National Park, where human activities are highly restricted.
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Where wildlife is protected, but some controlled human activities like timber collection might be allowed if they do not harm the local fauna.
Biosphere Reserves: Large, multi-purpose protected areas that conserve wildlife, traditional lifestyles of inhabitants, and genetic resources of plants and animals.

7. How does a concept map visually represent the strategies for biodiversity conservation?

A concept map is a powerful tool for visual learning. For biodiversity conservation, it typically starts with the central idea and branches out to show the main categories (e.g., In-situ vs. Ex-situ), sub-categories (e.g., National Parks vs. Zoos), and the reasons for action (e.g., habitat loss). This helps students to quickly grasp the hierarchical structure of the topic and understand the relationship between different conservation strategies and their goals.

8. Beyond providing resources, what is the ethical argument for protecting all forms of life?

The ethical argument for biodiversity conservation holds that every species has an intrinsic value and a right to exist, completely independent of its usefulness to humans. This perspective emphasizes our moral responsibility to protect the planet's rich biological heritage for its own sake and to act as responsible stewards of the Earth for future generations.

9. Why is an ecosystem with high species diversity generally more stable?

An ecosystem with high species diversity is more stable because it has a more complex food web and greater functional redundancy. If one species declines due to disease or environmental change, other species can often fulfil a similar ecological role (niche). This resilience prevents the collapse of the entire ecosystem, making it better able to withstand and recover from disturbances.

10. How can protected areas like National Parks and Biosphere Reserves be distinguished from each other?

While both are types of in-situ conservation, they differ in their scope and approach to human activity:

National Parks have strictly defined boundaries and are focused on protecting the natural environment and its wildlife with very limited, controlled human activity.
Biosphere Reserves are much larger areas with a zoned structure. They have a core area with absolute protection, a buffer zone for research and education, and a transition zone where sustainable human activities and settlements are permitted, aiming to balance conservation with human development.