Conservation methods are divided into two types.In situ conservation protects species in their natural habitat. Methods include:
• national parks, nature reserves and marine protected areas, where development and hunting are restricted;
• habitat management, such as controlling grazing, coppicing woodland or removing invasive species;
• wildlife corridors linking fragmented habitats so animals can move and breed between them;
• laws against hunting, collecting and trading endangered species.
In situ conservation protects the whole ecosystem and the interactions between species, and organisms keep their natural behaviour. However, it may fail if a threat such as poaching cannot be controlled.Ex situ conservation protects species outside their natural habitat. Methods include:
• zoos running captive breeding programmes, which may reintroduce animals to the wild. The Arabian oryx was extinct in the wild by 1972 but was bred in zoos and reintroduced to Oman from 1982;
• botanic gardens, which grow rare plants;
• seed banks, which store seeds dried and frozen at about −20 °C so they stay viable for decades or longer. The Millennium Seed Bank at Kew stores seeds of more than 40,000 plant species, and samples are tested regularly to check that they still germinate.
Ex situ conservation protects species from immediate threats and preserves genetic diversity, but it is expensive and only small numbers can be kept.Zoos and seed banks also support research, and zoos educate the public and raise money for conservation.
• national parks, nature reserves and marine protected areas, where development and hunting are restricted;
• habitat management, such as controlling grazing, coppicing woodland or removing invasive species;
• wildlife corridors linking fragmented habitats so animals can move and breed between them;
• laws against hunting, collecting and trading endangered species.
In situ conservation protects the whole ecosystem and the interactions between species, and organisms keep their natural behaviour. However, it may fail if a threat such as poaching cannot be controlled.Ex situ conservation protects species outside their natural habitat. Methods include:
• zoos running captive breeding programmes, which may reintroduce animals to the wild. The Arabian oryx was extinct in the wild by 1972 but was bred in zoos and reintroduced to Oman from 1982;
• botanic gardens, which grow rare plants;
• seed banks, which store seeds dried and frozen at about −20 °C so they stay viable for decades or longer. The Millennium Seed Bank at Kew stores seeds of more than 40,000 plant species, and samples are tested regularly to check that they still germinate.
Ex situ conservation protects species from immediate threats and preserves genetic diversity, but it is expensive and only small numbers can be kept.Zoos and seed banks also support research, and zoos educate the public and raise money for conservation.