BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity?
Narrowly Utilitarian Arguments:
- These are direct and obvious reasons for conserving biodiversity. Humans derive numerous economic benefits from nature, including food, firewood, fiber, construction materials, and various industrial products. Additionally, a significant portion of the drugs available worldwide are derived from plants, with thousands of plant species contributing to traditional medicines used by indigenous peoples. Nations with rich biodiversity stand to gain enormous economic benefits from bioprospecting, the exploration of molecular, genetic, and species-level diversity for economically valuable products.
Broadly Utilitarian Arguments:
- Biodiversity plays a crucial role in providing ecosystem services essential for human well-being. For example, the Amazon forest, despite its rapid decline, produces approximately 20% of the Earth's oxygen through photosynthesis. This ecosystem service, along with others like pollination by bees, birds, and bats, is invaluable. Additionally, biodiversity contributes to intangible benefits such as aesthetic pleasure, such as enjoying walks in nature or observing wildlife, which are difficult to quantify but enhance our quality of life.
Ethical Argument:
- This argument emphasizes our moral responsibility to conserve biodiversity. Every species has intrinsic value, regardless of its economic utility to humans. We owe it to millions of plant, animal, and microbial species with whom we share the planet to ensure their well-being and pass on our biological legacy intact to future generations. Recognizing and respecting the value of all species reflects a philosophical or spiritual appreciation for the interconnectedness and diversity of life on Earth.
In-situ Conservation
- In situ conservation involves the protection and preservation of ecosystems and habitats in their natural surroundings to safeguard biodiversity. This approach aims to maintain the integrity of entire ecosystems to protect the diverse range of species they support.
- By conserving entire ecosystems, all levels of biodiversity, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, are protected. This holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of species within ecosystems and the importance of preserving their natural habitats.
- Conservation efforts often focus on biodiversity hotspots, regions with exceptionally high levels of species richness and endemism. These areas are prioritized for protection due to the high concentration of unique species and the accelerated rate of habitat loss they face.
- Conservationists have identified 34 biodiversity hotspots worldwide, including regions like the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and the Himalayas in India. These hotspots cover a small percentage of the Earth's land area but harbor a significant portion of global biodiversity.
- In India, ecologically unique and biodiversity-rich regions are legally protected through biosphere reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. Sacred groves, traditional areas set aside for conservation in various cultures, also play a role in protecting biodiversity in regions like Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Sacred groves are revered and protected areas within cultural traditions, serving as sanctuaries for rare and threatened plant and animal species. They highlight the intersection of cultural practices and biodiversity conservation, demonstrating the importance of community involvement in conservation efforts.
Ex-situ Conservation
- Ex situ conservation involves the removal of threatened animals and plants from their natural habitat and placing them in controlled environments where they can be protected and cared for. Facilities such as zoological parks, botanical gardens, and wildlife safari parks play a crucial role in ex situ conservation efforts.
- Ex situ conservation helps safeguard species that are endangered or extinct in the wild by providing a safe haven for their survival. Zoological parks, for example, maintain populations of species that have become extinct or are critically endangered in their natural habitats.
- Ex situ conservation has evolved beyond mere captivity, with advancements in techniques such as cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization, and tissue culture. These methods allow for the preservation of gametes, embryos, and plant tissues, enabling the long-term storage and propagation of threatened species.
- Seed banks are repositories for storing seeds of various plant species, including genetically diverse strains of commercially important plants. These seeds can be preserved for extended periods, ensuring the conservation of plant biodiversity and contributing to agricultural and ecological sustainability.
- Biodiversity conservation transcends national boundaries and requires collective action from all nations. International agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity, established during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, emphasize the importance of conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity resources.
- The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 saw 190 countries pledge their commitment to significant reductions in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, highlighting the global recognition of the urgency of biodiversity conservation efforts.
Cryopreservation
- Cryopreservation is a technique used to preserve biological material, such as gametes (sperm and eggs), embryos, and tissues, at very low temperatures.
- It allows for the long-term storage of genetic material in a viable and fertile state, even for species that are threatened or endangered.
- Biological samples are carefully collected and treated with cryoprotectants to prevent ice crystal formation during freezing. They are then cooled to ultra-low temperatures, typically below -150°C, using specialized equipment such as liquid nitrogen tanks.
- Cryopreservation enables the conservation of genetic diversity and facilitates assisted reproduction techniques, ensuring the preservation of endangered species' genetic material for future conservation efforts.
In-vitro Fertilisation
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a reproductive technology used to fertilize eggs with sperm outside the body, typically in a laboratory setting.
- It allows for the controlled fertilization of eggs, particularly in species where natural breeding is challenging or impossible.
- Eggs and sperm are collected from individuals and brought together in a culture dish under controlled conditions. Fertilized embryos are then monitored and, if viable, may be implanted into surrogate mothers for gestation.
- IVF is utilized in ex situ conservation to breed and maintain populations of endangered species, especially those facing reproductive challenges or low fertility rates in natural settings.
- Tissue culture, also known as micropropagation, involves the growth and maintenance of plant cells, tissues, or organs in an artificial nutrient medium under sterile conditions.
- It allows for the rapid multiplication of plant material and the regeneration of whole plants from small tissue samples.
- Small pieces of plant tissue, such as shoot tips or leaf fragments, are sterilized and placed on a nutrient medium containing hormones and other growth factors. The tissue proliferates and develops into new plants, which can be transferred to soil for further growth.
- Tissue culture is used to propagate rare or endangered plant species, produce disease-free plant material, and conserve genetic diversity in ex situ collections like botanical gardens and seed banks.
Seed Banks
- Seed banks are facilities that store seeds of various plant species under controlled conditions for long-term preservation.
- They serve as repositories of genetic diversity, ensuring the conservation of plant biodiversity and facilitating research, restoration, and agricultural practices.
- Seeds are collected from wild populations or cultivated plants, cleaned, dried to low moisture content, and stored in airtight containers at low temperatures to maintain viability.
- Seed banks provide a crucial resource for ex situ conservation efforts, preserving seeds of endangered or rare plant species and safeguarding against loss of genetic diversity due to habitat destruction, climate change, or other threats.