In-Situ Conservation

 

Conservation of wildlife in its natural habitat is termed in-situ conservation. This approach involves protecting the natural habitat through a network of protected areas i.e. biosphere reserves (18), national parks (104), and wildlife sanctuaries (543). 4.7 percent of the land surface in India is covered by these protected areas for the conservation of wildlife.

 

In Situ Conservation Examples

National Parks:

 

It is an area reserved for the conservation of wildlife and human activities like forestry, grazing, or cultivation are prohibited. There are 104 national parks in India covering an area of 40,501 sq. km.

 

Do you know when was the first national park established in India?

 

It was established in 1936 in Uttarakhand. It was known as Hailey National Park which was later changed to Jim Corbett National Park.

 

Here is the list of some well-known national parks in India:

 

� Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
� Gir Forest National Park (Gujarat)
� Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
� Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan)
� Bandipur National Park (Karnataka)
� Dachigam National Park (Jammu and Kashmir)
� Rajaji National Park (Uttarakhand)
� Silent Valley (Kerala)

 

Wildlife Sanctuaries:

 

It is similar to national parks. It is also a protected area reserved for the conservation of wildlife. Special care is taken of the endangered species at wildlife sanctuaries. It takes care of the plant species as well so human activities like harvesting, timber collection, minor forest products, and private ownership rights are allowed.

 

There are 543 wildlife sanctuaries in India with 50 tiger reserves governed by Project Tiger. Other projects like Project Rhino, Project Indian Bustard, and some eco-developmental projects have been launched in India. Project Tiger, one of the most successful conservation ventures, was launched in India by Kailash Sankhala on 1st April 1973.

Let�s have a look at some objectives of Project Tiger:

 

� It aims at ensuring that a good number of Bengal tigers can survive in their natural habitats.
� Human exploitation and biotic disturbance should be eliminated from the core area.
� The project aims at conserving tigers in tiger reserves present in India.

 

Biosphere Reserves:

 

It has become important to protect animals and plants. Conservation is quite challenging but if human beings want to survive then they must conserve and protect the species of animals and plants. Biosphere reserves are the protected areas of land or coastal environment in which the land is divided into different zones to be used for various purposes.

 

The natural or core zone is an undisturbed ecosystem that is legally protected. The core area is surrounded by the buffer zone. It accommodates a large variety of resource use strategies. The outermost part is the transition zone. It is an area that protects the animal, plants, and human communities which live in these regions.

Some of the biosphere reserves in India are Nanda Devi, Manas, Dibru Saikhowa, Great Nicobar, Sunderbans, Pachmarhi, Lachchh, Cold desert, etc.

 

So, what are the objectives of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves? It includes:

 

1. Protecting natural habitats through limited use of species.
2. Conserving wildlife by establishing protected areas through the legislature.
3. Conducting research in specific areas of wildlife.
4. Maintaining the number of species in the protected areas.
5. Educating the public to protect wildlife.

 

In Situ Conservation - MCQs

1. Which is the first national park established in India?
a) Kaziranga National Park
b) Ranthambore National Park
c) Dachigam National Park
d) Jim Corbett National Park

 

2. When was Project Tiger launched in India?
a) 1972
b) 1970
c) 1980
d) 1973

 

3. Which of the following is not a zone of biosphere reserve?
a) Buffer zone
b) Transition zone
c) Core zone
d) Mid zone

 

4. How many tiger reserves are there in India?
a) 42
b) 60
c) 55
d) 50

 

5. Which of the following is not a biosphere reserve?
a) Lachchh
b) Great Nicobar
c) Sunderbans
d) Silent Valley

 

Read More:

 

What is Ex Situ Conservation? Wildlife Conservation Projects Examples