Write an explanatory note on In situ conservation.

(N/A) In situ (on-site) conservation is the conservation and protection of the whole ecosystem and its biodiversity at all levels to protect threatened species.
However,it is not economically feasible to conserve all biological wealth in all existing ecosystems.
- Methods used in in situ conservation are:
- Biodiversity hotspots: Biodiversity hotspots are an approach for in situ conservation.
Eminent conservationists have identified certain regions for maximum protection; these regions are called biodiversity hotspots.
These are regions with very high levels of species richness,a high degree of endemism (species confined to a region and not found anywhere else),and accelerated habitat loss.
Initially,$25$ biodiversity hotspots were identified.
- Now,there are $34$ hotspots all over the world.
- Three hotspots are in India,i.e.,Western Ghats and Sri Lanka,Indo-Burma,and Eastern Himalaya.
- If all biodiversity hotspots are put together,they cover less than $2 \%$ of the earth's land area but harbour extremely high diversity.
- Ongoing mass extinction could be reduced by $30 \%$ through strict protection of these hotspots.
- Protected Areas: Protected areas are dedicated areas for the protection and maintenance of ecologically unique and biodiversity-rich regions. Protected areas are classified as:
$(a)$ National Parks: These are government-maintained areas reserved for the betterment of wildlife,where activities such as cultivation,grazing,forestry,and habitat manipulation are not allowed.
- The first National Park established in India in $1936$ was Hailey's National Park (now Jim Corbett National Park).
$(b)$ Sanctuaries: These are tracts of land with or without lakes where wild animals/fauna can take refuge without being hunted.
- Other activities like the collection of forest products,harvesting of timber,private ownership of land,etc.,are allowed here.
$(c)$ Biosphere Reserves: These are large tracts of protected land with multiple uses,preserving the genetic diversity of the ecosystem by protecting wildlife,the traditional lifestyles of tribals,and varied plant and animal genetic resources.
- They have been set up under the $MAB$ (Man and the Biosphere) programme of $UNESCO$.