In your opinion, which is the most effective way to conserve the plant diversity of an area?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Creation of a biosphere reserve
The plant diversity of an area is best kept by protecting the whole ecosystem where it is (in situ conservation): every plant, and the animals, soil and conditions it depends on, stay together.
Option (1) Tissue culture method — Incorrect. It multiplies chosen plants in the laboratory; it does not keep the diversity of an area.
Option (2) Creation of a biosphere reserve — Correct. A biosphere reserve protects the whole area as a natural ecosystem.
Option (3) Creation of a botanical garden — Incorrect. It is ex situ conservation of selected plants away from their habitat.
Option (4) Development of a seed bank — Incorrect. Seed banks store seeds of chosen varieties for long periods; they save species, not the living ecosystem.
NCERT Extract:
How Do We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all levels is protected - we save the entire forest to save the tiger. This approach is called in situ (on site) conservation. However, when there are situations where an animal or plant is endangered or threatened (organisms facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future) and needs urgent measures to save it from extinction, ex situ (off site) conservation is the desirable approach.”
Summary – “Biodiversity conservation may be in situ as well as ex situ. In in situ conservation, the endangered species are protected in their natural habitat so that the entire ecosystem is protected. … Our country’s in situ conservation efforts are reflected in its 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks, > 450 wildlife sanctuaries and many sacred groves. Ex situ conservation methods include protective maintenance of threatened species in zoological parks and botanical gardens, in vitro fertilisation, tissue culture propagation and cryopreservation of gametes.”