Conserving and safeguarding the entire ecosystem ensures the preservation of biodiversity at all levels, illustrating the principle of "saving the entire forest to protect the tiger." This approach is known as in situ (on-site) conservation. However, in certain cases where a particular animal or plant species is at risk of extinction and requires immediate intervention, ex situ (off-site) conservation becomes the preferred method. In situ conservation involves protecting the natural habitat and the various organisms that inhabit it, ensuring the continuity of their ecological processes. By preserving the ecosystem as a whole, we indirectly safeguard the survival of individual species, such as the tiger in the forest example. On the other hand, ex situ conservation focuses on taking endangered or threatened species out of their natural environment and placing them in specialised facilities, such as botanical gardens, zoos, or seed banks. This approach is essential when the species faces imminent extinction and requires immediate and dedicated efforts for its survival. These off-site facilities provide a controlled environment where proper care and breeding programs can be implemented to enhance the species' chances of survival and eventual reintroduction into the wild if possible.
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Biodiversity hotspots are regions of slow habitat loss.
Statement II: Biodiversity hotspots were identified for maximum protection because the number of species waiting to be saved from extinction far exceeds the conservation resources available.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Biodiversity hotspots are regions with very high levels of species richness and a high degree of endemism. Conservationists picked them out for maximum protection because there is not enough money and effort to save every species everywhere.
Statement I: Biodiversity hotspots are regions of slow habitat loss. — False. NCERT says the hotspots are regions of accelerated habitat loss. Their habitats are being lost fast, which is one more reason they need strict protection.
Statement II: Biodiversity hotspots were identified for maximum protection because the number of species waiting to be saved from extinction far exceeds the conservation resources available. — True. Many nations cannot conserve all their biological wealth. So, on a global basis, conservationists chose certain regions with the most species and endemic species for maximum protection.
NCERT Extract:
How do we Conserve Biodiversity? – “… Invariably, the number of species waiting to be saved from extinction far exceeds the conservation resources available. On a global basis, this problem has been addressed by eminent conservationists. They identified for maximum protection certain ‘biodiversity hotspots’ regions with very high levels of species richness and high degree of endemism (that is, species confined to that region and not found anywhere else). … These hotspots are also regions of accelerated habitat loss.”