Some Pro In Situ Conservation Points
Richard (rwhf195@soton.ac.uk)
Tue, 3 Mar 1998 22:57:29 GMT
One of the main benefits of in situ conservation is that in protecting the flagship species, the entire ecosystem is conserved. So, for example, the conservation of mountain gorillas in Rwanda also protects elephants and buffalo, and the forest cover for all the other species (Balmforth et al,1995). Following on from this is that if the flagship species is removed for captive breeding, you lose the justification for the protection of their habitat and the species found in it (Ibid.).
Other disadvantages of ex situ techniques, especially for faunal species, are the finite capacity of zoos and the risks of disease and domestication.
The ex situ approach does have a role to play, for example where large mammals face threats which cannot be eliminated, such as from wars or from introduced predators. Also they can provide a useful safeguard when a species is restricted to a single wild population, and additional vacant habitat is not available (Ibid.).
REFERENCE:
Balmford, A., Leader-Williams, N. and Green, M.J.B. (1995) ‘Parks or arks: where to conserve threatened mammals?’ Biodiversity and Conservation 4, 595-607
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