User:Bubbafamily/In-situ conservation

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Its converse is ex situ conservation, where threatened species are moved to another location. These can include places like seed libraries, gene banks and more where they are protected through human intervention

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Nature reserves (or biosphere reserves) cover very large areas, often more than 5000 km2. They are used to protect species for a long time. There are 3 different classifications for these reserves:


 * Strict Natural Areas
 * Managed Natural Areas
 * Wilderness Areas

Strict natural areas are creates to protect the state of nature in a given region. It is not made for the purpose of protecting any species within its limits. managed natural areas alternatively are made specifically for the purpose of protecting a certain species or community that is at the point it may be at risk being in a strict natural area. This is a more controlled environment that is created to be the most optimal habitat for the species concerned to thrive. Finally, a wilderness area serves a dual purpose of providing a protection for the natural region as well as providing recreational opportunities for patrons (excluding motorized transport)

Wildlife sanctuaries can provide a higher quality of life for animals who are moved there. These animals are placed in specialized habitats that allows for more species-specific behaviors to take place. Wildlife sanctuaries are often used for animals that have been in zoos, circuses, laboratories and more for a long time, and then live the rest of their lives with greater autonomy in these habitats.

A gene sanctuary is an area where plants are conserved. It includes both biosphere reserves as well as national parks. Biosphere reserves are developed to be both a place for biodiversity conservation as well as sustainable development. The concept was first developed in the 1970s and include a core, buffer and transition zones. These zones act together to harmonize the conservation and development aspects of the biosphere.

Since 2004, and 30 years following the invention of the biosphere reserve concept, there have been about 459 conservation areas developed in 97 countries.

Biodiversity hotspots
Several international organizations focus their conservation work on areas designated as biodiversity hotspots.

According to Conservation International, to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot a region must meet two strict criteria:


 * it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (∆ 0.5% of the world's total) as endemics,
 * it has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat.

Biodiversity hotspots make up 1.4% of the earth's land area, yet they contain more than half of our planets species.

In China
China has up to 2538 nature reserves which covers 15% of the entire country.

The majority of in situ conservation areas are largely concentrated in the regions of Tibet, Qinghai and Xinjiang. these provinces take up about 56% of the nature reserves in china, and are all western provinces.

Eastern and southern china contain 90% of the country's population, and in these areas there is a significant lack of nature reserves. In these spaces nature reserves actively compete with human development projects to support a growing demand for infrastructure. A consequence of this competing development is the movement of the south china tiger out of its natural habitat

In eastern and southern china many natural landscapes that remain undeveloped are fragmented, however nature reserves may provide crucial refuge for key species as well as ecosystem services.