Save Endangered Species
Nothing could be nobler than preventing a species from the threat of extinction. Hundreds of trees and plants are under the category of ‘critically endangered’ and unless serious effort is taken on the conservation front, most of these species would soon remain only in our memories.
Species Endangerment – The 3600 view
Man has surveyed remote galaxies and has stood on the surface of moon but has not so far come any where near to completing a taxonomic catalogue of the fewer than half a million species of higher plants growing on our planet (Bevenmit atall 2001). The gravity of the situation is severe in tropics for various reasons, the foremost being habitat destruction and over exploitation leading to loss of bio-diversity, essential for the sustenance of life on earth ( N Sasidharan 2004). The earth summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 underlined the necessity of conserving bio-diversity. Since then this theme gained prime consideration of governments and scientists and voluntary organizations all over the world.
Conservation
Genetic resources conservation involves managing and using resources in a manner that does not deplete them. The major objective of conservation is to safeguard plant genetic diversity from deterioration or loss by a variety of causes. Conservation methods vary with biological factors. IUCN advocates the need to conserve bio-diversity at three levels:
- Genetic diversity
- Species diversity
- Eco-system diversity
While considering the conservation strategies, four questions need to be addressed :
- What are to be conserved?
- Why are they to be conserved?
- Where are they to be conserved?
- How are they to be conserved?
Conservation
The immediate step needed in plant conservation is the preparation of the status report on the population of RET plants, present and past distribution data as well as information regarding the reproductive mode and capacity and possible threats including land use management and natural eco-system. The immediate questions to be answered in order to prepare accurate and valid plant lists for conservation measures are:
- What species are endangered?
- What is the general distribution of these species in the region?
- Are the plant species, sub-species or variety, a valid taxon, a rarely produced hybrid, polyploidy, bud sport or mutant?
- Are the species truly endangered or likely to become vulnerable or extinct?
The IUCN recognized Red list categories are :
- Extinct (EX)
- Extinct in the Wild (EW)
- Critically Endangered (CR)
- Endangered (EN)
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Lower Risk (LR)
- Conservation Dependent (cd)
- Near Threatened (nt)
- Least Concern (lc)
- Data Deficient (DD) and
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Why are they to be conserved?
Many of us implicitly believe that we should conserve nature but few of us can give a rational explanation, why? If we think deeper, we realize that conserving nature is a question of maintaining the choices available to us in the future for resolving the unpredictable problems we will have to face. Conservation is not just altruism, It’s survival. But why?
- Because we do not know what we are losing
- Because we do not know what we will need
- Because we do not know what we will want and love or
- Because of the sheer philosophical realization that this plant has started its journey 60 million years ago in the lower cretaceous period; let us not block its way step aside, let it proceed unhindered.
Where are they to be conserved?
The answer is: Conservation in the natural sites along with other natural associates. If the natural sites are under threat, they can be introduced into herbal and botanical gardens and gene banks. But eventually they have to be introduced in appropriate habitats elsewhere, where a natural population can subsequently develop.
How are they to be conserved?
The best way is the in-situ conservation; the next best is the ex-situ conservation in botanic gardens and gene banks.
Ex-situ conservation
This refers to maintaining the available diversity in field gene banks, in gene banks, in vitro gene banks and botanical and herbal gardens. Most of the agro bio-diversity of crop species is maintained and conserved ex-situ. Medicinal plants are conserved mainly in the herbal gardens.
The sacred duty
We can not predict what natural products we will require in the future, nor what plants, animals, insects, micro-organisms can provide us with new drugs, new raw materials and new food stuff. Conservation allows us to have a wider range of resources to call upon to face the changing world (UNESCO, 1985).
Apart from the usefulness, we also want enjoy nature; as the poets, musicians and painters throughout the centuries, we feel inspired, our spirits lifted by the beautiful and bizarre plants and animals around us. Natural diversity adds to the quality of life in all respects, it keeps us psychologically stimulated and enables us to withstand the dreariness of assault and monocultures (UNESCO, 1985).
It is the sacred duty of today’s generation to preserve this nature and its resources for the generations of tomorrow.
Save a species
Shanthivanam requests individuals and organizations to come forward to sponsor conservation and propagation of one species of plant under the list of ‘critically endangered plants’. The expense for planting and maintaining 100 plants under a particular species has to be borne by the sponsor. With more broad minded individuals coming forward, the threat of extinction can soon be erased from our minds.
How are they to be conserved?
The best way is the in-situ conservation; the next best is the ex-situ conservation in botanic gardens and gene banks.