In situ conservation involves the protection of species in their natural habitats. It helps in the conservation of
threatened/endangered species via following means :
(i) Biodiversity hotspots are regions with high levels of species richness and high degree of endemism (i.e. species confined to that region are not found anywhere else). Hotspots cover less than 2% of the earth’s land area.
(a) The total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world are 34.
(b) These hotspots are regions of accelerated habitat loss.
(c) Three hotspots which cover India’s biodiversity regions are Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Himalaya.
(d) These hotspots can reduce the ongoing mass extinctions by almost 30%.
(ii) Protected areas are ecologically unique and biodiversity rich regions. These are legally protected as biosphere reserves, national parks and sanctuaries.
(a) India has 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries.
(b) The first national park set up in India was Jim Corbett National Park.
(iii) Sacred groves are forest areas set aside, all the trees and wildlife within it are venerated and given total protection. These are religious and cultural places, which are protected. Some of the sacred groves in India are: Western Ghat regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan. Sarguja, Chanda and Bastar areas of Madhya Pradesh.