Biodiversity and environmental conservation — A/L Biology

What must I remember about Biodiversity and environmental conservation?

• Biodiversity conservation strategies are broadly classified into In-situ (on-site conservation within natural ecosystems) and Ex-situ (off-site conservation outside natural habitats).
• In-situ conservation modalities: National Parks (strictly protected wildlife habitats with controlled public visitation, e.g., Yala, Wilpattu), Strict Natural Reserves (scientific research only, zero tourism, e.g., Hakgala, Ritigala), Nature Reserves, Sanctuaries (private/public lands protected for wildlife), and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (Sinharaja, Hurulu, Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya).
• Ex-situ conservation modalities: Botanical Gardens (Peradeniya, Hakgala, Henarathgoda for rare floristic germplasm), Zoological Gardens (Dehiwala), Seed Banks (Plant Genetic Resources Centre - PGRC Gannoruwa storing desiccation-tolerant seeds at sub-zero temperatures), Cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (-196°C), and In-vitro tissue culture gene banks.
• Global Environmental Conventions: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, Rio 1992), CITES (regulating international wildlife trade in endangered species), Ramsar Convention (wetland protection, e.g., Bundala, Anawilundawa, Madu Ganga in Sri Lanka), and UNFCCC (climate change mitigation).
• Sustainable Development Principles: Balancing socioeconomic development with ecological integrity so current generations meet their resource needs without compromising future generations' capacity to meet their own.

Test yourself (1 minute)

1. In-situ vs Ex-situ tradeoffs

   In-situ maintains evolutionary adaptation and ecological interactions at landscape scale; Ex-situ serves as genetic insurance and facilitates captive breeding/propagation when natural populations face imminent wild extinction.

2. Ramsar Wetland Sites in Sri Lanka

   Bundala National Park (first Ramsar site in SL), Anawilundawa, Maduganga, Vankalai Sanctuary, Kumana wetland cluster, and Wilpattu Ramsar wetland cluster.

3. Core vs Buffer vs Transition Zones in Biosphere Reserves

   Core zone is strictly protected for zero human interference; Buffer zone permits non-destructive research and educational tourism; Transition zone allows sustainable local agroforestry and economic activity.

Practise Biodiversity and environmental conservation questions today

Source: NIE G.C.E. (A/L) Biology Syllabus & Resource Book, Unit 6

What should I study first?

Next in the syllabus

Where does Biodiversity and environmental conservation fit in the syllabus?

Year 2 · Term 2