Question

Many plants and animal species are on the verge of their extinction because of the loss of forest land by indiscriminate use by humans. As a biology student, what method would you suggest along with its advantages that can protect such threatened species from getting extinct?

Answer 1

Hint: If the forest area is lost, plants and animals tend to lose their habitat, and slowly the particular species gets lost in the entire globe leading to extinction. We should join together to protect the forest and its species such as plants and animals by safeguarding the existing species and also increasing their population.

Complete answer:
As a student of biology I would think of the following methods that can protect these endangered species from extinction:
1. Ex- situ conservation - Threatened plant and animal species are removed from their habitats and kept in special settings, such as zoos, botanical gardens, and wildlife parks.
The advantages of Ex- situ conservation are:
- Protects the organism
- Helps in maintaining their number
- Prevent them from becoming extinct
2. Nowadays, endangered species gametes can be preserved by methods such as cryopreservation and can be fertilized in vitro followed by propagation by methods of tissue culture. The seeds can be conserved in seed banks for plant species. This method is called an off- site method meaning a method of conservation from outside the site.
Advantages include,
- Offsite collection may be used to restore depleted populations, reintroduce wildlife species, and restore degraded habitats.
- It is useful in keeping a large number of small area genotypes, rapid multiplication of even endangered species, through tissue culture, etc.
3. We can lower the deforestation rate, thus avoiding indiscriminate forest use.
Advantages are:
- The habitat of the forest species is preserved
- More trees are grown which helps in a pollution- free environment and gives more rain.
- Protect species from extinction.

Note: Natural habitat destruction is the primary threat to biodiversity. The flora and fauna have no place to survive and thrive when the natural habitats are diminished and it will lead to extinction. Natural habitat disturbance and degradation are caused by spontaneous jungle fire, deforestation caused by pest infection, insect attack, locust attack, etc. Man- made disturbances include felling trees using fire to clear forest areas, a litter collection, and overexploitation for other important economic products. A loss of biodiversity comes from the disturbances and degradation of natural resources.