In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation - Gene Banks -Conservation of biodiversity can be achieved in a number of, complementary ways. These methods, all of them falling within the broader concept of 'gene banks' can be broadly classified as follows:

(i) In situ conservation, which includes conservation of plants and animals in their native ecosystems or even in man made ecosystems, where they natural1y occur:

(ii) Ex situ conservation, which includes conservation of samples of genetic diversity (particularly representing endangered species) away from their field habitats.