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 these plants naturally occur. (ii) Ex situ conservation, which includes' conservation of samples of genetic diversity (particularly representing endangered species) away from their natural habitats.