Which of the following is NOT an example of in-situ conservation strategy?

The correct answer is B) Botanical garden, because it is an ex-situ conservation measure. Species are kept outside their natural habitat in managed collections, such as living plant collections, seed banks or herbaria.

• A) Biosphere reserve is in-situ. Species and ecosystems are protected within their natural habitat, with core, buffer and transition zones under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere programme.
• C) National Park is in-situ. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, these are legally protected areas where habitat and wildlife are conserved in place.
• D) Sacred groves are in-situ. Forest patches protected by community tradition, such as those in Meghalaya and the Western Ghats, preserve local biodiversity where it grows.

The core concept is the in-situ and ex-situ distinction under Articles 8 and 9 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This links directly to Mains GS-III questions on biodiversity loss and the role of community conservation.

Trap: Candidates often treat any protected or managed green space as in-situ. The test is whether the organism stays in its natural habitat.