Conservation Enclosures

Conservation is achieved in two main ways: in situ conservation and ex situ conservation. In situ is the type of conservation in which conservation of endangered species takes place in natural habitats, either by cleaning up the space or by protecting from predators. Ex situ conservation may be used as a last resort to an endangered population: the entire population is relocated, usually in the care of humans. This uses some rather questionable methods in laboratory practices. Zoos, seed banks, and botanical gardens are the most common examples of ex situ conservation.

Conservation is important to protect biological diversity, including, but not exclusively, of large mammals. Traditionally, the exclusionary process has been used in the creation of protected areas, which exclude the indigenous people from entering or having access to these areas. Neither are they consulted during the conservation process, making them subject to unreasonable pressures to vacate the land and not providing them adequate benefits for relocation. Conservation enclosures provide space for development activities, scientific research, and employment opportunities in tourism and for recreation. The term park originates from the Latin parricus, meaning enclosure. Reserve comes from reservare, meaning save. Preservation, protection, and conservation imply that certain areas are kept away from the present demand for any development activities.

The exclusionary process of conservation could have instances of backlash, in which communities that have been ousted may become restricting to conservation. Protected areas could also cause the local communities' traditional beliefs and structure to become questioned. In some cases, areas that were once notified as protected areas have been de-notified when governments realized that valuable resources were available in these protected areas. The Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary in Gujarat, India, was de-notified to allow open-cast mining [Page 67]for a cement company. The area was reduced to one-eighth of its original size, with a comment that the area was in excess of the required amount. However, this was in violation of Section 26A of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Similar issues have occurred all over the world.

Legal agreements become binding to the countries that have ratified them. Conservation then becomes included in a country's development plans.

• The Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the most comprehensive treatises, signed and ratified by 165 countries. The convention mainly serves to provide guidelines for countries to perform certain actions for the process of conservation. There is some criticism of the Convention on Biological Diversity being ambiguous about the state of local communities in conservation.
• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is a treaty that prevents trade of endangered species. It also ensures that the trade of specimens does not endanger or threaten their survival.
• The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971, was specifically designed for the protection and sustainable use of wetlands. There are 158 contracting parties to this convention.
• The Convention to Combat Desertification, 1992, is specific to the problem of desertification of dry arid and semiarid lands in the temperate parts of the Earth and the tropics for many reasons, including climate change.
• The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals deals with the protection of migratory species of flora and fauna to preserve them from extinction.

Countries are measured in terms of their economic development, which directly and indirectly affects conservation and conservation enclosures. In many developing countries, conservation acts become secondary to the countries “growing populations” demands for food, energy, and security.

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