Bring the captive closer to the wild: redefining the role of ex situ conservation

In situ conservation is central to contemporary

global biodiversity protection and is the predominant

emphasis of international regulation and funding strategies.

Ex situ approaches, in contrast, have been relegated to

a subsidiary role and their direct contributions to conservation

have been limited. We draw on a variety of sources to

make the case for an enhanced role for ex situ conservation.

We note the advances occurring within institutions specializing

in ex situ conservation and stress that, although much

remains to be done, many constraints are being addressed.

We argue that the evidence of increasing extinction rates,

exacerbated by climate change, challenges the wisdom of

a heavy dependence on in situ strategies and necessitates

increased development of ex situ approaches. A number of

different techniques that enable species and their habitats to

survive should now be explored. These could build on the

experience of management systems that have already

demonstrated the effective integration of in situ and ex situ

techniques and hybrid approaches. For organizations specializing

in ex situ conservation to become more effective,

however, they will require tangible support from the

institutions of global biodiversity governance. Resistance is

anticipated because in situ conservation is entrenched

through powerful groups and organizations that exert

influence on global conservation policy and facilitate the

flow of funding. The chasm that has traditionally divided in

situ and ex situ approaches may diminish as approaches are

combined. Moreover, the relentless loss of the ‘wild’ may

soon render the in situ / ex situ distinction misleading, or

even obsolete.