Plant Conservation An Ecosystem Approach

This book is an effort towards exploration of strategies for studying and protecting plants. We are at the stage in world history where we are facing widespread and devastating loss of plant biodiversity. The plant biodiversity at a particular location influences not only the local micro-climate, but in a broader horizon influences the types of animals, their habitat and water/soil resources for human population. Habitat destruction, over exploitation of resources and land, competition from cultivated plant species or varieties, environmental pollution and possible climate changes are all the human activities that have threatened and destroyed plant biodiversity. Swift action is needed to conserve genetic diversity of both cultivated and wild species. The ex situ conservation is used for all the major crops, where seeds can be dried and cooled and in situ conservation, literally in its "original" place, provided answer for crop diversity using traditional farming conditions. The book examines where and how ex situ, in situ and genetic conservation can be used for sustainable plant conservation and diversity maintenance.