Conservation of genetic resources: sustainability, a reality or a fallacy ?
1996
Nyoka, B.I. (Forest Research Centre, Harare (Zimbabwe))
Conservation of biological diversity entails preservation of all existing species and of their associated interspecific and intra-specific variability. This is however, a mammoth task and as a result conservation has, in most instances, been reduced to target only those species with some currently known economic or social value. These privileged species have been conserved in situ and ex situ. Rapid human population increases coupled with expansion of agricultural land and plantation forestry have led to serious deforestration which inevitably has lead to genetic erosion and extinction of some fauna and flora. What is the future of those species whose roles are unknown today ? The gene complexes in the current domesticated species have been brought about by years of introgression and natural selection, and their progression is not likely to continue because of genetic erosion in their wild relatives. Although the problem of genetic erosion and species extinction has long been realized, not much work has been done to redress the situation. This is partly due to lack of understanding of the underlying principles leading to genetic erosion and species extinction. This article discusses the principles of conservation, maintenance, and loss of biological diversity; and how biological diversity can be utilized sustainably. The article also discusses how we can attempt to conserve biodiversity with limited resources.
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