■ Conservation of Wild Genetic Resources

There are two ways of conserving wild genetic resources: in situ (in nature reserves) and ex situ (in zoos and gene banks). Both are needed. This chapter reviews practical methods of maintaining collections of wild genetic resources, either in nature reserves or in zoos and gene banks. The International Board for Plant Genetic Resources distinguishes three types of ex situ crop germplasm collection, which can usefully be applied to all genetic resources and to in situ as well as ex situ systems: base collections, active collections, and working collections. At present in situ gene banks are more a hope than a reality. There are many national parks, nature reserves, biosphere reserves and countless other protected areas, but as far as people are aware the number of genuine in situ gene banks can be counted on the fingers of one hand.