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Saving Plants in the Lab
The definition of in situ and ex situ
"On-site" (or in situ) work occurs at the plant's habitat (home in the wild). "Off-site" (or ex situ) work happens away from the plant's habitat. Combined ex situ and in situ efforts will increase the plant's chance of survival in the wild, and are part of a more inclusive effort called Integrated Conservation Strategy. In situ conservation efforts protect and enhance a plant's habitat. Protection of these areas may be as simple as putting up small fences to protect plants from being eaten by domestic animals such as pigs, cows or goats. More active measures to restore habitat could include weed removal using a controlled burn, or to restore fire to an area that historically would burn. Ex situ conservation includes seed banking and growing plants at botanic gardens - either in the garden itself or in laboratory test tubes. These programs are not a replacement for the conservation of wild plants and wild areas. Rather, they support habitat-based conservation efforts.
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