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In situ and ex situ conservation: philosophical and ethical concerns

Date

2004

Authors

Rolston, Holmes, 1932-, author
Island Press, publisher

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Abstract

Understandings of "natural" and "artificial" lie in the background of discussions about in-situ and ex-situ conservation. Plants growing ex-situ in botanic gardens are hybrids of the natural and the artificial. There will be temptations to substitute ex-situ for in situ conservation, believing this to protect the desired resource base. The intrinsic values in plants are ecosystemically situated. In this sense intrinsic plant value is in-situ. Removed to an ex-situ location, a plant--especially a domesticated or captive plant--becomes something else, compromised in its integrity. Such compromise may be pragmatically and politically necessary, but it needs to be recognized philosophically and ethically as prejudicing the values carried by plants.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 38-39).

Rights Access

Subject

ecosystems
nature
conservation
wild
plants

Citation

Associated Publications