CourseCourseQuestionQuestionDocumentDocument

A4.2.7—Conservation approaches

Conservation combines in situ protection, reserve design, active management, rewilding, and ex situ methods according to species needs and threats.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
A4.2.7
Level
SL

Exam analysis

Chance of appearing5%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2025
Most common paperPaper3
Typical marks1–4

Common command terms

  • Discuss
  • Outline
  • Distinguish
  • Explain
  • Suggest

Scoring notes

Common mistake
Defining in situ and ex situ without linking each approach to its conservation advantages and limits.

Recent exam appearances

November 2025Paper1A ["SL"] · TZ123[ 1 ]A4.2.7—Conservation approaches
November 2024Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ112(d)[ 1 ]A4.2.7—Conservation approaches
May 2024Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ115[ 4 ]A4.2.7—Conservation approaches
November 2023Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ217[ 4 ]A4.2.7—Conservation approaches
November 2023Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ114(d)[ 4 ]A4.2.7—Conservation approaches

Coverage 2017–2025 · Updated 15 Jul 2026

Conservation Must Match the Threat and the Scale

Conservation works when the intervention removes or reduces the diagnosed threat and protects a viable population, habitat or ecological process.

Reserve-design comparisons show the effects of size, edge shape, isolation and habitat corridors on conservation value.
Approach Best suited to Examples Key condition
in situ protecting species in functioning habitat reserves, corridors, rewilding threats must be controlled in the habitat
ex situ preventing immediate loss or preserving genetic material captive breeding, zoos, botanic gardens, seed and tissue banks genetic diversity and suitable release habitat must be maintained

diagnose threat → select action at the same scale → set a measurable biological target → monitor → adapt management

Summary: Turn Biodiversity Evidence into Action

Focus Measure the state or trend Diagnose the driver Match the action Monitor recovery
genetic diversity allelic variation, heterozygosity, population size isolation, bottleneck or inbreeding reconnect populations or manage breeding genetic diversity and effective population size
species diversity richness, evenness, abundance, extinction risk exploitation, invasive species or habitat change protect, control threats, breed or reintroduce abundance, recruitment and distribution
ecosystem diversity/function habitat extent, condition and process indicators conversion, fragmentation, pollution or climate stress protect, restore and reconnect habitat structure, processes and resilience

Define the level → establish a comparable trend → identify the causal driver → choose an action at the same scale → test whether biological recovery follows.

No single index or intervention is sufficient: species counts can miss evenness, genetic erosion and ecosystem dysfunction, while a reserve can fail without connectivity, enforcement or threat removal.

Conservation approaches

[ 4 ]

Discuss in situ and ex situ conservation of endangered species.

Concept essentials

  • In situ conservation protects species within their natural habitats and communities.
  • Ex situ conservation preserves species outside natural habitats through controlled collections or breeding programmes.
  • Large connected reserves reduce fragmentation and support movement, gene flow and larger populations.
  • Rewilding restores natural processes by reintroducing native species, rebuilding connectivity or reducing human pressure.