Advances In Plant Conservation: An Ecosystem Approach

We are at the stage in world history where we are facing widespread and devastating loss of plant biodiversity. The plant biodiversity at a particular location influences not only the local micro-climate, but in a broader horizon influences the types of animals, their habitat and water/soil resources for human population. Services provided by ecosystems include carbon sequestration, climate regulation, nutrient cycling and pollination. Plants provide us with many direct benefits such as food, medicine, clothes, shelter and the raw materials from which countless other products are made. Habitat destruction, over exploitation of resources and land, competition from cultivated plant species or varieties, environmental pollution and possible climate changes are all the human activities that have threatened and destroyed plant biodiversity. Swift action is needed to conserve genetic diversity of both cultivated and wild species. The ex-situ conservation is used for all the major crops, where seeds can be dried and cooled and in situ conservation, literally in its 'original' place, provided answer for crop diversity using traditional farming conditions. Many plants also have important cultural and spiritual values. Their conservation should be a key component of efforts for biodiversity conservation. This book is an effort towards exploration of strategies for studying and protecting plants. It examines multiple approach for plant biodiversity, the role of soil properties, natural plants, landscape architecture, gis and ex situ. It also covers genetic diversity in plant species and botanical pesticides in modern plant. This book is a valuable compilation of various topics, ranging from the most basic to the most complex ones. For those who have an interest in plant pathology, this book will prove to be a valuable source of knowledge.