Ex Situ Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources of India: The Role of Botanic Gardens in the New Millennium

Abstract

The ever-increasing lust for civilization and ruthless exploitation of natural resources have destabilized the ecological balance. Demographic pressure, urbanization, industrialization, environmental pollution and deforestation have resulted in the loss of considerable biodiversity. The net loss of forests due to human interference since they first began felling trees accounts to 15-20% of the world's forest cover. More factually, we are losing tropical forest at a rate of 50 hectare/ minute and as a result one plant species is becoming extinct every day on an average (Anonymous, 1984.