---
title: "Ex-situ Conservation: Definition & Examples | Model Diplomat"
description: "Ex-situ conservation protects biodiversity by preserving species in managed facilities like zoos and gene banks, crucial for conservation efforts worldwide."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/ex-situ-conservation"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Ex-situ conservation is the protection of biological diversity by maintaining components of species outside their natural habitats in managed facilities such as gene banks, zoos, and botanical gardens.
- What is the legal basis for ex-situ conservation under international law?
- How does ex-situ conservation differ from in-situ conservation?
- What are the main types of ex-situ conservation facilities?
- What are the limitations of ex-situ conservation?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Ex-situ conservation is the protection of biological diversity by maintaining components of species outside their natural habitats in managed facilities such as gene banks, zoos, and botanical gardens.

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## Timeline

1. 5 June 1992

   The concept acquired formal international standing through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted at the Rio Earth Summit on and entering int…

2. 29 December 1993

   The concept acquired formal international standing through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted at the Rio Earth Summit on 5 June 1992 and e…

3. 26 February 2008

   The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, opened on near Longyearbyen, Norway, and managed in partnership with the Crop Trust and NordGen, holds over a million seed s…

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Example

Norway opened the Svalbard Global Seed Vault on 26 February 2008 near Longyearbyen, creating a backup ex-situ store that now safeguards over a million crop seed samples deposited by national gene banks worldwide.

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