The Role of Biotechnology in Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajlsi.v5i2.8384Keywords:
Biobanking, Biodiversity, Conservation Biotechnology, Conservation Genomics, Ecological Restoration, Environmental DNA, Genome Editing, MicrobiomeAbstract
More recently, biotechnology is increasingly adopted alongside conventional approaches to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration. In this study, we examined 60 articles published from year 1998-2024 by grouping the literature into six areas: conservation genomics and genetic rescue, environmental DNA (eDNA), biobanking and reproductive biotechnology, synthetic biology and genome editing, microbiome-based restoration and the governance of genetic data, risks and benefit sharing. The studies reviewed show that genomic approaches can provide information on genetic diversity, inbreeding, population structure, adaptation and whether interventions such as translocation or genetic rescue may be appropriate. eDNA has also expanded the options available for biodiversity monitoring because organisms can be detected from water, soil and air samples without necessarily being captured or directly observed. Studies on cryopreservation, assisted reproduction and stem-cell technologies further demonstrate ways of retaining genetic material that may be difficult to conserve through captive breeding alone. However, the evidence was less straightforward for genome editing and gene drives. Although these technologies may allow highly targeted interventions, the examined studies repeatedly raise questions about unintended ecological effects, reversibility, regulation and public acceptance. Microbiome-based approaches are also becoming promising, particularly where microbial communities influence establishment, stress tolerance or recovery, but their outcomes appear to depend strongly on the species and environmental conditions involved. Hence, the studies reviewed suggest that biotechnology should not be treated as a replacement for habitat protection or ecological restoration. Its value lies mainly in extending the range of tools available to conservation practitioners. Effective use will require appropriate sampling, reliable genetic and ecological data, field validation, long-term monitoring and careful consideration of risk, access to genetic information and benefit sharing.
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