The most important strategy for the conservation of biodiversity together with the traditional human life is the establishment of

Answer: (a) biosphere reserves

Biosphere reserves have a core zone for nature, a buffer, and a transition zone where people live and use resources sustainably.

The idea

A national park protects nature by strictly limiting human use. A biosphere reserve has a wider aim: people who have lived with the forest are part of the plan. It does this with three rings.

Core: strictly protected, authorised research and monitoring allowed → Buffer: research, education, limited use → Transition: villages, farming and traditional livelihoods

Why the others are wrong

(b) Botanical gardens are ex-situ plant collections.

(c) National parks exclude human use.

(d) Sanctuaries allow limited use, but are not designed around people’s traditional life.

Also know

The idea comes from UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme (1971). In India biosphere reserves are declared by the Central Government by notification; they have no separate law and usually include existing national parks and sanctuaries as their core.