"On-site" (or in situ) work occurs at the plant's habitat (home in the wild). "Off-site" (or ex situ) work happens away from the plant's habitat. In situ and ex situ methods are not alternative ways to conserve biodiversity, they are complementary, with ex situ playing a support role for in situ efforts. Based on the erroneous premise that the two approaches are alternatives, some land managers fear that ex situ samples might detract from in situ efforts, and thus do not use them. Again, based on this same erroneous premise, a more insidious danger is that the ignorant or unscrupulous can misuse ex situ methods in an attempt to justify habitat destruction.
Some have argued that off-site collections reduce or eliminate the need for preserving wild populations or habitat. As ex situ providers, we need to understand this potential danger and embrace the ethical imperative not to let our facilities be used in a way that facilitates habitat destruction.
Finally, we need to be mindful that the mere existence of ex situ samples might provide a false sense of security, which may lead to complacency in the face of deteriorating conditions in the wild populations.