Translocation of Imperiled Species Under Changing Climates

Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. ISSN 0077-8923 ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Issue: The Year in Ecology and Conservation Biology Translocation of imperiled species under changing climates Mark W. Schwartz1 and Tara G. Martin2 1John Muir Institute of the Environment, University of California, Davis, California. 2Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Ecoscience Precinct, Queensland, Australia Address for correspondence: Mark W. Schwartz, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, 1 Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616. [email protected] Conservation translocation of species varies from restoring historic populations to managing the relocation of imperiled species to new locations. We review the literature in three areas—translocation, managed relocation, and conservation decision making—to inform conservation translocation under changing climates. First, climate change increases the potential for conflict over both the efficacy and the acceptability of conservation translocation. The emerging literature on managed relocation highlights this discourse. Second, conservation translocation works in concert with other strategies. The emerging literature in structured decision making provides a framework for prioritizing conservation actions—considering many possible alternatives that are evaluated based on expected benefit, risk, and social–political feasibility. Finally, the translocation literature has historically been primarily concerned with risks associated with the target species. In contrast, the managed relocation literature raises concerns about the ecological risk to the recipient ecosystem. Engaging in a structured decision process that explicitly focuses on stakeholder engagement, problem definition and specification of goals from the outset will allow creative solutions to be developed and evaluated based on their expected effectiveness. Keywords: conservation; managed relocation; structured decision making; translocation; risk Introduction cipient ecosystem, and finally translocation can be costly relative to other actions.37 Under scenarios Habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, and of climate change the challenges of translocation other drivers of ecosystem change are resulting in are exacerbated. For example, conservation translo- increasing rates of species imperilment and de- cationsunderchangedclimatesmayneedtooc- creasing success of traditional in situ conserva- cur outside of historical distributions, referred to tion methods.1 The failing capacity to conserve as managed relocation of species, and this raises biodiversity is driving a suite of more radical ap- additional complexities in an already challenging proaches.1–12 Zoo and botanic garden managers are process. rethinking their organizational missions;13–17 pro- , , Our purpose is to review the recent literature tected area managers, their objectives;4 7 18–20 and on conservation translocations and decision mak- endangered species managers their strategies.21–25 ing in conservation to synthesize translocation rec- Within this spectrum, translocation of imperiled ommendations and to focus future scientific study. species is increasingly used as a conservation strat- Managed relocation, the conservation translocation egy.26–28 However, moving species to conserve them of species outside historic distributions in anticipa- has its own challenges. Translocation is a process tion of changing future climates, generates signif- that often fails,29–33 moving species can lead to con- , icant scientific and public concern and requires a flict among human interests in conservation,34 35 formal decision process to evaluate the potential translocation may cause unintended negative con- benefits and risks. We are just beginning to ex- sequences to either the target species36 or the re- perience the ecological impacts of anthropogenic doi: 10.1111/nyas.12050 Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1286 (2013) 15–28 c 2013 New York Academy of Sciences. 15 Translocation of imperiled species under changing climates Schwartz & Martin climate change, with the severest projected impacts cations may increasingly occur outside historic dis- on natural ecosystems yet to come.38 Thus, there tributions, it becomes critically important to use a is time to plan—to develop adaptation strategies thoughtful and structured process to integrate social and protocols to help conserve biodiversity under and scientific concerns into planning, monitoring, climate change. With significant uncertainty about and assessing impacts. how climate will change, as well as how ecosystems Conservation translocations span a continuum will respond to the myriad other drivers of future from modest population augmentation to estab- environmental change, action comes with a large lishing populations in locations with no history risk of making management mistakes.39,40 Likewise, of previous occupancy.23 Terminology to describe failing to act, or to act in a timely manner ultimately these actions, however, is variable.48 We restrict our risks species extinction.41 Risk generates conflict and usage of this terminology to conservation applica- controversy over the appropriate steps on behalf of tions. We use the term conservation translocation conservation. for any action that involves moving individuals of There are numerous cases where the need for con- a species from one location to another for a conservation translocation is immediate.27,28,42 These servation purpose (e.g., extinction risk abatement, cases provide opportunities to work out protocols population restoration, establishment in predator- and processes to minimize conflict and maximize free habitats, reinforcing low populations, increas- the opportunity for success. Further, there is growing genetic variability, improving ecological func- ing recognition that dramatic, sometimes unprece- tion).26 We use the term managed relocation to refer dented and controversial, management actions will to that subset of conservation translocations that be required in order to maintain biological diversity are restricted to moving species outside their his- through this century and into the next.7,24,43,44 As toric distributions for the purpose of establishing a consequence, there is a rapidly growing research and managing populations in response to changing interest in understanding the trigger points for en- climate.48 Assisted migration and assisted coloniza- gaging in novel management actions.26 tion are generally considered synonyms of managed The conservation translocation literature is ro- relocation.47,49–51 We prefer managed relocation be- bust with examples. As climate change drives new cause it mandates a postrelease management obli- conservation thinking, the emerging literature on gation, whereas the more commonly used assisted managed relocation is adding new insights to this colonization does not.47 rich literature.45–47 We integrate emerging literature With the recent explosion of literature on species on (1) imperiled species translocation, (2) managed translocations generally and managed relocation relocation, and (3) conservation decision making specifically, we attempt to clarify critical research to better understand how managers may plan for questions to facilitate sound conservation transloca- climate change adaptations that include translocation decisions that integrate scientific understand- tion of imperiled species. Specifically, we focus on ing and social concerns. The managed relocation the suite of strategies directed at reducing extinc- literature has exploded; over 75% of 195 papers (ISI tion risk by managing the distribution of imperiled search, 15 June, 2012 on title words managed relo- species in natural habitats. In treating this subject, cation or assisted colonization or assisted migration) we call specific attention to three issues often over- have been published since 2008. This literature has looked in translocation efforts. First, we focus on ranged from empirical descriptions of projects,52 biological assessments and planning within a deci- to rationale for decision support46 and debate re- sion support framework to foster careful evaluation garding the scientific,24,53–57 ethical,11,58–60 and le- of translocation against alternative management op- gal3,61–63 issues associated with managed relocation. tions. Second, we draw attention to the requirement In contrast, the conservation translocation literature of risk assemement, including the risk of negative is robust, with numerous case studies emerging each ecological impacts of translocation on recipient year.27,28 ecosystems. Finally, we highlight the need for Finally, an array of applied tools, variously called translocation plans to formally integrate stake- structured decision making, decision analysis, or holder concerns and social acceptability into all decision support, have emerged from decision phases of the management action. As future translo- theory and multiattribute utility theory64,65 and are 16 Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1286 (2013) 15–28 c 2013 New York Academy of Sciences. Schwartz & Martin Translocation of imperiled species under changing climates Figure 1. Translocation of imperiled species as a three-phase activity that includes actions associated with a needs assessment (phase I); project planning (phase II); and implementation (phase III). This step chart emphasizes the need for social engagement throughout the process and the value of using emerging conservation decision support tools. Although these phases may proceed

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