Multidimensional evaluation of managed relocation

Abstract

Managed relocation (MR) has rapidly emerged as a potential intervention strategy in the toolbox of biodiversity management under climate change. Previous authors have suggested that MR (also referred to as assisted colonization, assisted migration, or assisted translocation) could be a last-alternative option after interrogating a linear decision tree. We argue that numerous interacting and value-laden considerations demand a more inclusive strategy for evaluating MR. The pace of modern climate change demands decision making with imperfect information, and tools that elucidate this uncertainty and integrate scientific information and social values are urgently needed. We present a heuristic tool that incorporates both ecological and social criteria in a multidimensional decision-making framework. For visualization purposes, we collapse these criteria into 4 classes that can be depicted in graphical 2-D space. This framework offers a pragmatic approach for summarizing key dimensions of MR: capturing uncertainty in the evaluation criteria, creating transparency in the evaluation process, and recognizing the inherent tradeoffs that different stakeholders bring to evaluation of MR and its alternatives.assisted migration ͉ climate change ͉ conservation biology ͉ conservation strategy ͉ sustainability science

Disease and the dynamics of extinction

“…Proposals to establish disease-free populations of Tasmanian devils on offshore islands have proved surprisingly controversial [87], it appears because of a deep-seated reluctance to undertake ex situ translocations. This is despite the success of similar strategies in protecting the related northern quoll from cane toads in Australia's Northern Territory [89] and increasing suggestions that ex situ translocations may be necessary to preserve species from climate change threats [90][91][92].…”

Conservation opportunities across the world's anthromes

“…Modifying conservation goals to deliver on human livelihood goals Ecosystem-based adaptation Jones et al (2012) Use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people and communities adapt to the negative effects of climate change Ecosystem services Daily et al (2009) Give 'natural capital', which produces ecosystem services, adequate weight (monetary value) in decision-making processes 3. Redefining conservation goals given global change Conserving the stage Anderson & Ferree (2011) Implement conservation in a manner that maximizes potential evolutionary adaptive response to climate change as opposed to trying to save all species or picking winners Ecological connectivity Krosby et al (2010) Soften the matrix; increase connectivity to increase probability of persistence for many organisms as climate changes Intervention ecology Hobbs et al (2011) Rather than attempt to restore past systems, reinstate the capacity for ecosystem functions and processes Managed relocation Richardson et al (2009) Save species from effects of climate change by transporting them to areas where they have not previously occurred, also termed 'assisted colonization' and 'assisted migration' Novel ecosystems Seastedt et al (2008) Recognize new combinations of species under new abiotic conditions ('novel ecosystems') and focus on desired outcomes or trajectories Realignment Millar & Brubaker (2006) Realign or entrain ecosystems with current and expected future conditions rather than restoring to historical pre-disturbance conditions 4. Enhancing conservation through community engagement Citizen science Cooper et al (2007) Involve citizen participants directly in monitoring and management of residential lands to overcome 'tyranny of small decisions' to promote biodiversity Community-based management…”

Is Australia ready for assisted colonization? Policy changes required to facilitate translocations under climate change.

“…Success criteria have been largely confined to measuring the performance of the organism in its new environment (Short 2009), but little attention has been directed to the sustainability of the organism's interaction with the receiving environment, particularly the provision of environmental services, or to the maintenance of cultural and social values (Richardson et al 2009). Social and cultural values are likely to be of significant concern in consideration of AC as 264 PACIFIC CONSERVATION BIOLOGY a climate change adaptation strategy, and success criteria need to address both the focal organism and the ongoing condition of the receiving environment.…”

“…For many species, naturally slow rates of dispersal may be inadequate to allow species to track their climatic niche. Assisted colonization (AC, also termed assisted migration and managed relocation) has been proposed as one method of aiding plants and animals to adapt to the impacts of climate change (Hoegh-Guldberg et al 2008;McLachlan et al 2007;Richardson et al 2009). AC refers to the purposeful movement of species or genes to sites where habitat is predicted to become suitable as the climate changes.…”

“…While AC may prevent extinction in the wild of threatened species, AC of keystone species may also be required to maintain ecosystem services at sites where ecosystem collapse is occurring or predicted (Lunt et al in review). However, due to the perceived risks to recipient ecosystems, AC is often proposed as a last resort for conservation management, only to be implemented when all in situ options are considered unlikely to succeed (Hoegh-Guldberg et al 2008;Mueller and Hellmann 2008;Richardson et al 2009;Vitt et al 2009). We support this proposition, while also noting that a failure to implement AC is effectively a decision to favour those taxa that are able to disperse without assistance (Thomas 2011).…”