Species reintroductions and other conservation translocations
What conservation translocations are, and how and why they might take place in England.
Applies to England
Conservation translocations are the deliberate movement and release of plants, animals or fungi into the wild for conservation purposes. For example, restoring a species to a place it had disappeared from.
Species reintroductions are just one type of conservation translocation. Conservation translocations can help improve the future of species, habitats and the wider ecosystem of an area.
Human induced habitat loss and degradation, over-exploitation and persecution, has resulted in reduced numbers and local extinction of many species. Added to this, climate change continues to make environmental conditions difficult for certain species in their current habitats.
Not all species can respond to these threats by naturally finding a new place to move to. Natural barriers and fragmented habitats can limit the ability of species to respond to threats or find new opportunities.
This guide is for landowners and members of the public who want to find out about species reintroductions and other conservation translocations.
If you’re planning or carrying out a species translocation, you should read the reintroductions and other conservation translocations code and guidance.
Conservation translocation types
Conversation translocation involves the release of species or organisms of that species either within or outside its natural range.
An organism is the individual species or their propagules, such as seed, eggs, spores, sperm or pollen.
Natural range is the natural past or present geographical distribution of a species. It includes all places where a species is or was indigenous.
There are 4 different types of conservation translocation.
Reinforcement
This is the translocation of an organism into an existing population of the same species within its natural range. Reinforcement aims to improve population viability, for example, by increasing:
- population size
- genetic diversity
- the representation of specific demographic groups or stages
Reintroduction
This is the translocation of an organism inside its natural range, to areas from which it has been lost. Reintroduction aims to re-establish a viable population of the focal species within its natural range.
Assisted colonisation
This is the translocation of an organism to benefit the conservation status of the focal species outside its natural range. It aims to establish populations in places where the current or future conditions are likely to be more suitable than those within the natural range.
Ecological replacement
This is the translocation of an organism outside its natural range to perform a specific ecological function that has been lost through extinction of another organism. It usually involves replacing the extinct species with a related subspecies or closely related species that will perform the same or similar ecological function.
Benefits for species, habitats and humans
Conservation translocations can have benefits for the species, habitats and for humans.
Species benefits
Conservation translocations can:
- increase the number of species or places where that species can be found
- improve the genetic health and resilience of a population
- establish ‘bridging populations’ between colonies, which can help with migration and genetic exchange
- establish populations in areas where the species will be less threatened
Habitat benefits
Conservation translocations can:
- increase the overall species richness of a habitat to enhance its biodiversity
- increase the quality of a habitat quality
- improve ecosystem services and functions - for example, introducing a bee to a new area could help to pollinate rare wild flowers
Human benefits
Conservation translocations can:
- enrich people’s experiences and environmental awareness - for example, restoring a lost species and recreating a more natural environment for people to enjoy
- improve ecosystem services which lead to human benefits - for example, pollination of garden fruit and vegetables
- provide a source of revenue from ecotourism, as people come to visit the species or improved habitat
Potential risks for species, habitats and humans
There are also risks that anyone carrying out a translocation should manage, reduce or eliminate before a project goes ahead.
These include harm to:
- the conservation status of the focal species, or welfare of animals
- other species or habitats caused by the introduced species - for example, introducing a competitor that displaces another species
- humans - through the species introducing health problems or negative impacts for the human population, livelihoods or leisure
Principles to follow: conservation translocation code and guidance
There is a reintroductions and other conservation translocations code and guidance for anyone planning a conservation translocation. The code and guidance help to:
- decide whether a conservation translocation is appropriate
- increase the chance of potential benefits
- reduce the chance of negative outcomes
Applied proportionately to the scale of the proposed translocation and level of risk, the code is made up of 9 principles:
- Principle 1 - identify the conservation need for a species and ecosystem, and set goals
- Principle 2 - evaluate whether species reintroduction or another type of conservation translocation is an acceptable option
- Principle 3 - if a conservation translocation is an acceptable option, develop a plan
- Principle 4 - get legal permissions and licences, consent from landowners and follow safety and welfare good practice
- Principle 5 - maximise chances of successful establishment
- Principle 6 - maximise biodiversity benefits and minimise the risks of harm to biodiversity
- Principle 7 - consider societal benefits and minimise conflict with others
- Principle 8 - show accountability, transparency and openness
- Principle 9 - record conservation translocations and monitor, evaluate and communicate outcomes
Gathering views of people affected by a proposed conservation translocation
Anyone carrying out a translocation has a duty to show a clear commitment to openness so the public, landowners and others impacted can have an informed view of a conservation translocation project.
Any proposed project should first ask for the views of the people impacted by it. When and how many people are consulted will depend on the complexity, risks and benefits of the proposal.
Low risk, very local and straightforward projects, may only need to engage with some of the main specialists, local land users and managers, residents or interest groups. For example, a project to reinforce the population of an invertebrate or plant.
More complex projects will need to engage with more people. For example, if the project involves the release of an animal that could create conflict with a human community or wider benefits through, for example, ecotourism.
Get advice
Contact Natural England for advice on carrying out a conservation translocation.