A UK Information Hub for Conservation Translocations
Conservation translocation - the deliberate movement of species for conservation purposes - is increasingly used across the UK to address biodiversity loss and support ecosystem recovery. When well designed, such interventions can deliver significant ecological and societal benefits. When poorly planned or governed, they risk biological harm, social conflict, regulatory failure and loss of public trust. Although high‑level guidance exists through the IUCN Guidelines and the Scottish and English Codes, the wider body of information needed to support effective decision‑making remains fragmented, inconsistent and sometimes difficult to access.
This scoping study assessed the feasibility, desirability and risks of establishing a UK-wide Conservation Translocations Information Hub. The work was undertaken by UHI Inverness and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as part of a collaborative partnership with Natural England on behalf of the England Species Reintroduction Taskforce. It comprised three elements:
- A UK-wide online stakeholder survey
- Interviews with managers of existing conservation information hubs
- An assessment of technical and operational considerations for developing and maintaining an online hub
Researchers:
Dr Martin Gaywood, Dr Matthew Curran, Dr Aline Finger (RBGE)
Partners:
You can find out more by downloading the final report: