Assisted migration

Assisted migration is the deliberate movement of species or populations to locations expected to remain suitable as environmental conditions change. It aims to reduce extinction risk when natural dispersal cannot keep pace.

Climate velocity: The speed and direction at which a climate zone shifts across a landscape. It estimates how far and in which direction suitable conditions may move.
Natural range expansion: The spread of a species into areas beyond its former geographic range without deliberate human relocation. Unlike assisted migration, it depends on organisms dispersing without being transported.
Assisted migration of forests: The transfer of tree species or populations to sites expected to suit their future climates. Forest managers use it to address slow tree dispersal and long generation times.
Ecological risk assessment: The systematic evaluation of potential harms to ecosystems from an organism, activity, or environmental change. Assessment can identify risks such as competition, disease transfer, and unwanted spread.
Species distribution model: A model that estimates where a species can persist from observed occurrences and environmental variables. These models help identify future locations whose climates may suit a moved species.
In situ conservation: The protection of species within their natural habitats and geographic ranges. It prioritizes safeguarding existing places rather than establishing populations elsewhere.
Provenance (botany): The geographic origin of plant material, such as seeds or seedlings used in cultivation or restoration. Choosing seed provenance determines which genetic variation is moved to a planting site.
Precautionary principle: A decision principle that supports preventive action when serious harm is plausible despite scientific uncertainty. It frames decisions when the consequences of moving—or not moving—a species remain uncertain.
Ecological niche: The environmental conditions and resources that permit a species to survive and reproduce. The target site must retain the niche conditions needed for persistence.
Ex situ conservation: The conservation of species outside their natural habitats, including in zoos, seed banks, and botanical gardens. It preserves organisms under managed conditions instead of releasing them into new wild locations.

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