Editorial: Human dimensions of animal translocations

Conservation translocations are intentional movements of wildlife for conservation purposes (IUCN 2013). They are widely used management interventions that offer solutions to wicked problems: reversal of dramatic population declines, local extinction of species, defaunation and empty forests, and wildlife restoration. As such, translocations are inherently complex and are most effective as part of a broader long-term integrated conservation effort.

Human dimension considerations include human-wildlife interactions (HWIs) customarily treated as human-wildlife conflict but we also consider positive interactions; (2) relationships among stakeholders and the conservation network that creates the social milieu that influences governance and the perception of success or failure, and local community engagement and participation; (3) perceptions, values and ethics of stakeholders and local community; (4) issues about profits and other benefit sharing (such as ecotourism or wildlife watching revenues); and (5) planning, exiting, and the decision-making framework for translocations. Human dimensions are dynamic and influenced by context and by previous experience, trends in society, and individual processes.

International biodiversity conservation conventions encourage the use of conservation translocations to restore populations of native species (see Bern Convention (1979), Article 11(2); and CBD (1992), Article 9(c)). They provide key actions to help achieve recovery goals and targets of the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (CBD, 2021). Although the IUCN’s guidelines for conservation translocations state that to establish a viable, free-ranging population in the wild it is necessary to enlist public support (IUCN/SSC 2013), considerations for human dimensions are often not well recognized or accounted for during implementation of these endeavors. Nevertheless, overlooking or treating such aspects lightly may jeopardise the success of the translocation project.

The study of human dimensions requires multidisciplinary integration of knowledge systems. Formed in 2018, the Human-Wildlife Interactions Working group of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group (CTSG) aims to develop networks and collaborations, to provide advice to projects in all stages of development, and to support and inform the IUCN Conservation Translocation Guidelines. This special issue is part of our goal to promote discussion and share evidence, to aid practitioners in finding solutions to restore biodiversity.