Current state of plant conservation translocations across Europe: motivations, challenges and outcomes

Godefroid, Sandrine; Lacquaye, Sam; Ensslin, Andreas; Dalrymple, Sarah; Abeli, Thomas; Branwood, Hannah; Ferrando Pardo, Inmaculada; Ferrer Gallego, P. Pablo; Zippel, Elke; Gouveia, Luà­sa; Lobo, Carlos Alberto; Fernandes, Francisco; Rasp, Marion; Daco, Laura; Séleck, Maxime; Frankard, Philippe; Fischer, Leonie K.; Koutsovoulou, Katerina; Finger, Aline; Valkà³, Orsolya

Current state of plant conservation translocations across Europe: motivations, challenges and outcomes

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Godefroid, Sandrine

ORCID

Lacquaye, Sam

Ensslin, Andreas

Dalrymple, Sarah

Abeli, Thomas

Branwood, Hannah

Ferrando Pardo, Inmaculada

Ferrer Gallego, P. Pablo

Zippel, Elke

Gouveia, Luàsa

Lobo, Carlos Alberto

Fernandes, Francisco

Rasp, Marion

Daco, Laura

Séleck, Maxime

Frankard, Philippe

Fischer, Leonie K.

Koutsovoulou, Katerina

Finger, Aline

Valkà³, Orsolya

Garfi, Giuseppe

Å paniÄ ek, Branka

Bà¼rli, Sarah

Dickenmann, Regula

Jones, Johanna

Guyonneau, Julien

Papuga, Guillaume

De Vitis, Marcello

Fenu, Giuseppe

Van Rossum, Fabienne

Cogoni, Donatella

Foster, Gail

Julien, Margaux

Piqueray, Julien

Vàt, Petr

Bonnet, Véronique

Carta, Angelino

Descombes, Patrice

LazareviÄ‡, Maja

Mà¼ller, Norbert

Orsenigo, Simone

Ravera, Sonia

Sild, Mari

Smyth, Sarah

Wagner, Thomas C.

Walisch, Tania

Ballian, Dalibor

Cambria, Vito Emanuele

Colas, Bruno

Dixon, Lara

Draper, David

Froidevaux, Viviane

Pagitz, Konrad

Pà¡nkovà¡, Hana

Pankhurst, Tim

Preston, Jamie

Prunier, Patrice

Saura-Mas, Sandra

Sartori, Karin

Socher, Stephanie A.

Stanik, Nils

Wunderli, Anna

Nikowitz, Tanja

White, Fiona Jane

Date published

January 22, 2025

Abstract

Plant translocation is a conservation technique increasingly used around the world. In Europe, numerous unpublished initiatives have resulted in scattered information in grey literature that is difficult to access. This represents a major obstacle to the exchange of information and experience among scientists, practitioners and competent authorities. To help filling this gap, we launched a large-scale questionnaire survey with 39 questions relating to methods, motivations, problems encountered and outcomes, supplemented by a screening of scientific publications, grey literature and national/regional databases. We gathered data on 3211 plant translocations across the European continent carried out on 1166 taxa in 28 countries, which represents the largest dataset of its kind in the world to date. Target translocated species were mainly forbs from grassland habitats and had a conservation status of greater concern nationally than globally. Practitioners mainly used plug plants originating from a single source (the geographically closest to the target site). Weather events and plant diseases were the most often unanticipated problems noticed by respondents. Through monitoring, it was found that most populations flowered but often did not reproduce and could not persist for more than five years, showcasing the challenge that translocations still present for conservationists. This work will be useful in linking conservationists and enabling them to save time and resources by more easily identifying the best practices suited to their target species, with the ultimate aim of improving the science and practice of plant translocations in Europe and beyond.