Godefroid, S, Lacquaye, S, Ensslin, A, Dalrymple, S, Abeli, T, Branwood, H, Ferrando Pardo, I, Ferrer Gallego, PP, Zippel, E, Gouveia, L, Lobo, CA, Fernandes, F, Rasp, M, Daco, L, Séleck, M, Frankard, P, Fischer, LK, Koutsovoulou, K, Finger, A, Valkó, O et al, Garfi, G, Španiček, B, Bürli, S, Dickenmann, R, Jones, J, Guyonneau, J, Papuga, G, De Vitis, M, Fenu, G, Van Rossum, F, Cogoni, D, Foster, G, Julien, M, Piqueray, J, Vít, P, Bonnet, V, Carta, A, Descombes, P, Lazarević, M, Müller, N, Orsenigo, S, Ravera, S, Sild, M, Smyth, S, Wagner, TC, Walisch, T, Ballian, D, Cambria, VE, Colas, B, Dixon, L, Draper, D, Froidevaux, V, Pagitz, K, Pánková, H, Pankhurst, T, Preston, J, Prunier, P, Saura-Mas, S, Sartori, K, Socher, SA, Stanik, N, Wunderli, A, Nikowitz, T and White, FJ (2025) Current state of plant conservation translocations across Europe: motivations, challenges and outcomes. Biodiversity and Conservation. ISSN 0960-3115

Text Godefroid et al 2025_Plant_translocations_postprint.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 22 January 2026. Download (625kB)

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 In Europe, numerous unpublished initiatives have resulted in scattered information in grey literature that is difficult to access.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.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-025-03013-0
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0501 Ecological Applications; 0502 Environmental Science and Management; 0602 Ecology; Ecology
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2025 09:57
Last Modified:	27 Jan 2025 09:57
DOI or ID number:	10.1007/s10531-025-03013-0
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25451

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