Translocation is a term for the
transfer by human kind of any organism from one place to another.
It includes bringing non-native species into Britain, the movement
of species for conservation purposes, and the transfer of
assemblages of species together with their substrate, generally
known as habitats translocation.
Biological translocations are of great significance for
biodiversity conservation. This has been recognised both nationally
within Britain and internationally, notably by the Ramsar
Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). To
fulfil Target 36 of Biodiversity the UK Action Plan (the
UK response to the CBD), JNCC has prepared policy guidance dealing
with species translocations for conservation purposes, and dealing
with habitats translocation. This has been done in conjunction with
the country conservation agencies in England, Scotland and Wales (a
separate initiative is dealing with Northern Ireland).
Translocation of non-native species has been recently covered by a
policy review led by Defra, published in 2003.
JNCC has previously consulted over an earlier draft of a
Biological Translocation Policy in 2001.
This draft included a section on non-native species, which was
subsequently used as one contribution by the statutory conservation
agencies to the Defra
Review of Non-native Species Policy.
With the initiation of the Defra Review, it was decided that the
other two strands of the Biological Translocation Policy (for
conservation translocation of species, and for habitats) should be
published separately on JNCC's website.
In
A Policy for Conservation Translocations of
Species in Britain, the policy adopted by the statutory
conservation agencies is described, which conforms with the
published international guidelines issued by The World Conservation
Union (IUCN). A process for evaluating and undertaking species
translocations for conservation purposes is also included within
the policy, to give some practical guidance to those considering
the use of such translocations.
In
A Habitats Translocation Policy for Britain, the
statutory conservation agencies reject habitats translocation as a
substitute for
in situ conservation of sites with
significant biodiversity, notably Sites of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSIs). The policy also advocates that the use of
habitats translocations for habitat restoration should not damage
important sites or ancient habitats, and that habitats
translocations should only take place where it can be shown that
there is a net gain for biodiversity conservation.
Review of information, policy and legislation
on species translocation. This report reviews the available
information concerning translocations, as background for a future
policy statement to be drawn up by the statutory UK conservation
agencies (the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, English Nature,
Scottish Natural Heritage, the Countryside Council for Wales and
the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland).