Towards a framework for assisted migration of threatened plant species in the Swiss Alps

Climate change is shifting the geographic distribution of suitable habitat for all species towards the poles or to higher elevation. However, the majority of mountain plant species have not been dispersing fast enough to higher elevations to keep pace with climatic changes. This will lead to the local – or in some cases complete - extinction of rare and threatened plant species, unless we help them to overcome dispersal limitations by directly translocating them to sites that are suitable now and in the near future - a practice called “assisted migration”. 

Assisted migration is currently being widely considered, explored and implemented in forestry and agriculture, but remains highly controversial in the field of biodiversity and conservation. Yet assisted migration must be considered as a complement to more traditional habitat protection and ecological infrastructure to help slow or halt extinctions due to climate change. Nonetheless, assisted migration is not yet on the “menu” of strategies for ecological restoration and conservation in almost all countries, including Switzerland. Focusing on threatened mountain plant species, a new four-year project is developing the baselines for applying assisted migration in conservation practice together with researchers, practitioners, authorities and industry.

In this project we aim to (1) reach agreement among stakeholders and federal and cantonal administrations in charge of conservation planning on the boundary conditions under which assisted migration can be considered as a conservation practice; (2) establish essential knowledge and practical experience with ex situ propagation and (3) in situ assisted migration of threatened mountain plant species, by setting up field trials at restoration and ecological infrastructure sites; and (4) facilitate knowledge transfer by creating a science-based, practice-oriented, open-access toolbox. 

In our talk we will consider the advantages and risks of assisted migration more generally, and in the context of mountain ecosystems and threatened plants. Moreover, we will present the outcomes of a stakeholder process, involving individuals from various stakeholder groups collaborating in developing boundary conditions and practicability of assisted migration of threatened mountain plants in Switzerland.