Assisted Colonization: Protect Managed Forests

Abstract

In his News Focus story “Home, home outside the range?” (24 September, p. [1592][1]), R. Stone presents a lucid view of the strengths and weaknesses of assisted colonization of endangered species. Unfortunately, the focus on assisted colonization is overshadowing far-reaching climate change adaptation programs targeting forests managed for producing timber, producing nontimber products, or stocking biomass to capture CO2. In an effort to help managed forests respond to the effects of changes in climate, some propose the intentional translocation of tree species outside of their ranges. Forest managers seek to increase forest resilience by introducing new genotypes and new species ([ 1 ][2]). Social pressure to adjust managed forests in response to climate change should not be underestimated; managers are pushed to make decisions immediately, and risks of introducing maladapted genes and invasive populations are inherent to this type of strategy. Some have even proposed introducing subtropical species from the southern hemisphere in northern temperate countries because of the species' suitability to future warmer climates ([ 2 ][3]). As a result, exotic trees could be introduced legally into rural landscapes, thereby modifying terrestrial ecosystems for centuries in the name of responding to climate change. We agree with Stone's conclusion that scientists should closely advise programs considering assisted colonization, and we add a similar plea for managed forests programs. The attention paid to the ecological, ethical, and legal issues of assisted colonization of endangered species should not eclipse the risk assessment of natural and managed forest adaptation strategies. 1. [↵][4]1. E. Marris , Nature 459, 906 (2009). [OpenUrl][5][CrossRef][6][PubMed][7][Web of Science][8] 2. [↵][9]1. D. J. Read 2. et al ., Eds., Combating Climate Change—A Role for UK Forests: An Assessment of the Potential of the UK's Trees and Woodlands to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change (The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, 2009). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.329.5999.1592 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%26rft.stitle%253DNature%26rft.aulast%253DMarris%26rft.auinit1%253DE.%26rft.volume%253D459%26rft.issue%253D7249%26rft.spage%253D906%26rft.epage%253D908%26rft.atitle%253DForestry%253A%2BPlanting%2Bthe%2Bforest%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bfuture.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252F459906a%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F19536238%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/459906a&link_type=DOI [7]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=19536238&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F330%2F6009%2F1319.1.atom [8]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000267063500015&link_type=ISI [9]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text