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IUCN/SSC Guidelines For Re-Introductions
Prepared by the SSC Re-introduction
Specialist Group *
Approved by the 41st Meeting
of the IUCN Council, Gland Switzerland, May 1995
INTRODUCTION
These policy guidelines have been
drafted by the Re-introduction Specialist Group of the IUCN's
Species Survival Commission (1), in response
to the increasing occurrence of re-introduction projects worldwide,
and consequently, to the growing need for specific policy guidelines
to help ensure that the re-introductions achieve their intended
conservation benefit, and do not cause adverse side-effects
of greater impact. Although IUCN developed a Position Statement
on the Translocation of Living Organisms
in 1987, more detailed guidelines were felt to be essential
in providing more comprehensive coverage of the various factors
involved in re-introduction exercises.
These guidelines are intended
to act as a guide for procedures useful to re-introduction programmes
and do not represent an inflexible code of conduct. Many of
the points are more relevant to re-introductions using captive-bred
individuals than to translocations of wild species. Others are
especially relevant to globally endangered species with limited
numbers of founders. Each re-introduction proposal should be
rigorously reviewed on its individual merits. It should be noted
that re-introduction is always a very lengthy, complex and expensive
process.
Re-introductions or translocations
of species for short-term, sporting or commercial purposes -
where there is no intention to establish a viable population
- are a different issue and beyond the scope of these guidelines.
These include fishing and hunting activities.
This document has been written
to encompass the full range of plant and animal taxa and is
therefore general. It will be regularly revised. Handbooks for
re-introducing individual groups of animals and plants will
be developed in future.
CONTEXT
The increasing number of re-introductions
and translocations led to the establishment of the IUCN/SSC
Species Survival Commission's Re-introduction Specialist Group.
A priority of the Group has been to update IUCN's 1987 Position
Statement on the Translocation of Living Organisms, in consultation
with IUCN's other commissions.
It is important that the Guidelines
are implemented in the context of IUCN's broader policies pertaining
to biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural
resources. The philosophy for environmental conservation and
management of IUCN and other conservation bodies is stated in
key documents such as "Caring for the Earth" and "Global
Biodiversity Strategy" which cover the broad themes of
the need for approaches with community involvement and participation
in sustainable natural resource conservation, an overall enhanced
quality of human life and the need to conserve and, where necessary,
restore ecosystems. With regards to the latter, the re-introduction
of a species is one specific instance of restoration where,
in general, only this species is missing. Full restoration of
an array of plant and animal species has rarely been tried to
date.
Restoration of single species
of plants and animals is becoming more frequent around the world.
Some succeed, many fail. As this form of ecological management
is increasingly common, it is a priority for the Species Survival
Commission's Re-introduction Specialist Group to develop guidelines
so that re-introductions are both justifiable and likely to
succeed, and that the conservation world can learn from each
initiative, whether successful or not. It is hoped that these
Guidelines, based on extensive review of case - histories and
wide consultation across a range of disciplines will introduce
more rigour into the concepts, design, feasibility and implementation
of re-introductions despite the wide diversity of species and
conditions involved.
Thus the priority has been to
develop guidelines that are of direct, practical assistance
to those planning, approving or carrying out re-introductions.
The primary audience of these guidelines is, therefore, the
practitioners (usually managers or scientists), rather than
decision makers in governments. Guidelines directed towards
the latter group would inevitably have to go into greater depth
on legal and policy issues.
1. DEFINITION OF TERMS
"Re-introduction": an attempt to establish a species(2) in an area which was once part of its historical range,
but from which it has been extirpated or become extinct (3) ("Re-establishment" is a synonym, but implies that
the re-introduction has been successful).
"Translocation": deliberate and mediated movement of wild individuals
or populations from one part of their range to another.
"Re-inforcement/Supplementation": addition of individuals to an existing population
of conspecifics.
"Conservation/Benign Introductions":
an attempt to establish a species, for the purpose of conservation,
outside its recorded distribution but within an appropriate
habitat and eco-geographical area. This is a feasible conservation
tool only when there is no remaining area left within a species'
historic range.
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF RE-INTRODUCTION
a. Aims:
The principle aim of any re-introduction
should be to establish a viable, free-ranging population in
the wild, of a species, subspecies or race, which has become
globally or locally extinct, or extirpated, in the wild. It
should be re-introduced within the species' former natural habitat
and range and should require minimal long-term management.
b. Objectives:
The objectives of a re-introduction
may include: to enhance the long-term survival of a species;
to re-establish a keystone species (in the ecological or cultural
sense) in an ecosystem; to maintain and/or restore natural biodiversity;
to provide long-term economic benefits to the local and/or nataional
economy; to promote conservation awareness; or a combination
of these.
3. MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
A re-introduction requires a multidisciplinary
approach involving a team of persons drawn from a variety of
backgrounds. As well as government personnel, they may include
persons from governmental natural resource management agencies;
non-governmental organisations; funding bodies; universities;
veterinary institutions; zoos (and private animal breeders)
and/or botanic gardens, with a full range of suitable expertise.
Team leaders should be responsible for coordination between
the various bodies and provision should be made for publicity
and public education about the project.
4. PRE-PROJECT ACTIVITIES
4a. BIOLOGICAL
(i) Feasibility study and background
research
- An assessment should be made
of the taxonomic status of individuals to be re-introduced.
They should preferably be of the same subspecies or race as
those which were extirpated, unless adequate numbers are not
available. An investigation of historical information about
the loss and fate of individuals from the re-introduction
area, as well as molecular genetic studies, should be undertaken
in case of doubt as to individuals' taxonomic status. A study
of genetic variation within and between populations of this
and related taxa can also be helpful. Special care is needed
when the population has long been extinct.
- Detailed studies should be
made of the status and biology of wild populations(if they
exist) to determine the species' critical needs. For animals,
this would include descriptions of habitat preferences, intraspecific
variation and adaptations to local ecological conditions,
social behaviour, group composition, home range size, shelter
and food requirements, foraging and feeding behaviour, predators
and diseases. For migratory species, studies should include
the potential migratory areas. For plants, it would include
biotic and abiotic habitat requirements, dispersal mechanisms,
reproductive biology, symbiotic relationships (e.g. with mycorrhizae,
pollinators), insect pests and diseases. Overall, a firm knowledge
of the natural history of the species in question is crucial
to the entire re-introduction scheme.
- The species, if any, that has
filled the void created by the loss of the species concerned,
should be determined; an understanding of the effect the re-introduced
species will have on the ecosystem is important for ascertaining
the success of the re-introduced population.
- The build-up of the released
population should be modelled under various sets of conditions,
in order to specify the optimal number and composition of
individuals to be released per year and the numbers of years
necessary to promote establishment of a viable population.
- A Population and Habitat Viability
Analysis will aid in identifying significant environmental
and population variables and assessing their potential interactions,
which would guide long-term population management.
(ii) Previous Re-introductions
- Thorough research into previous
re-introductions of the same or similar species and wide-ranging
contacts with persons having relevant expertise should be
conducted prior to and while developing re-introduction protocol.
(iii) Choice of release site
and type
- Site should be within the historic
range of the species. For an initial re-inforcement there
should be few remnant wild individuals. For a re-introduction,
there should be no remnant population to prevent disease spread,
social disruption and introduction of alien genes. In some
circumstances, a re-introduction or re-inforcement may have
to be made into an area which is fenced or otherwise delimited,
but it should be within the species' former natural habitat
and range.
- A conservation/ benign introduction
should be undertaken only as a last resort when no opportunities
for re-introduction into the original site or range exist
and only when a significant contribution to the conservation
of the species will result.
- The re-introduction area should
have assured, long-term protection (whether formal or otherwise).
(iv) Evaluation of re-introduction
site
- Availability of suitable habitat:
re-introductions should only take place where the habitat
and landscape requirements of the species are satisfied, and
likely to be sustained for the for-seeable future. The possibility
of natural habitat change since extirpation must be considered.
Likewise, a change in the legal/ political or cultural environment
since species extirpation needs to be ascertained and evaluated
as a possible constraint. The area should have sufficient
carrying capacity to sustain growth of the re-introduced population
and support a viable (self-sustaining) population in the long
run.
- Identification and elimination,
or reduction to a sufficient level, of previous causes of
decline: could include disease; over-hunting; over-collection;
pollution; poisoning; competition with or predation by introduced
species; habitat loss; adverse effects of earlier research
or management programmes; competition with domestic livestock,
which may be seasonal. Where the release site has undergone
substantial degradation caused by human activity, a habitat
restoration programme should be initiated before the re-introduction
is carried out.
(v) Availability of suitable
release stock
- It is desirable that source
animals come from wild populations. If there is a choice of
wild populations to supply founder stock for translocation,
the source population should ideally be closely related genetically
to the original native stock and show similar ecological characteristics
(morphology, physiology, behaviour, habitat preference) to
the original sub-population.
- Removal of individuals for
re-introduction must not endanger the captive stock population
or the wild source population. Stock must be guaranteed available
on a regular and predictable basis, meeting specifications
of the project protocol.
- Individuals should only be
removed from a wild population after the effects of translocation
on the donor population have been assessed, and after it is
guaranteed that these effects will not be negative.
- If captive or artificially
propagated stock is to be used, it must be from a population
which has been soundly managed both demographically and genetically,
according to the principles of contemporary conservation biology.
- Re-introductions should not
be carried out merely because captive stocks exist, nor solely
as a means of disposing of surplus stock.
- Prospective release stock,
including stock that is a gift between governments, must be
subjected to a thorough veterinary screening process before
shipment from original source. Any animals found to be infected
or which test positive for non-endemic or contagious pathogens
with a potential impact on population levels, must be removed
from the consignment, and the uninfected, negative remainder
must be placed in strict quarantine for a suitable period
before retest. If clear after retesting, the animals may be
placed for shipment.
- Since infection with serious
disease can be acquired during shipment, especially if this
is intercontinental, great care must be taken to minimize
this risk.
- Stock must meet all health
regulations prescribed by the veterinary authorities of the
recipient country and adequate provisions must be made for
quarantine if necessary.
(vi) Release of captive stock
- Most species of mammal and
birds rely heavily on individual experience and learning as
juveniles for their survival; they should be given the opportunity
to acquire the necessary information to enable survival in
the wild, through training in their captive environment; a
captive bred individual's probability of survival should approximate
that of a wild counterpart.
- Care should be taken to ensure
that potentially dangerous captive bred animals (such as large
carnivores or primates) are not so confident in the presence
of humans that they might be a danger to local inhabitants
and/or their livestock.
4b. SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS
- Re-introductions are generally
long-term projects that require the commitment of long-term
financial and political support.
- Socio-economic studies should
be made to assess impacts, costs and benefits of the re-introduction
programme to local human populations.
- A thorough assessment of attitudes
of local people to the proposed project is necessary to ensure
long term protection of the re-introduced population, especially
if the cause of species' decline was due to human factors
(e.g. over-hunting, over-collection, loss or alteration of
habitat). The programme should be fully understood, accepted
and supported by local communities.
- Where the security of the re-introduced
population is at risk from human activities, measures should
be taken to minimise these in the re-introduction area. If
these measures are inadequate, the re-introduction should
be abandoned or alternative release areas sought.
- The policy of the country to
re-introductions and to the species concerned should be assessed.
This might include checking existing provincial, national
and international legislation and regulations, and provision
of new measures and required permits as necessary.
- Re-introduction must take place
with the full permission and involvement of all relevant government
agencies of the recipient or host country. This is particularly
important in re-introductions in border areas, or involving
more than one state or when a re-introduced population can
expand into other states, provinces or territories.
- If the species poses potential
risk to life or property, these risks should be minimised
and adequate provision made for compensation where necessary;
where all other solutions fail, removal or destruction of
the released individual should be considered. In the case
of migratory/mobile species, provisions should be made for
crossing of international/state boundaries.
5. PLANNING, PREPARATION AND
RELEASE STAGES
- Approval of relevant government
agencies and land owners, and coordination with national and
international conservation organizations.
- Construction of a multidisciplinary
team with access to expert technical advice for all phases
of the programme.
- Identification of short- and
long-term success indicators and prediction of programme duration,
in context of agreed aims and objectives.
- Securing adequate funding for
all programme phases.
- Design of pre- and post- release
monitoring programme so that each re-introduction is a carefully
designed experiment, with the capability to test methodology
with scientifically collected data. Monitoring the health
of individuals, as well as the survival, is important; intervention
may be necessary if the situation proves unforseeably favourable.
- Appropriate health and genetic
screening of release stock, including stock that is a gift
between governments. Health screening of closely related species
in the re-introduction area.
- If release stock is wild-caught,
care must be taken to ensure that: a) the stock is free from
infectious or contagious pathogens and parasites before shipment
and b) the stock will not be exposed to vectors of disease
agents which may be present at the release site (and absent
at the source site) and to which it may have no acquired immunity.
- If vaccination prior to release,
against local endemic or epidemic diseases of wild stock or
domestic livestock at the release site, is deemed appropriate,
this must be carried out during the "Preparation Stage" so as to allow sufficient time for the development of the
required immunity.
- Appropriate veterinary or horticultural
measures as required to ensure health of released stock throughout
the programme. This is to include adequate quarantine arrangements,
especially where founder stock travels far or crosses international
boundaries to the release site.
- Development of transport plans
for delivery of stock to the country and site of re-introduction,
with special emphasis on ways to minimize stress on the individuals
during transport.
- Determination of release strategy
(acclimatization of release stock to release area; behavioural
training - including hunting and feeding; group composition,
number, release patterns and techniques; timing).
- Establishment of policies on
interventions (see below).
- Development of conservation
education for long-term support; professional training of
individuals involved in the long-term programme; public relations
through the mass media and in local community; involvement
where possible of local people in the programme.
- The welfare of animals for
release is of paramount concern through all these stages.
6. POST-RELEASE ACTIVITIES
- Post release monitoring is
required of all (or sample of) individuals. This most vital
aspect may be by direct (e.g. tagging, telemetry) or indirect
(e.g. spoor, informants) methods as suitable.
- Demographic, ecological and
behavioural studies of released stock must be undertaken.
- Study of processes of long-term
adaptation by individuals and the population.
- Collection and investigation
of mortalities.
- Interventions (e.g. supplemental
feeding; veterinary aid; horticultural aid) when necessary.
- Decisions for revision, rescheduling,
or discontinuation of programme where necessary.
- Habitat protection or restoration
to continue where necessary.
- Continuing public relations
activities, including education and mass media coverage.
- Evaluation of cost-effectiveness
and success of re- introduction techniques.
- Regular publications in scientific
and popular literature.
Footnotes:
1 Guidelines for determining procedures for disposal
of species confiscated in trade are being developed separately
by IUCN.
2 The taxonomic unit referred to throughout the document
is species; it may be a lower taxonomic unit (e.g. subspecies
or race) as long as it can be unambiguously defined.
3 A taxon is extinct when there is no reasonable doubt
that the last individual has died
The IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist
Group (RSG) is a disciplinary group (as opposed to most SSC
Specialist Groups which deal with single taxonomic groups),
covering a wide range of plant and animal species. The RSG has
an extensive international network, a re-introduction projects
database and re-introduction library. The RSG publishes a bi-annual
newsletter RE-INTRODUCTION NEWS.
If you are a re-introduction practitioner
or interested in re-introductions please contact:
Mr. Pritpal S.Soorae
Senior Conservation
Officer
IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG)
Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA)
P.O. Box 45553
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Tel: (D/L) 971-2-693-4650
or general line: 693-4628
Fax: 971-2-681-7361
E-mail: PSoorae@erwda.gov.ae
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