Managed relocation, the intentional repopulation of members of a species to a new region outside its native range, is not only being considered but already being implemented as a strategy for adapting natural resource management to climate change. I explore the legal and ethical implications of such a practice. In particular, some of the questions to be considered are:
- - - - - Results/Conclusions Legislators and natural resource managers and regulators have failed to consider the implications of managed relocation and other possible adaptation strategies. To manage the substantial uncertainty that exists both regarding climate change’s effects and the efficacy of management strategies (such as translocation) to manage these effects, policy-makers need to develop an infrastructure that not only monitors effects but also evaluates the performance of management strategies in furthering resource program goals.
