Assisted colonization and rapid climate change

We developed a decision framework that can be used to outline potential actions under a suite of possible future climate scenarios. Determining whether a species faces significant risk of decline or extinction under climate change requires an in-depth knowledge of the underlying species’ biology as well as the biological, physical, and chemical changes occurring within its environment. The risk of extinction for many widespread, generalist species found across a range of habitats may be low. In this case, the option of moving such species outside their present ranges would be dismissed. Some species will also disperse sufficiently to maintain large populations and range sizes (for example, highly dispersive insects or birds with generalist life histories) and others may adapt in situ. Where species are perceived as being at moderate risk from climate change, improvements in connectivity to actual or potential habitat at higher latitudes and altitudes may be sufficient.