Two years ago I learned about an idea for saving species from climate-triggered extinction: move them some place nice. Here’s a piece about the concept that I wrote at the time for the New York Times. Over the past two years, more evidence of climate-induced changes to diversity has accrued. And now some scientists have actually moved some animals to test the possibility that assisted migration could help. But the idea has also now triggered some intense opposition from critics who call it a game of ecological roulette.
I’ve revisited assisted migration (now known as managed relocation) for a new piece for Yale Environment 360. Check it out.
Originally published April 20, 2009. Copyright 2009 Carl Zimmer.