New Guide Helps Save Species from Extinction

Saving a species from extinction sometimes means making an impossible choice: do you move it somewhere new, or watch it disappear forever?

A new framework published in Conservation Science and Practice gives conservationists a thoughtful way to answer that question. The guide helps managers decide whether a "conservation introduction" that relocates a plant or animal outside its historical range makes sense, and how to do it responsibly.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa played a central role in developing the framework over several years. Professor Melissa Price and her graduate students gathered input from more than 250 people across the Pacific region, including biologists, cultural practitioners, tribal members, indigenous community leaders, land managers, and agency staff.

"This framework is the product of years of conversations with the people who actually do this work," said Price. The university's role was ensuring engagement felt real, not like checking a box, and that the guide reflected the full range of perspectives and places it serves.

What makes this framework different is its place-based, relationship-first approach. Earlier tools focused mainly on ecological risk, but this one puts cultural and community values on equal footing with science.

The timing matters deeply for places like Hawaii, where forest birds face critical threats. "We don't have the luxury of waiting until we have perfect information to make difficult decisions," said Hanna Mounce, coordinator for the Maui Nui Forest Bird Recovery Project. "We are often making high-stakes decisions under a lot of uncertainty."

The new guide gives conservationists a way to work through those decisions thoughtfully and transparently while making sure the right people join the conversation. It acknowledges that moving species carries risks, but so does doing nothing when extinction looms.

The Ripple Effect

This framework reaches far beyond Hawaii. Conservation groups across the Pacific now have a shared language and process for discussing one of their hardest decisions. When communities feel heard and respected in these conversations, they become partners in protecting species rather than bystanders watching scientists make calls alone.

The approach recognizes that indigenous and local communities often hold generations of ecological knowledge that western science is just beginning to understand. By weaving together scientific data with cultural wisdom and community values, the framework creates more complete solutions.

Community members interested in learning more can attend a free panel discussion on October 28 at 3 p.m. at the University of Hawaiʻi. The panel will feature experts discussing conservation introductions and forest bird translocations in the Hawaiian Islands.

When faced with species on the brink, this new framework proves we can make tough choices together with both wisdom and heart.