Assisted tree migration: A complex strategy for climate-resilient forests
Original framing: “Moving forests to save them: Here are the risks and rewards of assisted tree migration” — The Conversation - Global
Indigenous communities have long practiced adaptive land use and species relocation based on ecological observation and spiritual connection. Their knowledge systems offer a more holistic and context-sensitive approach to assisted migration than the current scientific model.
Assisted tree migration is not a standalone solution but a reflection of deeper systemic issues in conservation and climate adaptation.
It must be recontextualized within Indigenous ecological knowledge, historical land use patterns, and long-term ecological research. By integrating these dimensions, we can move beyond technocratic interventions toward more relational, just, and sustainable forest management. This requires not only scientific rigor but also political will to center marginalized voices and restructure power dynamics in environmental governance.