Exploring the potential for plant translocations to adapt to a warming world

1. Anthropogenic climate warming is undisputed and yet, there is much that is unknown regarding biological impacts of changing temperature and precipitation, and the management options presented as solutions to biodiversity losses-such as translocations of plants and seeds-are often controversial. 2. This Special Focus presents five new studies and two recently published articles in Journal of Ecology and Ecological Solutions and Evidence that analyse the use of existing plant translocations, assess the potential to use translocations to offset past declines and future population losses, and articulate the need to involve a broader range of stakeholders in the use of translocations. 3. Our recommendations include improving the monitoring of plant translocations; harnessing existing translocations to form a global monitoring array for climate change impacts on biological diversity and strengthening research-practice linkages improving data sharing and broadening the stakeholders involved in translocations. 4. Synthesis. Further study of translocations and integration of information from translocation projects holds the opportunity to provide a wealth of new knowledge and improved ways to counter climate change impacts on biological diversity and ecosystems.