Wilson, Belinda A.Evans, Maldwyn J.Gordon, Iain J.Manning, Adrian D.2025-06-112025-06-111540-9295WOS:001258516500001ORCID:/0000-0003-0989-9203/work/172101947ORCID:/0000-0001-7025-2287/work/172102018ORCID:/0000-0002-7314-6401/work/172102085http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85197237397&partnerID=8YFLogxKhttps://hdl.handle.net/1885/733758823Translocations are a critical tool for reversing biodiversity loss but are often characterized by unreasonably high expectations, leading to many translocation programs being brief and terminated before achieving their full potential.  To address these issues, we developed the “Translocation Continuum Framework”, an easy-to-use tool that clarifies the criteria, strategies, tactics, progress measures, and expected outcomes for five key translocation “phases”: Feasibility Studies, Pilot Studies, Primary Trials, Secondary Experiments, and Tertiary Reinforcements. By accounting for uncertainty, the Framework aims to empower practitioners to design translocation programs that suit their context.  We also discuss the limitations of “success” and “failure” labels in translocations, and the importance of parsimonious decision making to maximize learning with the least amount of loss. Only by managing expectations of the likelihood of establishment, growth, and regulation throughout a program's lifetime can we galvanize trust and investment in translocations so they can contribute meaningfully to long-term restoration.We acknowledge and respect the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this thinking and writing was undertaken. This opinion article was written within the Coexistence Conservation Lab and informed by the Mulligans Flat-Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment that was supported by the Australian Research Council-funded Bringing Back Biodiversity project (LP140100209). We thank our collaborative partners-namely, the Australian Capital Territory Government (Parks and Conservation Service and Office of Nature Conservation); the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE); Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre; the Odonata Foundation; and the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust-for their support. We also thank C Ross, B Brockett, and S Rapley for providing comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. Author contributions: conceptualization: BAW, MJE, IJG, ADM; writing: BAW; review and editing: BAW, MJE, IJG, ADM; visualization: BAW; and supervision: MJE, IJG, ADM. Open access publishing facilitated by Australian National University, as part of the Wiley - Australian National University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.9en© 2024 The Author(s). Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.ReintroductionConservationImproveSuccess2024-07-0110.1002/fee.278485197237397