Title
Hope is a bison
Author(s)
Redford, Kent H.;Aune, Keith;Plumb, Glenn
Published
2016
Publisher
Conservation Biology
Abstract
The virtually inconceivable decimation of the North American bison (Bison bison) from tens of millions of free-roaming animals to fewer than one thousand by the beginning of the 20th century was a tragedy, a failure, and a confirmation of the rapacious nature of humankind. In the next act of the bison story, the species was saved from extinction, restored in limited numbers to some public lands, and emerged simultaneously as an icon of societal strength and durability and a viable domesticated agricultural commodity. This is usually where the bison's story ends, but yet another act is unfolding. In this century, important initial steps have been made toward achieving a 100-year vision for full ecological restoration of North American bison. In this vision, success will have been achieved when “… multiple large herds move freely across extensive landscapes interacting in ecologically significant ways with the fullest possible set of other native species and inspiring, sustaining and connecting human cultures” (Sanderson et al. 2008).
This vision was created as part of a broad-based effort, led by the American Bison Society and the Wildlife Conservation Society, with a wide array of partners, to champion the restoration of the bison's ecological role in human society. Bison restoration has become a message of hope that has inspired action by many groups from children to tribal elders to politicians. In the past decade alone, people have seized the initiative and acted with a purpose to restore bison as wildlife in northern Mexico, parts of the U.S. Rocky Mountains, Utah, and Alaska, and plans exist for restoration of bison in Canada and other locations throughout North America.
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PUB19032