Ministry of Internal Affairs announces a new initiative to restore the bison population

March 3 (UPI) — The Department of the Interior said Friday it is taking new steps to restore the dwindling American bison population.

agency issued an order which is establishing a bison working group and a bison management internship who will work on conservation issues in partnership with local tribes.

The department is also using $25 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to create new bison herds, support the transfer of bison to tribes, and improve the quality of grazing ecosystems.

“The American bison is inextricably linked to indigenous culture, grassland ecology and American history,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. “The new historic funding under the Inflation Reduction Act will help support the Department’s efforts to restore this iconic species and integrate Indigenous knowledge into our overall management goals.”

In the 19th century, bison almost became extinct after there were once 60 million. However, President Theodore Roosevelt launched a conservation effort that saw the number of bison recover from less than 500 to over 15,000.

Currently, there are 11,000 bison in the Department of Internal Affairs.

“While the overall recovery of bison over the past 130 years is a successful conservation effort, much work remains to be done to not only ensure that bison remain a viable species, but also to restore grazing ecosystems, strengthen the rural economy dependent on pasture health, and ensure the return of bison to tribal and ancestral lands,” Haaland said.

Content Source

News Press Ohio – Latest News:
Columbus Local News || Cleveland Local News || Ohio State News || National News || Money and Economy News || Entertainment News || Tech News || Environment News

Related Articles

Back to top button