BSG
North America
Bison Specialist Group
North America
About the BSG
The Bison Specialist Group was established under the direction of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, currently chaired by Dr. Holly Dublin. The genus Bison is represented by two species, one indigenous to Europe (Bison bonasus) and the other to North America (Bison bison). Conservation challenges facing North American and European bison differ substantially, warranting the establishment of separate specialist groups, North America and Europe, each focusing on bison conservation in their respective regions, and chaired by a regional Co-Chair. This site is focused on the activities of the North American BSG.
The BSG (North America) consists of more than 50 individuals representing state/provincial/territorial, federal, aboriginal, and private interests, and spanning three nations: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The Specialist Group is developing a bison conservation strategy that will provide support and guidance for policy development, and conservation planning and implementation for public and private sector projects, including:
- To the extent known, the current numeric, geographic and genetic status of North American bison, including public and private herds.
- Geographic assessment of priority conservation areas in North America, in participation with the Wildlife Conservation Society.
- Critical assessment of conservation needs to achieve restoration of bison, to the extent possible, in numerous viable populations on extensive landscapes, where the broadest suite of natural selection factors act to shape the continued evolution of the species, ecological function and structure (biodiversity) are priority management objectives, and sustainable benefits are provided to local human communities.
- Guidelines for assessing population viability.
- Guidelines for reintroductions.
- Guidelines for population management, including demographic and genetic management.
- Guidelines for conservation management of private herds, which may be used by the commercial industry to establish a conservation certification system providing market incentives for participation in herd management for conservation.
- Guidelines for bison conservation in the context of ecosystem management (economic, cultural, and ecological missions), emphasizing restoration and management of bison on large, ecologically functioning, cultural landscapes.
- Enhancing the capacity of members of the Bison Specialist Group and the organizations they represent to provide timely, innovative and practical solutions to conservation problems.
About the IUCN Species Survival Commission
The
Species Survival Commission
(SSC) provides information and recommendations on the status and
conservation of species to managers, agencies, academia, and others capable of
implementing conservation action. The SSC is the largest of six commissions
within the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
The mission of the IUCN is to influence,
encourage, and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity
and diversity of nature, and to ensure that any use of natural resources is
equitable and ecologically sustainable. For
more information on the IUCN visit www.iucn.org.
