Advancing efforts to write a better future for iconic Yellowstone bison, the National Park Service released a new, draft environmental assessment, focused on conserving the species.
Bozeman, MT – The National Park Service released today the draft environmental assessment for creating a new Yellowstone bison quarantine program. The assessment aims to conserve the species, through establishment or augmentation of bison populations outside of Yellowstone National Park; to support Native American cultural and traditional practices; and to reduce the number of Yellowstone bison sent to slaughter each year. The effort of returning bison back to some of their historic habitat is identified as a top priority for the National Park Service, in its Call to Action plan.
The following is a statement by Stephanie Adams, Yellowstone Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association:
“National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) commends the National Park Service for taking steps towards creating future conservation opportunities for Yellowstone bison. The bison quarantine program, backed by science, could help write a new story for Yellowstone bison – with an ending that does not include the slaughterhouse.”
The Future of Yellowstone Bison Management
NPCA is working to ensure that the nation’s oldest herd of bison in America’s first national park have the habitat they need to thrive.
See more ›“A successful bison quarantine program can be an important tool for the reintroduction of bison to federal and tribal lands, where agencies and communities support restoring the species. As the park service works to refine and finalize its environmental assessment, we urge them to develop strong criteria that will evaluate proposals to return bison to sites within our park system or other lands of tribal and cultural significance.
“In addition to this step forward, we continue to urge the National Park Service and Montana to complete a new, science-based conservation plan in 2016 that would holistically address the future for Yellowstone bison.”
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About National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than one million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
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