The Biden administration has announced $5 million in funding to restore bison and grasslands in Tribal communities in the Great Plains.
The funding from the Interior Department is part of the new Grasslands Keystone Initiative, which is working to restore and protect grasslands in the “Central Grasslands,” or the Great Plains.
Using Indigenous knowledge, the initiative will set priorities and invest in projects that conserve and restore cultural heritage and ecosystems.
“The Interior Department recognizes the crucial role of utilizing Indigenous knowledge in our biggest resource conservation and management challenges, including our work to preserve and enhance Tribal bison herds,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “Through historic funding from the Biden-Harris administration, we can support Tribes in maintaining and rebuilding their herds, which are central to their cultural, spiritual and nutritional traditions, while also improving and preserving the ecosystems that sustain both bison and Tribal communities,” Newland continued.
The funding will be distributed through a variety of programs, including $3.5 million to support the InterTribal Buffalo Council’s herd development and $1.5 million through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to support Tribal bison herd expansion interests.
The Interior Department is utilizing funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to support grassland conservation as part of the America the Beautiful initiative.
American bison once numbered 60 million animals in North America and diminished to fewer than 500 due to hunting, according to the Interior. Through restoration efforts, it is estimated the population is now 15,000 head.
The Interior Department manages 11,000 bison across 4.6 million acres in 12 states. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
