Bison-Rewilding-Plan-2014
Bison-Rewilding-Plan-2014 Bison-Rewilding-Plan-2014
1.2European landscapes: the opportunityIn many regions in rural Europe large areas ofland are becoming abandoned. The current trendis towards city growth and intensification offarming and forestry in the most fertile areas.Extensive farming and pastoral livelihoods areno longer economically viable and many youngpeople are leaving the countryside, changingthe demographic make-up of many areas. Localeconomies are subsequently being depressed inmany rural regions.EU subsidies to farmers also mean that fields inmany regions are kept open for cutting hay, despitethe hay not being used and left to rot. Every yearabout one million hectares of land are left fallowwithin the EU (IEEP 2010). This is not only a disadvantageoussituation economically, but also leaveslarge areas depleted socially and ecologically.Thereby it is important to note that the protectedareas network in Europe (including Natura 2000and Emerald Network) is one of the most extensivein the world, which provides a huge opportunity forthe bison.There is therefore a space – ecological, socialand economic – for new initiatives to step in andcreate opportunities for conservation, restorationof land and re-building of local economies. Besidesthat, bison can profit from the growing network ofprotected areas in Europe, in particular the Natura2000 Network and the Emerald Network (EEA2013). Rewilding Europe has a particular interestin establishing rewilding areas across Europe andreintroducing regionally extinct species, using8
STAFFAN WIDSTRAND / REWILDING EUROPEEuropean bison as one of the flagship species withwhich to achieve this objective. The aim is to enableecosystems to recover and flourish once morewithout intensive management, and moreoverto use this initiative to create economic opportunitiesin rural areas through ecotourism and (other)related business developments. Rewilding Europerecognises that the key to long-term, sustainableland use in Europe is not only a vision that benefitswildlife but also one that supports people.Rewilding Europe is convinced that the Europeanbison can make a positive change for rural developmentin the remote corners of Europe experiencingland abandonment, and has chosen thebison as one of the flagship species for rewilding. Inthis rewilding plan we present:1. Relevant background on European bison,including its ecology and current conservationstatus.2. Rewilding Europe’s guiding principles on bisonconservation, encompassing current knowledgeon bison, bison management and social andeconomic factors affecting potential bison areas.3. Rewilding Europe’s strategy on bison conservationin Europe, including a detailed rewildingplan of immediate, mid-term and long-termactions to help improve the European bison’sconservation status, and to create viable andhealthy populations across Europe.Abandoned grazinglands in the Velebitmountains, Croatia9
- Page 1 and 2: BisonRewilding Plan2014-2024Rewildi
- Page 4 and 5: STAFFAN WIDSTRAND / REWILDING EUROP
- Page 6 and 7: Table of contentsForeword 3Executiv
- Page 8 and 9: 6STAFFAN WIDSTRAND / REWILDING EURO
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- Page 14 and 15: RUUD MAASKANT / ARK NATURE2.2 Ecolo
- Page 16 and 17: winner secludes himself from the he
- Page 18 and 19: een well established (Benecke 1999)
- Page 20 and 21: 2.3Current conservation statusRecen
- Page 22 and 23: 2.4European bison conservation2.4.1
- Page 24: forest ecosystems started in Bialow
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- Page 30 and 31: 3.2The reference:historic distribut
- Page 32 and 33: 3.3European bison as a keystoneand
- Page 35 and 36: STAFFAN WIDSTRAND / REWILDING EUROP
- Page 37 and 38: Human-bison conflict3.6Current-day
- Page 39 and 40: JOEP VAN DE VLASAKKERHowever, not a
- Page 41 and 42: in opposition to important resource
- Page 46 and 47: Objective Action Result7. Bison pro
- Page 48 and 49: ReferencesBalčiauskas L. 1999. Eur
- Page 50 and 51: 1. Planning the reintroduction andr
- Page 52 and 53: Electric wires forareas with highsn
- Page 54 and 55: use of young animals two to four ye
- Page 56 and 57: JOEP VAN DE VLASAKKERBison are best
- Page 58 and 59: Use of pulka totransport and loadbi
1.2European landscapes: the opportunityIn many regions in rural Europe large areas ofland are becoming abandoned. The current trendis towards city growth and intensification offarming and forestry in the most fertile areas.Extensive farming and pastoral livelihoods areno longer economically viable and many youngpeople are leaving the countryside, changingthe demographic make-up of many areas. Localeconomies are subsequently being depressed inmany rural regions.EU subsidies to farmers also mean that fields inmany regions are kept open for cutting hay, despitethe hay not being used and left to rot. Every yearabout one million hectares of land are left fallowwithin the EU (IEEP 2010). This is not only a disadvantageoussituation economically, but also leaveslarge areas depleted socially and ecologically.Thereby it is important to note that the protectedareas network in Europe (including Natura 2000and Emerald Network) is one of the most extensivein the world, which provides a huge opportunity forthe bison.There is therefore a space – ecological, socialand economic – for new initiatives to step in andcreate opportunities for conservation, restorationof land and re-building of local economies. Besidesthat, bison can profit from the growing network ofprotected areas in Europe, in particular the Natura2000 Network and the Emerald Network (EEA2013). <strong>Rewilding</strong> Europe has a particular interestin establishing rewilding areas across Europe andreintroducing regionally extinct species, using8
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