IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Bison Specialist Group

Overview and description

Description:: After nearly going extinct 100 years ago, the European bison now occurs in more than 40 free - ranging wild herds in 10 European countries with a total of 6,800 wild animals. The IUCN SSC Bison ...
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After nearly going extinct 100 years ago, the European bison now occurs in more than 40 free - ranging wild herds in 10 European countries with a total of 6,800 wild animals. The IUCN SSC Bison Specialist Group (BSG) is committed to the development of comprehensive and viable strategies and management actions to enhance conservation and ecological restoration of European Bison (Bison bonasus) and American Bison (Bison bison).

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Group leadership

Dr Glenn PLUMB

Chair

Mr Greg WILSON

Red List Authority Coordinator

More about the Specialist Group

The purpose of the Bison Specialist Group (Europe section) is to help and take part in all conservation plans in Europe, promote opportunities for discussion (annual conferences and webpage), and advise decision makers about European bison.

Mission

EU

To help and take part in all conservation plans in Europe, promote opportunities for discussion and advice decision makers about European bison.

North America

To contribute scientific evidence-based support for development and implementation of comprehensive and viable strategies and management actions to improve conservation and achieve ecological restoration of the American Bison including Plains Bison and Wood Bison where feasible throughout the original range of each subspecies.

Specialist Group work

The BSG will undertake collaborative analyses and produce collaborative publications intended to improve conservation planning and action for the American and European bison species. Of special emphasis will be a new range-wide conservation action plan for the European bison and continental meta population management for the American bison.

Understanding threats to Bisons

Bison are threatened by genetic diversity, human intolerance and habitat fragmentation and loss. BSG conducts comprehensive assessments, provides evidence-based advice and support, and communication and outreach activities in support of this mission.