This new bill could finally be the key to permanently safeguarding American bison, grizzly bears, and gray wolves
The Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act would establish permanent federal protections for these three species and expand recovery efforts and coexistence measures.
Cory Booker, the U.S. Senator from New Jersey, has introduced legislation aimed at establishing permanent federal protections and expanding recovery efforts for American bison and grizzly bears.
With Raúl M. Grijalva, a Democratic representative from Arizona, Booker has introduced the Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act to address what activists have called ‘the war on wildlife,’ which has resulted in the slaughter of thousands of native species on public lands.
If passed, this groundbreaking federal legislation “prohibits the take, possession, purchase, sale, or transportation” of a bison, grizzly bear, or wolf, among other provisions.
“This fresh novel inquiry is the best approach to wildlife coexistence, reversing climate warming, stemming biodiversity loss and move humans to right relationship with the natural world.”
The measure comes at a crucial time: on September 13, the Biden administration asked the 9th US District Court of Appeals to lift the remaining Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves.
With gray wolves and other high-profile animals at severe risk of losing their already limited protections, the new bills introduced in both the House and Senate would provide critical safeguards aimed at preserving these species and their habitats.
The proposed legislation also seeks to enhance existing tribal management authorities over these species by creating oversight committees that work in unison with Indian Tribes to identify tribal lands suitable for possible reintroduction efforts.
“American bison, grizzly bears, and gray wolves are iconic American species and are timeless symbols of our nation’s heritage, yet these animals were driven to the brink of extinction,” said Senator Booker. “Building on the success of past conservation legislation like the American Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, I am proud to introduce legislation that directs the Secretary of the Interior to work closely with Indigenous communities to ensure permanent protection for these animals.”
American bison, grizzly bears, and gray wolves hold profound cultural significance for Indigenous peoples in North America. Historically, these species were hunted to near extinction during the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to the collapse of their ecosystems. Advocates say that reestablishing their presence and prohibiting future eradication efforts will help restore the health of these vital ecosystems.
"Bison, grizzly bears, and wolves hold significant spiritual, cultural, and ecological value to many tribal communities and our nation,” said House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Booker to enshrine protections for these species and ensure that conservation and management are conducted in close consultation with Tribal Nations.
“For centuries, the United States’ policies have systematically failed to honor our treaties, harming Tribal Nations and resulting in significant cultural losses and ecological damage,” Grijalva continued. “Congress has a trust responsibility to move forward from past injustices and craft policies for the future that are based on respect and recognition of Tribal Nations’ leadership in recovering these iconic species and their habitats.”
Conservation experts highlight the significant benefits of reintroducing keystone species, as demonstrated by the 1995 gray wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park. This effort not only rebalanced elk and deer populations, allowing vegetation to flourish, but also revitalized the ecosystem and boosted ecotourism revenue to over $80 million annually for the Greater Yellowstone region. Grizzly bears and bison also play crucial roles such as regulating prey populations and enhancing plant growth, further increasing biodiversity.
“This legislation reverses the current doom narrative, instead asks, ‘What do we stand to gain, and how fast.’ This fresh novel inquiry is the best approach to wildlife coexistence, reversing climate warming, stemming biodiversity loss and move humans to right relationship with the natural world. This legislative framework utilizes, to the fullest, traditional ecological knowledge together with western science in tribal Co-stewardship decision-making collaboratives for conservation, restoration and protection of our 4-leg relatives, their habitat and their natural active role in maintaining overall ecological health,” said Dallas Gudgell, Yankton Dakota.
Species Unite will be releasing a petition to ramp up momentum to encourage Congress to pass the Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act. Sign up for email updates to be notified when you can sign.
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