European bison help restore ecosystems and capture carbon.

From the brink of extinction, European bison are gradually returning to many natural areas across the continent thanks to large-scale reintroduction programs.

The journey to restore the European bison population.

The European bison, also known as the wisent ( scientific name: Bison bonasus ), was once widely distributed across the continent before being pushed to the brink of extinction due to hunting and habitat loss in the early 20th century.

According to data from Rewilding Europe, when the last wild bison was shot in the Caucasus region in 1927, fewer than 60 individuals remained worldwide , kept in private zoos and reserves.

Since the 1950s, conservation organizations have begun implementing programs to reintroduce bison into the wild. To date, this is considered one of the most successful wildlife recovery efforts in Europe.

The European bison population is gradually recovering thanks to efforts to reintroduce them into the wild. Photo: Euronews.

Over the past 10 years, the number of wild bison is estimated to have increased from 2,579 to approximately 7,000 individuals, with the largest populations now concentrated in Belarus and Poland.

Currently, herds of wild cattle have reappeared in the UK, Romania, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania. In Romania alone, the efforts of the organization Rewilding Europe have helped more than 100 individuals be released back into the wild in the Southern Carpathians. Meanwhile, in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, a small but steadily growing population since 2019 has marked the return of this animal for the first time since the Middle Ages.

Ecosystem dynamics

Bison reforestation programs are being implemented in many areas across Europe, yielding positive impacts on the natural environment, from forest restoration to carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.

In England, a herd of bison was introduced to Blean Woods in Kent in 2022. Through natural activities such as grazing, butting trees, stripping bark, and digging for dust baths, they contribute to forest regeneration and create habitats for many other wildlife species.

Conservationist Hannah Mackins said these changes are now clearly observable: “As we walk through the forest, we notice more sunlight reaching the ground. Many plant species that previously couldn’t thrive under the dense canopy of trees, ferns, and thorny bushes are now starting to grow again.”

Currently, two dedicated overpasses for bison have been installed in the area, and two more are expected to be completed by the end of the year to expand the herd's access space.

Besides contributing to vegetation restoration, bison also play a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of climate change.

In Romania, after 10 years of reintroducing bison into the wild, a 2024 study published by Yale University (USA) showed that a herd of 170 bison there could help absorb and store carbon equivalent to the annual emissions of up to 84,000 gasoline-powered cars in the United States.

This efficiency stems from a combination of factors such as uniform grazing, nutrient recycling, seed dispersal, and soil compaction to limit carbon release into the environment.

The authors state that the estimated number may still differ from reality due to various ecological factors. However, they emphasize that the extinction of bison disrupted the fragile balance of an ecosystem that had evolved alongside this species for millions of years.

In addition, bison also benefit many smaller species. In South Kennemerland National Park (Netherlands), this animal has been noted as an unexpected "helper" for passerine birds during the breeding season.

According to the Wisentproject Kraansvlak organization, songbirds in the area often gather shed bison feathers in the spring to use as nesting material. These feathers are favored for their soft, porous texture and good heat retention, helping to maintain a stable temperature for the eggs. Currently, applied biology students are continuing their research to assess whether this material directly affects the birds' successful breeding rates.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/bo-rung-chau-au-giup-phuc-hoi-sinh-thai-thu-giu-carbon-d813249.html