[Ecodharma]What the planet needs - fewer cars, more bison!

[Kokuu]

Dear all

This is an interesting study, showing that a herd of 170 free-roaming bison in Romania can help to store an amount of carbon equivalent to the annual output of 2 million cars!

While clearly not the answer to climate change, it is an interesting look at how restoring natural ecosystem functioning can be of benefit in a number of ways.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/15/bison-romania-tarcu-2m-cars-carbon-dioxide-emissions-aoe

Here in Kent in the UK we reintroduced several European bison to a local wood but I think we are going to need a few more if this study is to be replicated!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Jenny A]

There is even a scheme to resurrect the Woolly Mammoth and reintroduce them to tundra ecosystems. The idea is that their activity could help keep the permafrost frozen and keep all that carbon in the ground:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/can-bringing-back-mammoths-stop-climate-change-180969072/

Gassho,
jenny
stlah

[Tairin]

Fascinating. Thank you for sharing both articles.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Guest]

Dear all

This is an interesting study, showing that a herd of 170 free-roaming bison in Romania can help to store an amount of carbon equivalent to the annual output of 2 million cars!

While clearly not the answer to climate change, it is an interesting look at how restoring natural ecosystem functioning can be of benefit in a number of ways.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/15/bison-romania-tarcu-2m-cars-carbon-dioxide-emissions-aoe

Here in Kent in the UK we reintroduced several European bison to a local wood but I think we are going to need a few more if this study is to be replicated!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

I saw this, an interesting piece of research. People focus on the methane emissions associated with cattle (which we can't discount), and frequently ignore the benefits they can present both to carbon storage and to ecosystem function overall.

I wish it was as simple as just re-wild the hell out of everything, but it shows the potential, although I expect rural Kent would look very different if you had a herd of 170 free roaming bison!
The biggest rewilding project in Western Europe that I can think of is Oostvaardersplassen (Oostvaardersplassen (staatsbosbeheer.nl)), which is interesting but not without its problems. The issue is having the necessary space to allow wild roaming animals sufficient space.

Did you ever read the book by Frans Vera: Grazing ecology and Forest History (Grazing Ecology and Forest History: Vera, Franciscus W M: 9780851994420: Amazon.com: Books), a really interesting read that digs into palynology and a lot of other areas to paint a very different picture of pre-Holocene landscapes that is the basis for a lot of rewilding efforts. I based my undergraduate thesis on the idea ( in a much more limited way of course), but it gives an idea of how livestock and plants interact to regulate ecosystems in a way that out current fenced systems don't really allow for, particularly in the UK.

Gassho

Myojin

-Sattlah

[Kokuu]

There is even a scheme to resurrect the Woolly Mammoth and reintroduce them to tundra ecosystems. The idea is that their activity could help keep the permafrost frozen and keep all that carbon in the ground:

Thank you, Jenny. That is interesting. The idea of permafrost melting and releasing the stored carbon is really worrying.

I wish it was as simple as just re-wild the hell out of everything, but it shows the potential, although I expect rural Kent would look very different if you had a herd of 170 free roaming bison! The biggest rewilding project in Western Europe that I can think of is Oostvaardersplassen (Oostvaardersplassen (staatsbosbeheer.nl)), which is interesting but not without its problems. The issue is having the necessary space to allow wild roaming animals sufficient space.

Did you ever read the book by Frans Vera: Grazing ecology and Forest History (Grazing Ecology and Forest History: Vera, Franciscus W M: 9780851994420: Amazon.com: Books), a really interesting read that digs into palynology and a lot of other areas to paint a very different picture of pre-Holocene landscapes that is the basis for a lot of rewilding efforts. I based my undergraduate thesis on the idea ( in a much more limited way of course), but it gives an idea of how livestock and plants interact to regulate ecosystems in a way that out current fenced systems don't really allow for, particularly in the UK.

Yes, just as it is human folly to think that we can alter the face of the planet without there being consequences, equally we cannot think that we can suddenly flick the switch backwards by modifying ecosystems. Rewilding is talked about a lot, and, like you, I think it has merits but, as you say, there is a big issue of how much habitat is needed for animals to naturally graze and wander. My idea of 170 bison in Kent is certainly one of whimsy rather than reality.

I haven't read that book but it look really interesting. Thank you! I studied some palynology at university and we collected and analysed peat cores from bogs in the New Forest. I remember reading a paper even then (in the late 80s/early 90s) that was very sceptical of the idea of Britain and much of Europe being covered by vast tracts primeval forest. Great that you were able to look at that as part of your undergraduate research!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-