In a remarkable turn of events, the European Bison has made a triumphant return to Romania after a two-century absence. This reintroduction, spearheaded by Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania, is not just a win for biodiversity but also a promising strategy for combating climate change. New research from Yale University, in collaboration with WWF Romania and the Global Rewilding Alliance, underscores the significant role these massive herbivores could play in enhancing carbon sequestration.
The Comeback of the European Bison
European Bison were once prevalent across the continent, but rampant hunting from the 17th to the 19th centuries led to their near extinction. By the early 20th century, only two wild populations remained one in the Białowieża Forest and another in the western Caucasus. These last wild herds were wiped out by 1927, leaving the species clinging to survival in a few European zoos.
The rewilding efforts in Romania began in 2014 when bison were reintroduced to the Carpathian Mountains. This initiative has proven successful, with the number of bison in the Țarcu mountains growing to 170 individuals, forming one of the largest free-roaming herds in Europe. These bison are now part of a broader population of about 7,000 individuals scattered across Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, and Slovakia.
The impact of the bison on their new environment is profound. Grazing across a 48 square kilometer area within a broader 300 square kilometer landscape, these herbivores help capture an additional 54,000 tonnes of carbon annually. This figure, as per the new research from Yale, is around ten times the amount that would be sequestered without the bison’s presence.
The methodology behind these findings involves a novel computer model developed by scientists at the Yale School of the Environment. This model calculates the atmospheric CO2 captured and stored by wildlife species. It takes into account various factors such as grazing patterns, nutrient recycling, seed dispersal, and soil compaction, which collectively enhance carbon sequestration.
The bison contribute to carbon capture through several ecological mechanisms:
Grazing: By evenly grazing grasslands, bison prevent any single plant species from dominating, promoting biodiversity and healthier ecosystems capable of capturing more carbon.
Nutrient Recycling: Bison droppings act as a natural fertilizer, enriching the soil and promoting plant growth, which in turn captures more CO2.
Seed Dispersal: Bison help in dispersing seeds over large areas, fostering the growth of a variety of plants that contribute to carbon sequestration.
Soil Compaction: Their heavy bodies compact the soil, which helps in storing carbon more effectively by reducing its release into the atmosphere.
These activities recreate a balance that was disrupted when bison and other large herbivores were removed from the ecosystem. According to Maheen Khan, climate lead for WWF Netherlands, the study’s “astonishing results show the potential for reintroduced wild animals to supercharge the ability of ecosystems to draw down atmospheric carbon.”
Implications for Climate Policy
The reintroduction of bison in Romania serves as a compelling case study for the broader concept of rewilding as a climate mitigation strategy. The study suggests that wild animals could significantly increase an ecosystem’s carbon budget by 60-90 percent, with potential global benefits estimated at 6.4 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. This rivals the effectiveness of major climate interventions such as the rapid transition to renewable energy.
Professor Oswald Schmitz from the Yale School of Environment, the lead author of the report, emphasizes the transformative potential of this approach. “Our work reveals that wild animals could substantially increase an ecosystem’s carbon budget by 60-90 percent, and sometimes even more,” says Schmitz. This enhancement of carbon capture and storage capabilities presents a major opportunity for policymakers aiming to address the climate crisis.
The Global Rewilding Alliance, in partnership with Yale University, is working to apply this model to various landscapes around the world. The success of the bison reintroduction in Romania provides a promising template for similar initiatives globally. Each landscape and species will have unique impacts, but the overarching principle remains: rewilding can significantly bolster carbon sequestration efforts.
While the study’s findings are subject to variability—estimates could be up to 55 percent higher or lower—the median impact is still substantial. The equivalent carbon capture by bison in Romania compares to the emissions of approximately 43,000 to 84,000 average US petrol cars annually, highlighting the tangible benefits of rewilding.
The reintroduction of European Bison to Romania after 200 years is a beacon of hope for both biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. This rewilding project not only restores a critical species to its native habitat but also enhances the ecosystem’s capacity to capture and store carbon.
As policymakers seek effective solutions to the climate crisis, the role of rewilding and the reintroduction of key species like the bison should be seriously considered. The success in Romania demonstrates that with strategic planning and collaboration, rewilding can be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
