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ABOUT
NORTH AMERICAN BISON SUMMIT2

More Bison on More Land - Respecting Tribal Sovereignty - Protecting Ranchlands from Development - Restoring Grasslands + Wildlife

The North American Bison Summit aims to be the most cutting-edge and inclusive gathering of people focused on keeping land in grass so that wildlife and grazers ranched by families can thrive as development pressures mount. The Summit will build upon past American Bison Society conferences and focus on collaborative practices and resources for conserving North America’s bison, grasslands and treasured ranching way of life in the countries of the Canada, Mexico, and United States. 

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Across the continent, conservationists, Tribes and family ranchers face rising property costs, scalding drought, immobilizing floods, invasive plant species, and other factors eroding their heritage. But they strive to carry on in the tradition of forbearers that valued nature and the animals and people dependent on it. Tribes and First Nations are regaining food sovereignty and revitalizing their buffalo cultures.

Anticipated Outcomes

Shared, improved, resourced, and replicable Models & Methodologies with paths to:

  • A clear and measurable goal of “more bison on more land” and a segmented strategy to be implemented through collaborative impact that integrates grasslands restoration for all wildlife and for the preservation of family ranching.

  • Models & Methodologies (M&Ms) + eWorkbook tool assessing progress since NABS1, sharing new M&Ms, and reveling best practices and potential resources and partners.

  • Recognized benefits of wild and managed grazers for ecological restoration and climate resilience. 

  • Advanced ideas for achieving bison disease mitigation, genetic variability, and whole herd health.

  • Ecological, cultural and economic valuation woven into conservation and management goals.

  • Paths toward buffalo culture revitalization and food sovereignty by Tribal and First Nations. 

  • Tribes/First Nations composing a third of participation (depends on funds for NABS2 Travel Scholarships). 

  • Uplifting the U.S. National Mammal and meaning of the bison to Canada, Mexico and Tribal/First Nations.  

  • Collaboration at landscape unit, cross-sector, inter-Tribal and multi-jurisdictional scales.  

  • Lasting network for collaborative planning and results.

Cowboy in the Countryside

Who's Coming?

  • Conservationists

  • Tribes and First Nations

  • Family Ranchers and Farmers

  • Government Agencies

  • Zoos and Museums

  • Recreation and Tourism Entities

  • Academia

  • Photographers, Filmmakers, Musicians, and Artists

  • Businesses

  • Philanthropists and Investors

  • Health Sector

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

The Summit is purposely designed to achieve the diversity and scale of participation that foster new and exciting partnerships. The aspiring and ambitious Models & Methodologies examined in the Summit’s Workgroup structure can attract and secure resources and ongoing collaborative strategies for success and replication.

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GET INVOLVED

The Summit welcomes many types of Supporting Partners and Champions of the American Bison to engage in achieving the Summit’s intended outcomes. Register for NABS or please contact nabsummit@wildlifeandparks.org if you have an interest in participating.

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Are you a student interested in attending? For a potential student, discount please contact nabsummit@wildlifeandparks.org.

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