Development of a new Action Plan for the European bison

The current Action Plan for the European bison (also known as wisent) was published in 2004 following a significant decrease of the population during the 1990s. Since then some of the Plan's aims have been achieved. The main success was the increase from < 3,000 in 2000 to c. 7,000 by 2017. Nevertheless, a number of problems related to the species’ future remain unresolved: an extremely narrow gene pool, loss of the Y chromosome, hybridization with American bison, health threats (new diseases and epidemics have been recorded), limited living space, isolation, poaching and insufficient habitat for reintroduction.

New problems are also emerging, mainly related to the management of this species. As a result of high numbers in some forests, bison damage crops and forest, potentially impairing support for conservation activities amongst local communities (European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2018, 64, 61). The effectiveness of management for this species is limited by differences in the legal status of the species and the approach to European bison conservation amongst European countries, and by the lack of separate procedures for the management of free, semi-free and captive animals. In addition, transfer of animals between breeding centres or free herds is time-consuming and problematic because the formal requirements for the relocation of the European bison remain similar to those for domestic cattle.

Considering all these dilemmas, a special meeting of the Bison Specialist Group of IUCN (European branch) and the European Bison Conservation Centre was held on 6 September 2018 in Muczne, Poland. During the meeting representatives of 11 European countries (Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain and Sweden) discussed the current problems of European bison conservation. The threats identified were the improper legal status of the species, lack of societal education about European bison, negative human–bison interactions, misunderstandings related to the environmental requirements of the species, and insufficient knowledge of the species’ ecology, distribution, genetics and health problems. Participants agreed that the current Action Plan is out of date and that a revised Action Plan should be prepared as soon as possible.

Members of the Bison Specialist Group and the European Bison Conservation Centre that were present at the meeting have created small international groups responsible for development of particular chapters of the new Action Plan. Health problems will be examined in a separate chapter and a greater emphasis will be placed on issues related to the management of the European bison population, including the human dimensions of this. Drafts of all chapters are expected to be ready in March 2019. If necessary, a new meeting will be arranged for April 2019. The final version of the new Action Plan is expected to be completed by June 2019.