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Bringing back the bison: Environmental values and the ecological restoration of Great Plains shortgrass prairies

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  • Douglas E Booth

Abstract

What is left of the Great Plains shortgrass prairie landscapes is under serious threat to its ecological integrity from unhealthy land use and grazing practices on privately owned rangelands. Two different strategies have been proposed for shortgrass prairie restoration: (1) encourage ranchland owners to replace livestock-centred with biodiversity-centred cattle grazing and land management; and (2) reintroduce bison herds on tribal reservations. These two strategies offer an opportunity to address whether a land ethic to which Indigenous peoples have subscribed for millennia or of the kind authored by Aldo Leopold, can play a significant role in biodiversity conservation efforts. The essential finding of this article is that ranchland owners are sharply constrained by market forces in the application of a land ethic, but bison reintroduction on Indigenous reservation common lands is in tune with tribal purposes that reflect a spiritual relationship to all of nature's beings.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas E Booth, 2026. "Bringing back the bison: Environmental values and the ecological restoration of Great Plains shortgrass prairies," Environmental Values, , vol. 35(1), pages 46-64, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envval:v:35:y:2026:i:1:p:46-64
    DOI: 10.1177/09632719251377126
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hailey Wilmer & María E. Fernández-Giménez & Shayan Ghajar & Peter Leigh Taylor & Caridad Souza & Justin D. Derner, 2020. "Managing for the middle: rancher care ethics under uncertainty on Western Great Plains rangelands," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 699-718, September.
    2. Donn L Feir & Rob Gillezeau & Maggie E C Jones, 2024. "The Slaughter of the Bison and Reversal of Fortunes on the Great Plains," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 91(3), pages 1634-1670.
    3. Lueck, Dean, 2002. "The Extermination and Conservation of the American Bison," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(2), pages 609-652, June.
    4. repec:sae:envval:v:26:y:2017:i:3:p:269-295 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Stephanie M. Kennedy & Mark E. Burbach, 2022. "Ranchers' Attitudes toward Managing for Vegetation and Landscape Heterogeneity," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(4), pages 1-1, October.
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