The first strategic proposal for the revitalized American Bison Society covers work initiated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and partners to secure the ecological restoration of North American bison. The ABS focuses on key collaborations necessary to further the larger effort of bison ecological restoration, create and connect the next generation of bison experts, and equip them with the information necessary to achieve bison restoration. The ABS will support strategic actions within the following objectives:
Develop techniques and information. ABS will initiate research on select issues that require further exploration, and publish synthesis documents where policy and guidelines are needed.
Build and leverage communities of practice at the site level. ABS will work with partners to design pilot projects that will inform bison restoration more broadly and create communities of practitioners.
Strengthen constituencies and communication to increase public knowledge regarding bison and strengthen cooperation among diverse bison constituencies.
This strategic vision reflects the outcomes of two workshops, a 2006 meeting of 160 stakeholders on "The Ecological Future of the North American Bison," surveys, and follow-up meetings with WCS departments, World Wildlife Fund-US, the National Bison Association, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.