Mexico Restores Bison Populations in Coahuila

The General Directorate for Wildlife (DGVS) of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), in collaboration with other environmental-sector organizations, announced the successful arrival of 44 bison to the Wildlife Conservation Management Unit (UMA) El Santuario, located in Coahuila.

This transfer marks a critical step for conservation in Mexico by expanding the distribution of the American bison and strengthening the restoration of grasslands in the Chihuahuan Desert. The bison is a keystone species for the regeneration of these ecosystems: it improves soil structure, supports native vegetation, and is more resilient to drought than cattle.

The establishment of this new population is part of a comprehensive strategy built around four lines of action: strengthening the regulatory framework and advancing the reclassification of the bison to “special protection” status; implementing integrated population management, including herding, registration, and selection of individuals to form new herds; regulating population growth through a sustainable use rate that reduces pressure on grasslands and maintains a healthy herd structure; and donating individuals to ranches with suitable conditions to promote the species’ expansion into new territories.

DGVS representatives highlighted the importance of joint efforts and the progress achieved through orderly, technical management aligned with national policies for the species.

Pedro Álvarez, Director, National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), emphasized that the expansion of the bison demonstrates the value of partnerships between public institutions, civil society organizations and communities. “Conservation advances when coordinated, long-term efforts are built hand in hand with communities and the ecosystems they inhabit. CONANP reaffirms its commitment to recognizing, respecting and protecting the environmental rights of Indigenous peoples and communities living in Natural Protected Areas,” he said.

Gerardo Ruiz, Director, Fundación Pro Cuatrociénegas, celebrated the arrival of this new bison family. “Fundación Pro Cuatrociénegas is opening the doors of the El Santuario Reserve to welcome this herd, which will have ideal conditions to continue expanding the bison population in northern Mexico and regenerating ecosystems. We are honored to be part of this interinstitutional effort,” he noted.

This milestone expands the distribution of the bison in Mexico, offering technical and regulatory certainty. This will encourage more landowners to become interested in receiving conservation herds and help reestablish the presence of bison in northern Mexico through long-lasting efforts. The project also contributes positively to biocultural heritage, taking into account Indigenous peoples who have maintained a millennia-long relationship of balance with this species.

The project also aims to make bison an additional tourist attraction in the Pueblo Mágico of Cuatro Ciénegas, offering something new to the visitors who arrive each year. The absence of bison in this region is the result of human impacts dating back to the late 19th century and much of the 20th; excessive hunting, agricultural and livestock expansion, and habitat loss drastically reduced the species’ population to the point of disappearance.