In Romania, researchers conducted a remarkable experiment by reintroducing a key species for the climate. Just one herd of 170 bison was enough to sequester CO2 pollution equivalent to an incredible number of cars for a year.
Climate change has a huge impact on wildlife, but the opposite is also true. Some species play a major role in climate regulation, and the bison is one of them. Whether American or European, the bison is considered one of the most important species to reintroduce according to the UN, as evidenced by this experiment carried out in Romania over the past 10 years.
Nearly 10 times more carbon sequestered thanks to the presence of bison
European bisons completely disappeared from Romania over 200 years ago. Two major environmental organizations, WWF and Rewilding Europe, began reintroducing the species in the country starting in 2014. With 170 individuals currently in the Țarcu mountains, this is one of the largest herds in Europe. Using a computer model developed by Yale University to understand the impact of wildlife on the climate, researchers were able to estimate the consequences of this herd in Romania. The 170 bison grazed an area of nearly 50 km2: thanks to the action of the bison, these natural pastures stored 54,000 tons of carbon in the soil (one of the main greenhouse gases), compared to the same pasture without bison. The presence of the bison herd actually allowed the sequestration of 9.8 times more carbon, or even more, according to the study published in Biogeosciences. These 54,000 tons of carbon stored in the soil are equivalent to the emissions of 43,000 American cars or the emissions of 123,000 European cars!
Bison behavior boosts vegetation
How did the bisons achieve such a feat? The bisons graze all plants in the meadows quite evenly, and then allow the plants to germinate thanks to the seeds expelled in their excrements. Some plants only germinate after being digested. But that’s not all, the shape of the bisons’ hooves tills the soil in a specific way and also disperses seeds.Bisons also move a lot: they do not overgraze, and their compact walking treads the soil, preventing carbon from escaping. When bisons roll, they also exert additional pressure on the soil with their fur, which also carries plant species.
Bisons are considered “climate heroes” and their reintroduction is directly related to the concept of Nature-Based Solutions: a set of natural solutions to address climate change and its consequences. Researchers explain that the presence of bisons helps restore a balance that had been lost for two centuries in Europe. According to the study’s authors, these findings exceed all expectations. They are the ultimate proof of the urgency to massively reintroduce large mammals in Europe.