Programming supports conservation and management of natural resources within and outside of national park units, and collaborative efforts with partners, including nongovernmental organizations,…

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $2,359,162 Cooperative Agreement under the Natural Resource Stewardship program (CFDA 15.944) to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a non-profit organization based in Bozeman, Montana. The funding will support the ecocultural restoration of bison, including transferring 1,000 surplus Yellowstone bison to American Indian tribes, developing new bison holding pastures within Yellowstone National Park and on tribal lands, and completing disease quarantine before distributing the bison. This initiative aims to promote tribal stewardship, strengthen tribal sovereignty, and honor indigenous cultural practices related to bison conservation and management. The award term runs from January 10, 2025 through December 31, 2029.

Programming supports conservation and management of natural resources within and outside of national park units, and collaborative efforts with partners, including nongovernmental organizations, educational institutions, and other agencies, to protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The greater yellowstone coalition, a nongovernmental organization, will collaborate in environmental stewardship to facilitate the ecocultural restoration of bison, promote tribal stewardship, strengthen tribal sovereignty, and honor indigenous cultural practices. The initiative aims to transfer 1,000 surplus yellowstone bison to american indian tribes and their historical range. This will involve developing new and improved holding pastures within yellowstone national park and on tribal lands, processing the bison through a brucellosis quarantine program, and distributing them to tribes across north america upon completion of disease quarantine. Beneficiaries include federally recognized indian tribal governments and public private nonprofit organizations.