Lurking within the diverse landscape of Romania’s Tarcu mountains is a legacy, not just of history, but of nature’s resilience against climate change.
After over 200 years, the European bison has returned to these hills, not just as visitors, but as a potentially significant natural solution to carbon pollution.
The remarkable re-emergence of more than 170 bison, especially in the southern Carpathian mountains, is a result of collective efforts by Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania beginning in 2014.
This wild resurgence holds not just ecological nostalgia but game-changing environmental implications.
The rejuvenated bison population marks one of Europe’s largest free-roaming herds and hints at the landscape’s ability to host as many as 450, adding both ecological and economic value.
Through recent research, although still pending peer review, scientists at Yale School of the Environment funded by the Global Rewilding Alliance, suggest that these bison could be pivotal in atmospheric carbon capture.
Their grazing activities across about 50 square kilometers of grasslands have the potential to lock away nearly two million tonnes of carbon annually.
To put this into perspective, this equates to the emissions of approximately 1.88 million American petrol cars.
Professor Oswald Schmitz, leading the study at Yale, unveiled the influential role bison play in forest and grassland ecosystems.
Their activities facilitate equal grazing, nutrients recycling, and seed dispersion, which foster ecosystem enrichment and prevent carbon release.
He noted, “Restoring these ecosystems brings back balance, and ‘rewilded’ bison are key players in achieving this goal.”
Aside from their carbon storing prowess, bison also cultivate biodiversity.
This keystone species nurtures a mosaic of forests, scrub, and grasslands that cater to various creatures, maintaining ecological diversity.
Additionally, the bison’s return has heralded a surge in eco-tourism and nature-centered business initiatives, driving the local economy.
Magnus Sylvén, from the Global Rewilding Alliance, stresses the study’s global policy ramifications.
Pointing out nature’s untapped potential, he remarked that rewilding projects could lead to the restoration of nature that, in turn, absorbs vast amounts of carbon.
The study, funded by WWF Netherlands and disseminated in prestigious journals such as Nature, introduces new horizons for nature and climate policies globally.
While the current findings focus on the Tarcu mountains, researchers admit variations may exist in different ecosystems, such as the productivity differences in American prairies.
With comprehensive analyses of nine other species, from elephants to sea otters, showing similar promise, these findings challenge traditional views. Large mammals like the bison indeed might be instrumental, not just symbols of another time, but potent allies against the pressing climate crisis.
The study encapsulates the potential of marrying wildlife restoration with nature-based climate solutions, forging paths that lead both ecological and mechanical advances into a greener future.