The Buffalo Commons is the proposal to make a larger preservation area by giving back 139,000 square miles to reintroduce the buffalo, or American Bison. There are many reasons why this proposal would prove to be beneficial to people.

The Buffalo Commons presents a very good opportunity for the American Great Plains both environmentally as well as economically. It provides a chance for new growth of vegetation, wildlife, and tourism. Although we are trying to revive the buffalo population, it doesn't mean the present civilization will necessarily need to relocate, it just gives them the opportunity.

Here are some benefits that would occur from the Buffalo Commons.

     This prospect will be beneficial from the income perspective for many reasons.  It is proposed to start in areas that have otherwise become unprofitable or unproductive to live in.  The idea is that all residents of these areas would have a willing buyer, in the form of their state government, for their land if they wanted to sell it and were otherwise unable to afford moving.  It is therefore, profitable from the standpoint of the residents of these areas who wish to get out and would otherwise be unable to do so.  Tourism, also, would bring significant revenue to the Great Plains with the return to the buffalo commons.  The return of the Great Plains to their original splendor would create an amazing natural attraction for tourists to visit.  Additionally, it would be profitable to sell excess buffalo.  Managing the herds it would necessitate, from time to time, selling extra buffalo: both to eliminate cross breading and to keep the population manageable.  The extra buffalo could be sold to other herds, butchered for food, or killed for sport.  All avenues would create streams of revenue.  However, perhaps the largest profit, would arguably be non-monetary.  The environment which is currently suffering from being overgrazed and over-cultivated would be returned to its natural healthy state.    

     This proposal would be beneficial to the areas it was implemented in and the country as a whole in the form of tourism.   People would travel from all over the world to see the natural beauty of the Great Plains.  It would also have the potential to bring in tourists in the form of big game hunters.  The excess buffalo could be sold to "hunting reserves," where someone could pay to hunt buffalo. 

     This proposal would be good for the economy in implemented areas because it would bring in those forms of income mentioned above and because it would create jobs.  Numerous individuals would be needed to monitor and manage the herds.  These would be jobs created in an area where there was previously a lack of jobs. 

     As stated in the previous sections this proposal would benefit the areas in which it was implemented by creating stability through the establishment of new jobs and income for those who wanted to stay. 

     Residents of the areas of implementation would benefit in all the manners listed above.

     The environment would benefit with the return of the buffalo due to a possible return of the native short-grasses that once dominated the western prairies.

The idea behind the buffalo commons is not just about saving and repopulating the buffalo.  The commons can do so much more for the northern planes regions.  The commons could in fact bring in new jobs and new opportunities for North Dakota. 

Daryl Davis