We have successfully brought some Plains Buffalo back to Canada’s National Parks, private lands, Indigenous Lands, and some public lands. We can do much better.
There remains a huge opportunity–rematriating Plains Buffalo to public lands will bolster efforts to recover them to ecologically impactful numbers on the Canadian Great Plains.
The Wild Buffalo summit is seeking common ground on rematriating Plains Buffalo as a wild species on the Canadian Plains as part of a larger effort from Canada to Mexico.
The Wild Buffalo Summit is reconciliation in action–a diverse network of Indigenous peoples, NGOs, ranchers, and governments gathering to share stories and experiences, and build relationships. This is positive change and is breaking down silos. The summit team members are dedicated to collaborating on policy and legislative changes that will benefit Plains Buffalo rematriation. Relationship building is critical and our collective conversations are part of the momentum that will ensure success in this essential work.
Born in London, UK, Cliff Wallis immigrated to Canada in 1957 and has lived in Alberta since. He is a Professional Biologist and President of Cottonwood Consultants Ltd. (an environmental consultancy). He facilitated the twinning of Dalai Lake National Nature Reserve in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia with Hay-Zama Wildland Park in northwestern Alberta and helped organize the Sage Grouse and Wild Buffalo Summits. Cliff’s nature conservation work has been recognized with awards by several environmental groups and he was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2023. Cliff currently serves on the boards of the Alberta Wilderness Association (since 1979) and Milk River Management Society (since 1989) as well as the core team for the Transboundary Grassland Partnership; steering committee for the Great Plains Conservation Network; and the Central Grasslands Roadmap, Canada Work Group.