In the stunning Țarcu Mountains of Romania, a groundbreaking rewilding initiative is making headlines. Beginning in 2014, the region welcomed the gradual reintroduction of around 100 European bison, which had been extinct in the area for over two centuries due to excessive hunting. Today, their population has surged to more than 170, grazing across approximately 48 square kilometers. This achievement marks a significant milestone in conservation efforts. But the project’s impact extends beyond merely restoring a majestic species.
The bison are contributing to the rewilding project’s impressive ability to sequester carbon, with estimates indicating that they absorb around 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This carbon capture is comparable to removing 43,000 petrol vehicles from the roads. While the bison themselves do not serve as major carbon sinks, their role in shaping the ecosystem—through soil compaction, seed dispersal, and the creation of diverse habitats—has dramatically enhanced carbon absorption rates, now tenfold compared to the period before their reintroduction.
This innovative experiment in the Țarcu Mountains exemplifies a pioneering concept proposed by ecologist Oswald Schmitz, aiming to return the atmosphere to a healthier state to combat climate change. Schmitz and his team assert that replicating such projects worldwide, both on land and in marine environments, could lead to substantial reductions in atmospheric carbon levels.
As researchers continue to compile evidence and refine their methodologies, some climate scientists remain cautious about the broader implications of scaling these strategies globally.
