Blogs

editors's note: Darrell Geist of Buffalo Field Campaign took extensive notes from the meeting of the partners of the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) in Bozeman on August 6 and 7, 2008. He has given us permission to publish the notes here.

August 6, 2008

For what they are worth, sending these notes along to you all.

I used my 3 minutes to formally request that a management alternative that designates Horse Butte as wild buffalo habitat be placed on the agenda at one of their planned Interagency Bison Management Plan meetings for public deliberation and decision making. The clearly definable objective: allow wild buffalo to roam and occupy Horse Butte without government harassment and harm. My two cents in three minutes time.

The map on the left, courtesy of Buffalo Field Campaign, shows bison herds and migrations inside of and outside of Yellowstone National Park. All the problems with and all the inspiration we have of buffalo herds must take these migrations into account.

Humans have an issue with migration because the variance in movement often comes against boundaries that humans have set up. Many Americans have trouble with the migration of people, especially from Mexico, who are often escaping the economic boundaries placed on their own existence by global trade policies - many of them promoted by American politicians. Boundaries create boundaries, and the consequences of the boundaries often create unexpected movements. In 1872, Congress set aside Yellowstone National Park, with boundaries that have not changed a great deal since then. No one could communicate with the animals those boundaries, but each animal has had its movement impacted by those boundaries and others.

The partners in the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) are meeting in Bozeman Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 6 and 7 at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices at 1400 S. 19th Ave. from 2 to 5 PM on Aug. 6 and 8:30 AM to 2 PM on Aug. 7. There are public comment periods at the end of each day - each person gets 2 minutes each.

FWP has posted a tentative agenda online at http://fwp.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=34611 (pdf). The main point of the meeting is to discuss the U.S. Government Accountability Office report and recommendations (which were extremely critical of the IBMP), consider the last season under the plan (where more wild buffalo were killed than at any time since the 19th century), and consider short-term and long-term adjustments to the plan.

Buffalo Allies of Bozeman has called for partners in the IBMP to pull out of the plan and end the hazing and slaughter of wild buffalo while simultaneously increasing habitat for buffalo into Montana. For our complete mission, please see http://buffaloallies.org/node/22.

The protest scheduled for Saturday, July 26 in Mammoth Hot Springs is being postponed by the organizers. One of the organizers is ill and unable to travel; another had something else come up. They intend to do this, but they are unable to do so on the July 26 date.

One of the organizers wanted to make sure we knew how disappointed they were and how intent they are to do something for the buffalo.

Buffalo Allies of Bozeman Meeting Notes
July 2, 2008 at 7 PM
Montana State University Student Union Building (2nd floor cafeteria – NW corner)

Facilitator: Chris
Attendees: 4

Updates
Group discussed:
1. Outcome of Monday panel discussion at the Library
2. Farmer's Market Tabling
3. Protest at Mammoth on July 26th

Reports From Working Groups
1. Media/Outreach:
Having a workshop and/or a table at the Bioneers Conference in October was discussed. Costs and table dimensions will be determined.
We also brainstormed some BAB logo ideas, and a member will bring proposals to a future meeting.
There was discussion about the regularity of BAB potlucks.

2. Cooperation/Support:
We discussed logistical and member support of the July 26th protest at Mammoth. We will look into designing and screenprinting t-shirts for the protesters, and a carpool for the event will be organized.

Proposals
1. Consensus was met to hold a table or workshop (or both) at the Bioneers Conference if available
2. Consensus was met to hold BAB potlucks on the last Sunday of every month at 7PM - Cooper Park while it's warm and dry.

Announcements
Next Meeting: