Developing Sustainable Management Practices: Lessons from the Jackson Hole Bison Management Planning Process

Cromley, Christina

The National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming, provides critical habitat not only for elk, but also a host of other wildlife and plant species, including bison. The refuge, in cooperation with state and other federal agencies, began developing an environmental assessment and management plan in the early 1980s for bison that winter on the refuge. The issue evoked much controversy over how to manage the refuge’s wildlife. Dissatisfaction with the agencies’ handling of the problem led many Jackson community members to become centrally involved in the process. After nearly two decades, the agencies released a final plan and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in 1997 which many community members accepted. However, the process is not over: lawsuits have blocked implementation of the plan. Examining the obstacles and achievements in the bison planning process offers an opportunity for learning to improve decision making and to inform other refuge planning processes, including a refuge-wide management plan and an environmental assessment for irrigation. The bison planning process showed the need to identify clearly and comprehensively problems and possible obstacles to implementation early in the process. This necessitates consideration not only of technical and natural science information, but also consideration of the social and political context through methods such as ongoing contact with various publics, surveys, monitoring bison and human interactions, and clarifying agency mandates. Identifying problems also requires clarification of how the community and refuge officials and personnel view the purpose of the refuge and its place in the larger community. One way to clarify such refuge goals is to determine more systematically how people value the refuge, including as wildlife habitat, as open space, and as a place to spend time outdoors. Involving the public early in the decision-making process can also help to clarify goals and potential problems as perceived by those outside the agency. Finally, it is important to understand the role of agencies in decision making. In addition to acting as agents for the public, agencies play a key role in the initial and subsequent framing of a problem and can influence public perception of the refuge and its purposes.

Developing Sustainable Management Practices: Lessons from the Jackson Hole Bison Management Planning Process

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