Bring Back the Buffalo!: A Sustainable Future for America's Great Plains [Paperback]

Ernest Callenbach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2007

With a new epilogue
Though the Plains have been in economic and population decline since the twenties, they are actually within closer reach of vibrant ecological sustainability than any other region of the country. This visionary book offers a constructive alternative to the decline of cattle ranching, depletion of underground water, and dependency on outside energy sources. It shows how bringing back the hardy, majestic bison and using the region's winds to generate power are keys to renewed economic and social health for Plains communities.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Callenbach (Ecotopia!) envisions two fundamental changes for the Great Plains: restoration of great herds of buffalo (bison) with accompanying pronghorn, deer and elk and widespread development of wind power. He makes a cogent case for restoring buffalo to sparsely settled regions poorly suited to cattle. Once close to extinction, nearly 140,000 bison are thriving today in parks, on ranches and on Indian reservations. Callenbach points out that bison have a less damaging ecological impact than cattle on streams and grasses; their meat is a healthy choice over beef; and the animals are a tourist attraction. Also, bison require no winter care, and fewer hands can manage them. Callenbach tells us where to see bison in state and national parks; he looks at ranches?Ted Turner runs the biggest herd on his Montana ranch, and Don Thiel has tourist facilities on his Terry Bison Ranch in Wyoming. Callenbach examines the future potential of buffalo; as long as the federal lands bureaucracy classifies bison as "exotic" animals, his vision appears to be in the distant future. Illustrations.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In their heyday over 30 million buffalo thundered across much of North America. After being hunted almost to extinction a century ago, bison are making a comeback. In this book Callenbach (Ecotopia Emerging, LJ 4/1/81) sees the reemergence of the bison as a principle player in the ecology of the Great Plains as almost panacean, resulting in the sustainable future of a region badly in need of reinvigoration. He explores the history, current status, and future potential of the buffalo in depth, covering such topics as bison as food (including recipes!), bison on Native American, public, and private land, and bison politics and cowboy culture. The writing is clear and readable, the arguments cogent if a bit redundant. Recommended for all libraries in the Great Plains states, for environmental collections elsewhere.?Lynn C. Badger, Univ. of Florida Lib., Gainesville
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 303 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (March 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520224078
• ISBN-13: 978-0520224070
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,726,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellant series of suggestions for the rural plains, October 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bring Back the Buffalo!: A Sustainable Future For America's Great Plains (Hardcover)

Well, I'll try this a second time. The first time I wrote this review, it disappeared from the screen as soon as I clicked on the Edit button, so take care. At any rate...
Callenbach makes an excellent case for changing the way we utilize the Great Plains. With depleting aquifers, failing farms, and resultant loss of population, the region is changing drastically, regardless. With a semi-arid climate, the High Plains are best utilized for ranching, with some farming of suitable crops. The author points out that the native American bison is far more suited to this environment than the domestic bovines now dominant. They are low-maintainance, and provide meat that is leaner than beef, with more protein. And, it's quite delicious. (In fact, after I get off the web, I intend to cook a stroganoff with ground buffalo!) Thru both public and private efforts, as well as projects by Indian tribes in the region, bison can once more become part of a sustainable future for the Plains. Callenbach also advocates bringing back associated grazers like elk, deer, and antelope, as well as appropriate natural predators. Still, man will continue to be the main predator. By using the Plains in a sustainable fashion, a better future could be in store for this great region of the country. Tourism, in the form of wildlife viewing, picture-taking, and hunting would add to the economy. He correctly points out that wind-power would become a major source of power thru-out this whole area.
All in all, a fascinating and thought-provoking series of ideas for projects and policies that would help reverse the decline in the heartland. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a sustainable future. Needless to say, there is much more to the book. I've only mentioned a few of the main points. (I listed more in my disappearing first review; that still ticks me off.) Nevertheless, read it and I guarantee it will not be time wasted.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really opens your eyes to the importance of restoring bison, September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bring Back the Buffalo!: A Sustainable Future For America's Great Plains (Hardcover)

An excellent book. Callenbach clearing shows that he did his "homework". A must read for anyone who feels that bison should be reestablished on the American scene.

13 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The poorest book ever written about the Great Plains, August 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Doniphan, NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bring Back the Buffalo!: A Sustainable Future For America's Great Plains (Hardcover)

Callenbach demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the people who live on the Great Plains and the issues facing them. This book is very poorly researched, is full of factual errors, and consists primarily of wishful thinking. The idea that taking land from the people that own it and creating a giant buffalo park will be an economic boon and reverse the population declines the Plains has experienced for the past 60 years is ludicrous. If you're really interested in the future of the Great Plains, read some of the more recent articles by Frank and Deborah Popper. The Buffalo Commons is a useful metaphor, but nothing more.