They seek to reintegrate specimens of American Bison and other species to the CuatroCiénegas Valley
The civil association Fundación Pro Cuatrociénegas aims to reintroduce the American bison to this municipality in Coahuila, fostering species conservation and soil regeneration.
Engineer Gerardo Ruiz Smith, director of Pro Cuatrociénegas, stated in an interview with VANGUARDIA that, in collaboration with Rancho El Uno in Janos, Chihuahua, they plan to acquire 15 to 16 female bison along with two or three males.
He explained that the goal is to establish the El Santuario Ecological Reserve, which will serve as both a sanctuary for native wildlife and a destination for ecotourism activities.
“The goal is to establish a model for a responsible and well-managed ecotourism project, where visitors can experience what the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem in Coahuila was like 150 to 200 years ago. They will learn about the native species that once thrived here, their interactions, and their ecological importance in northern Mexico,” explained the consultant specializing in regenerative agriculture projects. He added that El Santuario—a 3,700-hectare property—naturally forms a basin enclosed by mountains. In collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and the Mexican Army, past efforts have successfully reintroduced black bears, golden eagles, and various native bird species to the area.
In addition to the bison, future plans include the reintroduction of bighorn sheep and pronghorn in collaboration with the Saltillo Desert Museum (MUDE). He emphasized that due to its elevation above the Cuatrociénegas Valley, as well as its location and natural topography, El Santuario is a critical area for aquifer recharge, facilitating the capture and infiltration of rainwater into the soil. “Bison once roamed this entire region; herds regularly passed near Monclova. However, human activity led to their extinction here, despite their crucial role in maintaining grassland ecosystems,” he explained.
“The property is home to mule deer, white-collared peccaries, gray foxes, coyotes, and hares, among other species. By reintroducing these key animals, our goal is to recreate a kind of ‘Jurassic Park’—not from 64 million years ago, but rather from 200 to 300 years ago, when these species still thrived alongside the indigenous cultures of the region,” he explained.
REGENERATING SOILS AND HONORING NATIVE WISDOM: THE MISSION AHEAD
Ruiz Smith explained that the project will be primarily funded through private donations from Grupo Hacienda 1800 and Grupo Fox. He added that the vision for El Santuario Ecological Reserve is to offer visitors experiences such as glamping, mule rides, wildlife observation, and insights into the traditions of the region’s indigenous cultures.
“It’s important to highlight that Juan Luis Longoria, a leader of the Ndé nation, is actively collaborating with us as part of the foundation’s team. His involvement is invaluable because our mission goes beyond restoring native Chihuahuan Desert species—we also aim to preserve and share the cultural heritage of the region’s indigenous communities and their deep connection with the local flora and fauna,” he explained.
Ruiz emphasized that the project seeks to demonstrate the vital role of key species in the ecosystem and their contribution to soil regeneration and vegetation recovery. By restoring these natural processes, the initiative aims to combat desertification—a challenge exacerbated by centuries of poor livestock management across the Chihuahuan Desert region.
He explained that traditional livestock practices have severely impacted the ecosystem, primarily due to overgrazing. This leads to desertification by stripping the land of its vegetation cover, accelerating soil erosion. When livestock are not rotated properly, they exert excessive pressure on grasslands, preventing plants from recovering. Without adequate rest periods, the grasses die off, leaving behind bare, compacted soil with little to no ability to retain or absorb rainwater.
“As these grasses disappear, more soil is exposed. When it rains, the land can no longer absorb water because it lacks roots and protective vegetation. This triggers further erosion, depleting the fertile topsoil and creating a cycle of degradation—less grass cover, increased grazing pressure, more plant death, more exposed soil, reduced water infiltration, and declining soil fertility,” he explained.
RANCHO EL UNO: PIONEERING THE RETURN OF THE BISON
VANGUARDIA also spoke with José Manuel Pérez, head of Rancho El Uno in the Janos Biosphere Reserve, Chihuahua, who played a key role in reintroducing bison to Mexico.
He explained that the primary mission of Rancho El Uno is to preserve the region’s native grasslands through regenerative ranching, low-stress bison management, and grassland restoration. Since 2018, the ranch has been part of the Mexican Fund for Nature Conservation. Spanning 18,500 hectares, it became the first site in Mexico to reintroduce bison in 2009, when the initial group was transferred from a Texas Parks and Wildlife reserve in the United States.
“Initially, 23 bison were brought in, and this herd remains one of the few in Mexico that has not been crossbred with cattle. Historically, bison roamed all the grasslands of the Chihuahuan Desert, and our conservation efforts at Rancho El Uno aim to restore this iconic species to its native habitat. The goal is for them to help rejuvenate the grasslands and create the right conditions for essential ecosystem functions—such as water capture, soil regeneration, and conservation—to take place,” he explained. He also noted that Rancho El Uno has already contributed to bison restoration efforts elsewhere. In 2018, they relocated 18 bison to Maderas del Carmen in northern Coahuila, followed by another 22 in 2021, forming a herd of approximately 80 to 90 individuals. Given this success, Pérez shared that Gerardo Ruiz approached them to explore the possibility of transferring bison from this original herd to El Santuario, with the goal of restoring its grassland ecosystem as well.
We are currently working on obtaining and processing all the necessary permits from the General Directorate of Wildlife and the State General Directorate of Wildlife to facilitate the reintroduction of these bison to Coahuila. Our goal is to complete this process and, hopefully, send the first individuals by the end of this year or early next year,” he explained.
He added that the investment goes beyond transportation costs. Before relocation, a genetic study—primarily focused on the males—must be conducted to ensure the successful formation of a new herd in Coahuila. Additionally, the bison must undergo health screenings to confirm they are free of diseases such as tuberculosis and brucellosis. The permits alone cost approximately 6,000 pesos, while each bison represents an investment of between 50,000 and 70,000 pesos, depending on whether it is male or female.
Additionally, infrastructure preparations such as fencing, water troughs, and other necessary land adaptations must be taken into account to ensure the bison’s safe relocation and acclimatization after their nearly 18-hour journey.
ECOTOURISM AS A PATH TO ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
Ruiz Smith highlighted that Mexico has fewer than 1,000 American bison, a stark contrast to the estimated 500,000 in the United States. This significant disparity is largely due to the substantial investment in conservation efforts north of the border, as well as the economic viability of bison meat production in the U.S.
To promote sustainability and cultural heritage, he shared plans to establish a restaurant within the El Santuario Ecological Reserve. The concept will center around ancestral desert cuisine, featuring ingredients such as mesquite pods, sotol, yuca, pitaya, nopal, wild oregano, and agave, among others.
“The goal is to integrate regenerative management practices that allow bison to serve as both a keystone species for ecosystem restoration and a sustainable food source—much like in the United States, where private ranches actively market bison meat. In Mexico, this has yet to be done in a regulated and sustainable manner.
The idea of using bison meat is often controversial. While many support conservation efforts, breeding programs, and the species’ role in grassland regeneration, few recognize that bison also provide highly nutritious, valuable, and healthy food. Without a sustainable use plan, these projects become economically unviable due to the significant investment required to maintain healthy herds and adapt the necessary infrastructure—turning conservation into an endless financial burden.
That’s why it’s crucial to develop regenerative livestock models with bison, demonstrating that restoring this species and revitalizing grassland ecosystems can also be a profitable endeavor, both through sustainable meat production and ecotourism,” he explained.
He emphasized that this challenge is precisely why there are so few serious bison conservation projects in Mexico. The existing initiatives rely heavily on private funding and donations to stay afloat. “Very few people can sustain a project like this indefinitely,” he noted.