Primary search of woodlands suitable for free ranging Bison bonasus populations in Ukraine

Abstract

Since 1990, Ukrainian population of European bison (Bison bonasus L.) has diminished three-folds. Presently the problem began to attract due attention, and restoration of bison became a priority in national environmental policy. Taking into account optimal habitat size, we used GIS Arc/Info 8.1 to screen Ukrainian and adjacent woodlands for territories where
subpopulations of the species could exist in regard to forests’ sizes and densities of settlements and roads. Several other parameters were also included in the study. We found 4 inland and 6 transboundary territories, fit for maintaining a hundred bison each, and 3 transboundary territories with carrying capacity about 1000 heads each. A thorough environmental assessment is required to determine which of these areas are suitable for developing or creating new bison populations.