The Trump administration has proposed canceling bison grazing leases on federal lands, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's January announcement. The decision comes in response to complaints from cattle ranchers and Republican politicians in Montana who oppose bison presence on public grazing areas.
The policy shift could impact carbon sequestration efforts on grasslands, as bison grazing has been shown to support prairie ecosystem health and soil carbon storage. Large grazing mammals like bison help maintain grassland biodiversity and can enhance the land's ability to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide through improved soil management.