The Conservation Fund is pleased to announce that we have partnered with The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project (TTBP) to acquire and protect 150 acres of vital pastureland within the historic Lipan Apache territory and traditional bison range southeast of San Antonio.

Vast herds of American Bison once roamed the central plains. In Texas, they were the lifeblood of Indigenous communities, providing sustenance, shelter, and essential materials. But by the late 1800s, the herds were largely exterminated.

Texas Tribal Buffalo Project was founded to restore the ecological and cultural connection between Texas Indigenous communities and the animal they call Iyane’e, which local Lipan Apache consider a relative.

This acquisition ensures that the land — which was owned by the same family since the 1880s — will never be lost to development. The Conservation Fund is providing TTBP with a patient path to ownership, leasing the newly acquired land to the organization while it collaborates to raise funds to purchase the site outright.

“This partnership exemplifies our commitment to supporting Indigenous-led conservation and cultural revitalization,” said Ellen Gass, The Conservation Fund’s Field Representative in Texas. “Protecting this land is an investment in the future of Indigenous communities and the restoration of a vital ecosystem.”

Equipped with more land and buffalo-ready infrastructure, TTBP plans to expand its herd of bison, reintroducing a keystone species that promotes grassland conservation, soil health, biodiversity, water retention, and reduced methane emissions.

But this project is about more than just land and animals; it’s about restoring cultural identity, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and creating opportunities for future generations.

“The buffalo provided everything for us. Home, shelter, spirituality, art, utensils, everything,” said Lucille Contreras, a leading voice within TTBP. “I wanted that for myself, and my children. And all the other lineal descendants of Texas.”

Returning bison to this land supports a way of life that promotes health and vitality to both the land and people, providing a space for tribal members to reconnect with the Iyane’e and live in balance with nature.