Mexico’s Ancient oasis revives with bison and conservation
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In Coahuila, Mexico, Fundación Pro Cuatrociénegas and partners are restoring the Cuatro Ciénegas basin, a desert valley holding unique pools of water and ancient microbial life.
The valley, a UNESCO biosphere reserve spanning over 413,000 hectares, contains over 800 plant species and 360 animal species, many found nowhere else. Scientists Valeria Souza and Luis Eguiarte discovered a remarkable diversity of bacteria within the pools, prompting increased government protection.
Decades of irrigation for alfalfa farming depleted the valley’s water supply, causing the Churince lagoon to dry up completely by 2016. Conservationists successfully sued to close canals draining the pools in 2018, marking a shift in water policy. Fundación Pro Cuatrociénegas then led efforts to protect water, restore habitat, and promote sustainable ranching practices, gaining support from local communities who initially feared the impact of conservation on their livelihoods.
In December 2025, forty-four American bison arrived at the El Santuario reserve, a key step in the ongoing Cuatro Ciénegas conservation. The bison, relocated from a reserve in Janos Biosphere Reserve, will improve soil health and help native plants recover. This project involved collaboration between the Mexican environment ministry, national parks commission, conservation groups, and the N’dee/N’nee/Ndé Indigenous nation, demonstrating a model for future conservation efforts.
While challenges like complex water rights and the long-term recovery of dried lagoons remain, the valley’s resilience and the return of the bison offer a promising outlook.
