Conserving Nature in Greater Yellowstone: Controversy and Change in an Iconic Ecosystem

Robert B Keiter
University of Chicago Press, £24.00

Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is recognised as the world’s oldest national park. It is renowned for its efforts in the protection and restoration of various species, including wolves, grizzly bears, bison and elk. Despite its historical significance and vast expanse, Yellowstone is not isolated and is surrounded by a complex matrix of land uses and tenures. The park’s success has sparked controversy as wildlife and wildfires extend beyond its boundaries.

In this compelling book, Robert B Keiter, a professor of law at the University of Utah, meticulously examines the restoration and conservation achievements within Yellowstone and the ensuing challenges. Keiter highlights the pivotal developments since the 1960s, following the adoption of the Leopold Report’s findings, which have facilitated the restoration of grizzly bear, wolf and bison populations. 

He also discusses the establishment of a science-based Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem approach in the 1980s, promoting collaborative and cooperative management of the entire system. This approach is increasingly critical in light of climate change impacts on the movement of keystone species within and outside Yellowstone’s boundaries.

With the growing trend of rewilding across the UK, Europe and the US, Conserving Nature in Greater Yellowstone is essential reading for those interested in the natural restoration processes. The lessons learned from the world’s oldest national park are universally applicable, and I highly recommend this book to anyone passionate about the conservation and restoration of wild places.

Professor Iain Gordon FRSB

Robert B. Keiter is the Wallace Stegner Professor of Law, University Distinguished Professor, and founding Director of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources, and the Environment at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law