Host Intro: The problems of the Great Plains have been chronicled for decades-- lack of industry, an aging population, towns closing up shop and reverting to prairie scrub. That's where the idea of a "Buffalo Commons" comes in. Backers want to accumulate big swaths of the Plains, and repopulate the land with bison and other native species. A group called the American Prairie Foundation is trying to do that in northeastern Montana, around the town of Malta. It's knitting together a hodgepodge of old family ranches and public land, with the hope of eventually luring in ecotourists. It's a pretty radical idea for a part of the country that's pretty, but decidedly NOT radical. Here's a portrait from the Plains from producers Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister. Tape: 10:07 ( 9:38 to deadroll music) Back Announce: Buffalo Commons was produced by Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister for Long Haul Productions. To hear more Long Haul stories, go to www.longhaulpro.org.

Host Intro: The problems of the Great Plains have been chronicled for decades-- lack of industry, an aging population, towns closing up shop and reverting to prairie scrub. That's where the idea of a "Buffalo Commons" comes in. Backers want to accumulate big swaths of the Plains, and repopulate the land with bison and other native species. A group called the American Prairie Foundation is trying to do that in northeastern Montana, around the town of Malta. It's knitting together a hodgepodge of old family ranches and public land, with the hope of eventually luring in ecotourists. It's a pretty radical idea for a part of the country that's pretty, but decidedly NOT radical. Here's a portrait from the Plains from producers Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister. Tape: 10:07 ( 9:38 to deadroll music) Back Announce: Buffalo Commons was produced by Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister for Long Haul Productions. To hear more Long Haul stories, go to www.longhaulpro.org.