VN September 2020

Vetnuus | September 2020 10 Article Change management to change the world<<< 09 But, in arid areas, during the long dry seasons, insects and micro- organism activity is drastically reduced, as these organisms go into dormancy. This means that something else is needed to break down plant material during these long, dry periods. That something is millions of herding animals, with the vital moisture that is needed in their guts. Balance is essential There is a delicate balance and a synergy between predator, prey, and soil health. Animal movement, numbers and timing are all essential to functioning grasslands. Huge herds of animals should be roaming across the earth’s grasslands, kept bunched together and on the move by their pack-hunting predators. This animal movement ensures that the soil is churned up and aerated by hoof action, while the grass is fertilised and trampled to form a protective mulch over the soil. Human reductionist management ignored the vital balance and complexity of these relationships, and over the years, humans have wiped out most of the planet’s wildlife. Today, we have total imbalance. Thinly distributed, diminished herds staying in the same place for too long and very few predators. Domesticated livestock protected by herders may have no fear of predators and become part of the problem. Over-grazing and over-resting will kill a grassland. All this mismanagement increases desertification. Historically and right up to the present time humans have blamed the resource for causing the problem. Management of natural systems has somehow ignored the complex, interconnected structure of the natural world where survival relies on the health of the whole system. The holistic management framework was developed by my father, Allan Savory, an ecologist, who realised that complexity would have to be addressed, if wewere to have any hope of a future. Holisticmanagement considers all economic, environmental, social, and cultural aspects at the same time. This framework shows us how our management of natural resources has caused climate change and desertification. And because desertification is a biological problem, that no technology will ever fix, the holistic framework introduces us to a biological tool that can reverse desertification. This tool is livestock. Holistic management Allan Savory’s systemputs the healthof our life-supporting environment first. The Holistic Planned Grazing systemputs forward the use of any herding animal, as a tool, to mimic the migratory movement of grassland antelope, and to regenerate the earth’s grasslands. By applying this simple framework to our systems, we could reverse desertification and change the world. Holistic management restores life to soils, rivers, and grasslands. Biodiversity returns and wildlife begins to thrive. The soil supports life and is the biggest carbon sink and reservoir of fresh water on earth. We must regenerate the world’s grasslands for our children and for our wildlife. Management changes will change the world. By changing our management, we will change our world. If we insist that governments and institutions apply the Holistic Management Framework to decisions and policy making processes, we would be putting the health of our life supporting environment first and automatically begin to manage resources regeneratively and reverse climate change. We can no longer afford to sit around and wait for governments to change…we have to lead the change. https://www.agriorbit.com/change-management-to-change-the-world/ AgriOrbit is a product of Centurion-based media house, Plaas Media. Plaas Media is an agricultural media house offering a true 360-degree media basket to role-players in agriculture. Its entire portfolio is based on sound content of scientific and semi-scientific nature. They can be contacted at lynette@plaasmedia.co.za v