RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT
Local Pathways to Global Wellbeing
St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
June 20 to June 24, 2005
Holistic Land Management and Soil Health Restoration
Presenters:
Allan Savory, Pioneer in Holistic Management, USA
Dick Richardson, University of Texas, USA
Pat Richardson. University of Texas, USA (Moderator)
Rapporteur: Peggy Mahon
land management and soil health.
Innovative Practice or Strategy
Allan used the example on his ranch with using animals and grazing as the main means of soil restoration.
Mainstream Practice
Mechanistic Decision making. One common denominator that lies between all situations where the environment has deteriorated — clearly not culture, technology or any of the many differences — only one common denominator — humans make the decisions that lead to degradation. They have made those decisions based on a number of factors such as past experience, expert opinion, research, intuition, peer pressure, cultural norms, expediency, cost, etc and added to that technology, use of fire, rest, and this had led to mechanistic goals/objectives and "mechanistic decision-making."
There are recognized symptoms of environmental degradation such as: soil erosion, rising frequency and severity of floods and droughts, increased diseases, resource scarcity, etc. There is a "global scientific view" that degradation in Africa is due to overpopulation, overstocking and overgrazing livestock, communal ownership, poverty and no access to capital, lack of education and training, and lack of western extension services and excessive corruption. These "known causes dominate education, environmental thinking, policy and scientific writings. Yet, when compared to Texas where some of the above "known causes" do not exist, the same degradation is taking place. Therefore, Allan has challenged these "known causes" as the reasons for degradation.
He also explained that humans have been relatively successful at managing "hard systems" that are "complicated" such as transportation, communication, space exploration, computers, medical technology etc. Where humans have had problems is in managing the "soft systems" that are complex such as management of forests, economies, human relationships, agriculture, oceans, fisheries, biodiversity loss/desertification/poverty/violence, human organizations, and governance
Alternative Vision:
- Holistic Decision-making involves having a holistic focus that drive the process and using "filtering questions" or "testing filters". It involves using one basic underlying framework (setting goals and objectives), however, the process is different because a holistic focus guides decisions rather than a "mechanistic goal" or process. Allan made the point that although he has used the term "holistic goal" in the past, he now prefers to use the term "holistic focus" because it is broader than a single goal.
- the quality of life that you seek based on what you value most deeply in your life;
- forms of production to ensure you live such a life;
- future resource base (human and land) essential to ensure your descendents can live such lives.
- ties your deepest values to your life support system
- ensures you are always moving toward improving your life, business and environment;
- guides your decision-making — like Magnetic North
- ensures that your decisions are in your own enlightened self-interest.
When managing according to a holistic focus, both land and water are restored. Allan has demonstrated this through modelling it in practice.
Key Challenges:
Mainstream scientists and governments did not believe Allan's challenge to their way of addressing the degradation problems. He experienced personal persecution. He has persisted in his belief in an alternative through modelling how it can work in Africa and in Texas.
QuickTime Video Clip
.6 minutes
(1.4 MB)
Now over 20 universities are embodying these ideas into their curriculum and "it is staggering how quickly this is catching on." Through teaching/education and through modelling, others can see that this works in practice. Lessons Learned:
- There is hope and a sense of optimism among those who are working on these concepts;
- Allan set out to save wildlife and "hit the tip of a bigger iceberg" and continued to explore what this meant which led to these new concepts;
- The basic decision-making framework works when a holistic focus is your ultimate vision.
QuickTime Video Clip
.6 minutes
(1.2 MB)
Q&A with
Tashi Zangmo
Innovative Practice or Strategy:
Using "Discovery Learning" in an academic environment (university setting) to challenge students to think critically about what they are learning. Each student develops a holistic goal related to what they are learning, they are encouraged to try it out and learn from their mistakes. They are graded for "making mistakes and learning from them", their learning portfolios and for collaborating with each other. In traditional educational settings this would be considered "cheating." The professors create a "sceptical situation" to challenge students to think critically about what they are learning.
Alternative Vision:
Changing the template of how students are learning about the environment. Part of this is "investing heartbeats".
Success Factors:
Getting new ideas across is difficult and it is important to understand that "change is fundamental to managing holistically." It is important to pay attention to what happens when managing holistically and to be ready to do something different. You need to be ready to ask questions rather than give advice (to students). Change is slow and is made when people are enabled to think independently, therefore it is important to know what accelerates change and transforms individuals and groups.
Key success factors are:
- Having a holistic goal;
- Asking questions;
- Encouraging independent thinking.
Overcoming resistance to change
Overcoming Challenges:
- Dick referred to an article written by Ehrlich and Levin, The Evolution of Norms (2005, Pub. Lib. Sci.) which explores how adaptive changes spread and affect populations.
- Dick then discussed different change thresholds (low resistance, high resistance, intermediate resistance to change) and indicated that teaching by asking questions or "discovery learning" creates a situation where there is less resistance to change because then people figure out for themselves what needs to change. They are part of the process.
Workshop Report 2204: Sustainable Forest Management
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