RESTORING THE CLIMATE THROUGH CAPTURE AND STORAGE OF SOIL CARBON THROUGH HOLISTIC PLANNED GRAZING

RESTORING THE CLIMATE THROUGH CAPTURE AND STORAGE OF SOIL CARBON THROUGH HOLISTIC PLANNED GRAZING RESTORING THE CLIMATE THROUGH CAPTURE AND STORAGE ...
Author: Toby Glenn
15 downloads 1 Views 2MB Size
RESTORING THE CLIMATE THROUGH CAPTURE AND STORAGE OF SOIL CARBON THROUGH HOLISTIC PLANNED GRAZING

RESTORING THE CLIMATE THROUGH CAPTURE AND STORAGE OF SOIL CARBON USING HOLISTIC GRAZING RESTORING  PLANNED THE  CLIMATE  B Y GROWING  SOIL  CARBON   THROUGH  HOLISTIC  PLANNED  GRAZING1

Abstract Abstract The quantity of carbon contained in soils is directly related to the diversity and health of soil life. All organic carbon in soils is extracted from the bylife. All The quantity of carbon contained in sequestered soils is directly related to the diversity andatmosphere health of soil photosynthesis and converted to complex molecules by bacteria and fungi in synergy with organic carbon sequestered in soils is extracted from the atmosphere by photosynthesis and converted insects and animals. An effective, profitable, culturally relevant method for increasing to complex molecules by bacteria and fungi in synergyand with insects and animals. An effective, profitable, soil organic carbon is by restoring grasslands worldwide to their optimal health. To and culturally relevant method for increasing soil organic carbon is to restore grasslands worldwide to accomplish the scale and pace need, and one of its and their optimal health.this To at accomplish this at thethat scalewe and paceHolistic that weManagement™ need, Holistic Management™ associated processes, Holistic Planned Grazing™ our climate one of its associated processes, Holistic Planned Grazing™offers offersus usaatangible tangibleway way to to restore restore the climate by properly managing livestock to build soil life. Since the 1970s Holistic by properly managing livestock to build soil life. Since the 1970s Holistic Management’s effectiveness Management’s effectiveness has been well documented on millions of hectares on four has been well documented on millions of hectares on four continents. By restoring grasslands through continents. By restoring grasslands through Holistic Planned Grazing we have the Holistic Planned Grazing we have the potential to remove the excess atmospheric carbon that has been potential to remove excess atmospheric carbon resulting from both anthropogenic soil the result ofover boththe anthropogenic loss over the past 10,000 years andgas industrial-era greenhouse gas loss past 10,000 soil years and industrial-era greenhouse emissions. This emissions. This sequestration potential, when applied to up to 5 billion hectares of degraded grassland sequestration potential, when applied to up to 5 billion hectares of degraded grassland soils, could or more of excess of atmospheric carbon tocarbon the terrestrial sink annually soils,return could10return 10 gigatons or more gigatons excess atmospheric to the terrestrial sink thereby loweringannually greenhouse gas concentrations to pre-industrial levels in atomatter of decades. This restoring thereby lowering greenhouse gas concentrations pre-industrial levels inwhile a matter of decades. This while agriculture productivity, providing jobs for agriculture productivity, providing jobsrestoring for thousands of people in rural communities, supplying high thousands peopleand in rural communities, high quality protein for millions, and quality protein for of millions, enhancing wildlife supplying habitat and water resources. enhancing wildlife habitat and water resources.

Holistic Planned Grazing in practice: Northern Plains, United States. Holistic Planned Grazing in practice Great – Northern Great Photo by David Nicola.

Plains, United States. Photo by David Nicola

1

Adapted from a work in progress authored by Adam D. Sacks, Jim Laurie, Seth Itzkan, Karl Thidemann _________________________________

2

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

3

Introduction The future challenges to humankind are considerable, with climate change at the top of the list. It is projected that food production, which is entirely dependent on a benign climate, will have to increase by 50% by 2050 to keep pace with global population needs (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). Our ability to produce more food has increased dramatically in the latter half of the past century because of technological innovation driven by cheap fossil fuels (Janzen, 2011). However, this increased productivity has resulted in substantial damage to the ecosystem upon which we, and all life forms, depend. Specifically, the impacts of large urban populations and the intensive agriculture that they depend on have severely impacted the supply of fresh water (Carpenter & Biggs, 2010). In the future we will have to use water resources much more carefully and efficiently while managing the major portions of our water catchments more effectively. It has become increasingly clear that harmful changes in the earth's climate have been accelerating considerably faster than the scientific community anticipated. While there are good reasons that scientific assessments High intensity agriculture is heavily tend to be conservative (Brysse, Oreskes, O’Reilly, & Oppenheimer, 2013), dependent on fossil fuel energy imports and irrigation, as shown astonishment about the extent and rapidity of change are becoming the on this former grassland in Oregon, norm in global warming United States. circles (Carey, 2012; Efforts to limit emissions from fossil-fuel National Wildlife combustion alone are incapable of Federation, 2013; National Climate Assessment and stabilizing levels of carbon dioxide in Development Advisory Committee, 2013; Lyall, 2013). The level of urgency is thus chronically understated, the atmosphere. and our response continues to be inadequate. In theory, balancing the sources and sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide can address, at least in part, human-induced climate change. However, natural sinks are decreasing because agricultural land, grasslands, coral reefs, and rain forests are being degraded at an increasing rate. To balance carbon dioxide flows it is believed to be necessary both to restore and protect these environments in addition to making drastic cuts in fossil-fuel use (Goreau, 1992). Efforts to limit emissions from fossil-fuel combustion alone are incapable of stabilizing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Twenty-five years ago it seemed straightforward that reducing emissions would lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and substituting non-carbon energy sources would be both technologically feasible and culturally acceptable. Accordingly, almost all efforts to combat global warming have only been directed at controlling sources, and primarily only fossil fuel sources at that, ignoring the extensive quantities of carbon emitted from DECADE TOTAL INCREASE ANNUAL RATE OF INCREASE degraded soils. As a 2003–2012 20.74 ppm 2.07 ppm/year result the emissions 1993–2002 16.73 ppm 1.67 ppm/year reductions strategy has, 1983–1992 15.24 ppm 1.52 ppm/year to date, been a decisive 1973–1982 13.68 ppm 1.37 ppm/year failure. Despite the fact that after almost three decades of attempts on Figure 1 Atmospheric CO2 is accelerating upward from decade to decade. For the past ten years, the average annual rate of increase is 2.07 parts per million (ppm). This rate of the part of governments, increase is more than double the increase in the 1960s, and 100x that of natural glaciation non-governmental cycles. Data courtesy of co2now.org and retrieved at http://co2now.org/current-co2/co2organizations, the trend/

4

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

Desertification Desertification plays a critical plays rolea in critical manyrole of the in many world’s of most the world’s pressing most problems: pressing problems: •

Climate •Change. Climate Dry, Change. infertile,Dry, bare infertile, soil is unable bare soil to isstore unable carbon, to store releasing carbon, it releasing it into the atmosphere. into the atmosphere.



Water Issues. • Water Desertification Issues. Desertification creates large creates areas large of Since exposed areas soil which causes soil which it of is exposed well known thatcauses terrestrial total atmospheric carbon burden has increased by water to evaporate water toorevaporate runoff instead or runoff of soaking insteadinto of soaking the soil.into Thisthe increases soil. Thisthe increases the environments are important global approximately 42 parts per million (ppm) to our frequency and frequency severityand of floods severity and ofdroughts floods and even droughts with noeven rainfall withchange no rainfall in achange in a current level of 393 ppm (NOAA, 2013), and the rate of carbon sinks and the size of this sink specific region. specific region.

scientific community, and citizens worldwide, the

increase is accelerating (International Energy Agency, depends on the grasslands of 2012). See figure 1. Famine/Food • Famine/Food Insecurity. Insecurity. Desertification Desertification is hurting the is grasslands’ hurting the grasslands’ capacity to capacity to

the world, • the most feasible and cost-effective feed billionsfeed of humans, billions of resulting humans, in famine resulting and in famine decreased and food decreased safety.food safety. Since it has become increasingly apparent that emissions approach to carbon sequestration is in reductions will not takeDesertification place a reasonable timeframe, restoring theentire massive in degraded • Poverty. • Desertification Poverty. is ainmajor driver is a major of poverty driverfor of entire poverty regions, for hurting regions, thesink hurting the there have been alternative proposals for reducing economic stability economic of rural stability pastoralist of ruralcommunities pastoralist communities and causing and imbalanced causing imbalanced grassland soils. the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases consumption consumption and demandand patterns demand around patterns the world. around the world.



by actively removing them from the atmosphere. The advantages such undertakings include the desertification opportunity to bypass the impossibly slow international Social Disruption. • of Social Disruption. Because desertification Because is connected isto connected drought, poverty to drought, and poverty and agreement processes and the possibility of succeeding in reversing global warming in spite of persistent hunger, it also hunger, contributes it also to contributes increasedtosocial increased violence, social abuse violence, of women abuseand of women and ongoing emissions. Unfortunately, most of these proposals rely on high-tech geo-engineering schemes, children, cultural children, genocide cultural and genocide emigration and to emigration cities andtoother citiescountries. and other countries. which are largely untested for effectiveness, may be fraught with unintended consequences, and are GLOBAL EXTENT GLOBAL OFEXTENT GRASSLANDS GRASSLANDS potentially very expensive in both direct economic andOF indirect environmental and social costs.

It is well known that terrestrial environments are important global carbon sinks (Prentice, et al., 2001; Schimel, et al., 2001) and the size of this sink Seasonally Dry Grasslands of the World dependsofon grasslands Seasonally Dry Grasslands thethe World Data and map courtesy of WRI Data and map courtesy of WRI of the world (Pacala et al., 2001) therefore, the ly, grasslands comprise 40% of the global land surface area, excluding Greenland Globally, grasslands comprise 40% of the most global feasible land surface andarea, cost-excluding Greenland ntarctica and have been degrading primarily through cultivation and improperly and Antarctica and have been degrading primarily through cultivation and improperly ed livestock practices (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). effective approach to Seasonally Dry Grasslands managed of the World livestock practices (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). carbon sequestration is in Data and Map courtesy of WRI restoring the massive sink in degraded grassland soils. Open shrublands

Non-woody grasslands Closed shrublands Woody savannas

Seasonally Seasonally Dry Dry Grasslands Grasslands of the of World the World Savannas DataData and and mapmap courtesy courtesy of WRI of WRI

Tundra

Globally, Globally, grasslands grasslands comprise comprise 40%40% of the of the global global landland surface surface area, area, excluding excluding Greenland Greenland Non-grassland area

andand Antarctica Antarctica andand havehave been been degrading degrading primarily primarily through through cultivation cultivation andand improperly improperly Source: WorldSource: Resources World Institute Resources - livestock PAGE, Institute 2000 - (Millennium PAGE, 2000Ecosystem managed managed livestock practices practices (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Assessment, 2005). 2005).

Grasslands are home to 1 billion people with pastoral traditions (from the Masai to the herder, to the gaucho to the cowboy).

asslands are home to do 1 billion with pastoral (from the Masai the gaucho totheir management of this complexity affects all of humanity. Not only theirpeople traditions affecttraditions the management oftograsslands, Grasslands are home to 1 billion people with pastoral traditions (from the Masai to the gaucho to cowboy to the herder). Not only do their traditions affect the management of grasslands, their the cowboy to the herder). Not only do their traditions affect the management of grasslands, their management of this complexity affects all of humanity. management of this complexity affects all of humanity. _________________________________

5

_________________________________

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013 5

5

involve large amounts of capital and expensive technology involving At least one billion people depend oninputs grasslands for their livelihoods mostly through energy from Globally, for grasslands comprise 40% of&the global land2002). surfaceTherefore, area, excluding livestock production food and fiber (Ragab Prudhomme, there Greenland and Antarctica unsustainable sources, can and haveand been degrading primarily with through improperlyapart managed livestock practices are huge economic social costs associated the cultivation degradationand of grasslands be culturally inappropriate, (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). from the diminished role they are able to play in sequestering carbon. and have not been At least one billion people depend on grasslands for successful in creating large- Although many attempts their livelihoods mostly through livestock production scale, sustained have been made adopt& Prudhomme, 2002). for food and fiberto (Ragab improvements to the e and maintain the health technical Therefore,solutions there aretohuge economic and social costs assland. landscape. reverse degradation, most associated with the degradation of grasslands apart

ances from around the world attest to the fact that by properly managing livestock to benefit odgson & Illius, 1996; Savory and Butterfield, 1999; oration and sustainable use worldwide requires lowment procedures that are adaptive and use a suitable m function. This is being accomplished in many Properly managed livestock used to restore and maintain the health of this Zimbabwean grassland.

Properly managed livestock used to restore and maintain the health of this Zimbabwean grassland.

involve large amounts of from the diminished role they are able to play in capital and expensive sequestering carbon. technology involving energy inputs from Although many attempts have been made to adopt unsustainable sources, can degradation, most technical solutions to reverse be culturally inappropriate, involve large amounts of capital and expensive and have not been technology involving energy inputs from unsustainable successful in be creating largesources, can culturally inappropriate, and have scale, sustained not been successful in creating large-scale, sustained to the the landscape. improvements to landscape.

The good news is that numerous instances from around the world thethat fact that degraded grasslands can The good news is that numerous instances from around the world attest attest to theto fact be restored by properly managing livestock to benefit degraded grasslands can be restored by properly managing livestock to benefit biodiversity and ecosystem biodiversity and ecosystem health (Hodgson & Illius, 1996; Savory and Butterfield, 1999; health (Hodgson & Illius, 1996; Savory and Butterfield, Tainton et al., 1999). To achieve restoration and sustainable use worldwide requires low- 1999; Tainton et al., 1999). To achieve restoration and input technology, as well as management procedures that are adaptive and use a suitablesustainable use worldwide low-input technology, as well as management flexible framework to restore ecosystem function. This is beingrequires accomplished in many procedures that are adaptable and use a suitable locations around the world by flexible framework to restore ecosystem function. This changing the way livestock is being accomplished in many locations around the managers make decisions to als to grasslands through Holistic world by changing the way livestock managers make achieve ecological restoration and n soils willtheir remove carbonand from the decisions to achieve ecological restoration and enhance enhance livelihoods arbon to soil organic matter. qualityAnofadaptive life. their livelihoods and quality of life. and flexible framework to restore ecosystem function in Colorado, United States

adaptive and flexible framework to restore A direct An consequence of restoring A direct ecosystem function USA consequence of restoring ecological function to these ecosystems ecological function to these in Colorado, is that carbon sequestration is significantly enhanced. By renewing the ecosystems is that carbon relationship of grazing animals to grasslands, long-term storage of carbon sequestration is significantly _______________________ in soils will remove carbon from the atmosphere and add vast quantities of enhanced. By renewing the carbon to soil organic matter (Judy, 2011; Lovell 2011; Itzkan, 2012). 6 of grazing animals to relationship grasslands, long-term storage of Unfortunately, at this point in time most climate advocates are resistant— carbon in soils will remove carbon often fiercely so—to the from the atmosphere and add vast use of grazing animals, An adaptive and flexible framework to restore quantities of carbon to soil organic particularly livestock, to By renewing the relationship of grazing ecosystem function in Colorado, USA matter (Judy, 2011; Lovell 2011; sequester carbon in soils. animals to grasslands through Holistic Itzkan, 2012). There are several reasons

for this: misunder_________________________________ Photo by Matilda Essig Photo by Matilda Essig

standing of the capacity 6 of soils to sequester carbon; ignorance of the

Planned Grazing, long-term storage of carbon in soils will remove carbon from the atmosphere and add vast quantities of carbon to soil organic matter.

ituation and shed light on a process of developed the natural world 6 in RESTORING THE over CLIMATE © savory institute 2013 ended consequences, and has myriad

extent of carbon emissions from soil loss through human activity over millennia (Ruddiman, 2003); the lack of understanding of the extent and potential of grasslands to be a carbon sink; current perception about the damage inflicted by livestock (for example, Steinfeld, et al., 2006); and the almost exclusive attention to emissions reductions. The purpose of this white paper is to challenge the exclusive focus on emissions reductions and shed light on a process of atmospheric carbon capture and storage that has developed in the natural world over millions of years, has minimal possibility for unintended consequences, and has myriad benefits for the health of lands worldwide as well as their dependent life forms which include humans.

The Life of Grasslands Soils To address why attention has not been adequately placed on the importance of soils and the role that grazing animals can play in building healthy soils, a brief discussion of how soils work is helpful. In healthy soils carbon is stored in stable complex biomolecules, such as lignin and glomalin, which remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years.

When grazing animals eat perennial root systems die back hundredsgrasses, or eventhe thousands of years. In and become feed for communities of bacteria 2005), leaving particular, the(Baskin, macromolecules ligninporous and passages and carbon-rich biomolecules which are aggregated into a sticky glomalin are stable and resistant to bacterial substance called humus (Pucheta, Cabido, Diaz, 2004).for decay, Bonamici, thereby capable ofand storing carbon The following season the root systemsor regrow along with the plants above centuries longer. ground, and the process will repeat itself, increasing soil porosity, water and, carbon content annually. Lignin, glomalin, and protein fragments from root dieback, along with humus created by bacterial action comprise process of which is part of the liquid carbon pathway undreds or eventhe thousands of humification, years. In (Jones, 2009a).lignin Humus is critically important in water retention, balancing articular, the macromolecules and minerals, and adjusting pH and is why healthy soils are dark in color (like omalin are stable and resistant to bacterial elemental carboncarbon and is shown in the photo to the right), relatively low in ecay, thereby capable of storing for density, and clump, not crumble, when handled. enturies or longer.

Photo Christine Jonesshowing showingthe the da Photo byby Christine Jones dark colored carbon sequestered colored carbon sequestered around the ro around the roots of perennial grasses. of perennial grasses.

Soil organic carbon, which constitutes approximately 60% of soil When grazing animals organic matter, has beneficial effects on the chemical, physical, and eat perennial the increases root systems die back and biological functions of soil quality (Bardgett,grasses, 2005), and become feed for communities of bact water-holding capacity and contributes to soil structural stability (Baskin, 2005), leaving porous passag (Weber, 2011). Soil organic matter increases adsorption of nutrients, and complex carbon cations, and trace elements thatthe aredark of importance to plant growth;molecules which Photo by Christine Jones showing into a sticky substance colored carbon sequestered around roots prevents nutrient leaching; andthe is integral toare theaggregated organic acids that of perennial grasses.

called humus (Pucheta, Bonamici,

Left: Initially in this neighboring, paired site comparison in Australia, parent mateCabido, and Diaz, 2004). The follow rial, slope, aspect, rainfall, and farming enterprises, as well as soil carbon in both the isroot regrow along were originally same.eat Onperennial the left, the 0–50cmseason soil profile fromsystems a pasture in When grazing the animals which groundcover has been actively managedwith (no-tilled cropped and holistically the plants aboveground, and the grasses, the root systems die back and grazed) to enhance photosynthetic capacity. On the right, the 0–50cm soil profile process increasing so become for communities of bacteria Initially in this neighboring, paired site comparison is from afeed conventionally managed neighboring paddockwill (10repeat meters itself, through the porosity water and carbon conte fence) that hasmaterial, been set-stocked and has a long history ofand phosphate applicain Australia, parent slope, aspect, rainfall, (Baskin, 2005), leaving porous passages tion. While the carbon levels in the 0–10cm increment are very similar (this surface andand farming enterprises as well as soil carbon in annually. Lignin, glomalin, and prote complex carbon molecules which carbon results from the decomposition ofleft, organic matter (leaves, roots, manure, both paddocks were originally the same. On the fragments from root dieback, along w are aggregated into a sticky substance carbon, etc.) forming short-chain the carbon below 30cm in the the 0-50cm-soil profile is from aunstable paddock "labile" in which humus created by bacterial action called humus (Pucheta, Bonamici, left hand profile has been sequestered via the liquid carbon pathway and rapidly groundcover has been actively managed (no-tilled comprise the process of humification incorporated into the humic (non-labile) soil fraction. Cabido, and Diaz, 2004). following cropped and holistically grazed) toThe enhance Photo and Research: which is part of the liquid carbon photosynthetic OnChristine theregrow right Jones. thealong 0-50cm season thecapacity. root systems Property: 'Winona', operatedmanaged by Colin and Nick Seis. soil profile is from a conventionally

with the plants aboveground, and the

neighboring paddock (10 meters through the fence) RESTORING THE CLIMATE repeat and itself, increasing soil has beenwill set-stocked has a long history of © Initially in this neighboring, paired site comparison thatprocess porosity and water andthecarbon application. While carbon content levels in n Australia, parent material, slope, aspect, rainfall, phosphate

pathway (Jones, 2009a). Humus is criticallyinstitute important 2013 in water retention 7 savory balancing minerals, and adjusting pH

soil is a major factor in overall soil health, plant production, the health of water catchments as well as being a sink for atmospheric carbon to offset climate change (Charman and Murphy, 2000; Lal, 2008).

make minerals available to plants. Organic matter also buffers soil from strong changes in soil pH (acidity). Consequently, it is widely ontributes to soil structural stability (Weber, accepted that the carbon content of soil is a major factor in overall to soil structural (Weber, ndofcontributes nutrients, cations, and tracestability elements that soil health, plant production, and the health of water catchments as of nutrients, cations, traceto elements that sion nutrient leaching, and isand integral the well as being a sink for atmospheric carbon to offset climate change ents nutrient leaching, and is integral to the to plants. Organic matter also buffers soil from (Charman and Murphy, 2000; Lal, 2008).

ble to plants. Organic matter also buffers soiloffrom is widely accepted that the carbon content y, it is widely accepted that the carbon content ofThe extremely complex and symbiotic functions of these life forms plant production, the health of water h, plant carbon production, the climate health ofchange water spheric to offset cannot be replaced with synthetic chemistry, which, on the contrary, mospheric carbon to offset climate change eventually lead to massive soil erosion and wholesale loss of stored 8). carbon to the atmosphere. Conventional agriculture that uses synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, as well as improperly managed On Gabe Brown’s 4,000-acre farm in North Dakota through no-tilldestroy croppingessential combinedsoil withbiota and lead to widespread soil livestock Holistic Planned Grazing the following results have beendegradation documented: (Neely and Fynn, 2011). It is well known that such • 265% increase in organic matter in 11soils yearsbecome "addicted" to artificial inputs, requiring larger and • 12-fold increase in water infiltration: ½”/hour to 6”/hour larger "fixes" over time while yielding diminishing outputs (Khan, • 13.6” of rain in 22 hours with zero erosion Mulvaney, Ellsworth & Boast, 2007). • 117-bushel corn yield compared to 70-bushel county average in addition to the beef produced.

In terms of livestock production, the modern industrial approach to animal husbandry has so distorted society’s idea of what it means to The extremely complex and symbiotic functionsIn ofterms these lifeand forms cannot beanimals replaced raise cattle other grazing that manytodo nothusbandry understand of livestock production, the modern industrial approach animal with synthetic chemistry, which, on the contrary,has eventually lead to massive soil erosion so distorted society’s idea of what it means to raise cattle and other grazers that many how essential they are in creating a healthy grassland when do not understand how essentialagriculture they are in creating a healthy grassland when properly and wholesale loss of stored carbon to the atmosphere. Conventional that On Gabe Brown's 4,000-acre farm in North properly managed. For when grazers are constantly on the move managed. For when grazers are constantly on the move in response to predators, the uses synthetic fertilizers and Dakota, through no-till cropping combined in response todiet, predators, thetheir search for athey varied diet, andand avoiding search for a varied and avoiding own wastes, aerate, fertilize, restore ota through no-till cropping combined with with Holisticas Planned Grazing, the following pesticides, well as the soilsown (Frank, McNaughton, Tracy, 1998). This is the opposite of what occurs under Dakota through no-till cropping combined with ve been documented: their wastes, they aerate, fertilize, and restore the soils (Frank, results have been documented: mainstream grassland management where cattle, protected from predators and permitted managed have rimproperly in 11been yearsdocumented: McNaughton, Tracy, Thisregard is theforopposite of of what occurs under to graze randomly over wide1998). areas without the condition the grasses, • 278% in organic soil matter livestock destroy essential atter in 11increase years ation: ½”/hour to 6”/hour overgraze, compact and destroymanagement soils. mainstream grassland where cattle, protected from • erosion 16-fold increase in water infiltration: iltration: ½”/hour 6”/hour biota and lead toto widespread ero predators and permitted toproper grazerelationship randomly over wide areas without 1/2"/hour to 8"/hour Holistic Planned Grazing renews the of grazing animals to grasslands erosioncounty(Neely dth tozero 70-bushel averagewith in addition to the soil degradation • 13.6" of rain in 22 hours and zero by insuring that thecondition animals are inof thethe rightgrasses, place, at the right time, with the rightand regard for the overgraze, compact ared to 70-bushel Fynn, 2011). Itcounty is wellaverage knownin addition to the behavior, for the right reasons. Through each cycle every component of this complex erosion destroy soils. system nourishes all the others, resulting in rich soils which, storing vast quantities of

• 127-bushel yield compared to that such soilscorn become water and carbon, remain moist even during periods of drought, raise the water table to just under 100-bushel county average ctions of these life forms cannot be replaced Holistic Grazing renews the proper ofdiverse grazing "addicted" to artificial inputs, restore and Planned maintain perennial streams and ponds, and createrelationship habitats for richly in addition to the beef produced. unctions of these life forms cannot be replaced microbial, plant, insect, and animal life. ntrary, eventually lead to massive soil erosion requiring larger and larger animals to grasslands by insuring that the animals are in the right On pastures that were seeded with perennial contrary, eventually lead toagriculture massive soilthat erosion place, at the right time, with the right behavior, for the right reasons. atmosphere. Conventional "fixes" over time while grasses organic matter went from under 2% he atmosphere. Conventional yielding diminishing outputs agriculture that to 7.3% with grazing alone. (Khan, Mulvaney, Ellsworth & Boast, 2007).

A typical, modern way to raise beef in feedlots.

_________________________________

9

A typical, modern way to raise beef in

ypical,feedlots. modern way to raise beef in feedlots. A typical, modern way to raise beef in feedlots. _________________

____________________ 9

9

8

OnOn the right, a mixed herd of goats and cattle managed to mimic the the right a mixed herd of goats and cattle managed to mimic the wildebeest on the left. wildebeest and zebra on the left.

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

Through each cycle every component of this complex system nourishes all the others, resulting in rich soils which, storing vast quantities of water and carbon, remain moist even during periods of drought, raise the water table to restore and maintain perennial streams and ponds, and create habitats for richly diverse microbial, plant, insect, and animal life.

Holistic Planned Grazing: Making Grassla Holistic Planned Grazing: Making Grasslands Whole Again Although many grasslands have been badly degrad reverse degradation. Well-managed grasslands hav Although many grasslands have been badly degraded, it is possible to properly manage livestock to as providers of livelihoods, water reverse this trend. Well-managed grasslands have a very important role to play globally as providers of catchments, and plants and animals (Milchunas & Lauenroth, 1993 livelihoods, water catchments, and biodiverse habitat for a multitude of plants and animals (Milchunas & they hold a large reserve of soil carbon w Lauenroth, 1993; Savory and Butterfield, 1999). In addition, they holdaddition, a large reserve of soil carbon which, degradation, contributes to carbon when released under degradation, contributes to carbon dioxide emissions. However, under restorative dioxide emissio management can enhance soil management degraded grassland can enhance soil carbon sequestration (Derner etdegraded al., 2006;grassland Allard et al., 2006; Allard et al., 2007; Soussana et al., 2010; Te 2007; Soussana et al., 2010; Teague et al., 2011). An innovative biologist in Zimbabwe named Allan Savory pioneered Holistic Management and its planning process, Holistic Planned Grazing. Thanks to Savory and others, for decades we have been learning how to restore grasslands by mimicking nature. In fact, the synergistic nature of eco-restoration is a prominent theme throughout Holistic Management. The process involves re-establishing the evolutionary relationships between grazing animals and their habitats. Successful conservationminded grassland managers practicing Holistic Management enhance the health of the ecosystem upon which we depend, as well as improve their profitability and quality of life. This is done while simultaneously providing ecosystem services desired by society through building soil, water, and plant resources (Walters, 1986; Holling & Meffe, 1996; Stinner et al., 1997; Reed et al., 1999; Savory and Butterfield, 1999; Barnes et al., 2008; Teague et al., 2009). To accomplish this, Holistic Management practitioners combine scientific principles and local knowledge to manage animals to influence the following four ecosystem processes:

Allan Savory, Founder of Holistic Management Allan Savory, Founder of Holistic Management

enhance the health of the ecosystem upon which w profitability and quality of life. This is done while 1. Efficient sequestration of solar energy by plants, otherwise knownservices desired by society through building soil, w 1986; Holling & Meffe, 1996; Stinner et al., 1997; as energy flow; Butterfield, 1999; Barnes et al., 2008; Teague et a 2. Interception and retention of precipitation in the soil, thereby creating an effective water cycle;

To accomplish this, Holistic Management practiti

combine scientific principles and local knowledge 3. Optimal cycling of nutrients through an effective mineral cycle; and

adaptively manage animals to influence the follow

4. Promotion of high ecosystem biodiversity with more complex four ecosystem processes: mixtures and combinations of desirable plant species, otherwise known as community dynamics.

1. Efficient sequestration of solar energy by pl otherManagement, wise known asbeginning energy flow; A typical illustration of the essential process of soil restoration through Holistic

with mostly bare, dry ground and using any of a wide variety of animals as grazers, from cattle to goats to 2. Interception and retention of precipitation i sheep to bison is as follows:

soil, thereby creating an effective water cycl

3. Optimal cycling of nutrients through an effe

________________________ 9 RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

11

First and foremost a Holistic Grazing Plan is created in order to properly manage livestock. This plan anticipates when and how long the animals will be in any given area. 4. Promotion of high ecosystem biodiversity with more complex mixtures and combinations of desirable plant species, otherwise known as community dynamics.

A typical illustration of the essential process of soil restoration through Holistic Management, beginning with mostly bare, dry ground and using any of a wide variety of animals as grazers, from cattle to goats to sheep to bison is as follows:

First and foremost a Holistic Grazing Plan is created in order to properly manage livestock. This plan anticipates when and how long the animals will be in any given area.

Holistic Grazing Plan and Control Chart Holistic

Grazing Plan & Control Chart

When implementing the Holistic First and foremost, a Holistic Grazing Plan is created in order to properly manage livestock. This plan anticipates when and how long the animals will be in any given area.Plan the animals are herded in Grazing

tight groups, confined to relatively small

Holistic Grazing & Control Chart Plan, animals are herded in tight groups, confined to relatively When implementing thePlan Holistic Grazing bymore permanent fence, smallimplementing paddocks (either bypaddocks permanent(either fence, but likely now with When the Holistic but more likely now with temporary Grazing Plan the animals are and/or herded inherding), having intense but brief impact temporary electric fence tight groups, confined relatively small electric and/or herding), (several hours to a to few days) on thefence land. They eat the grasses, having forbs, and paddocks (either by permanent fence, shrubs available—the more diversebut the brief betterimpact (Provenza, 2007). hours to intense (several

but more likely now with temporary ahaving few days)observed on the land. They eat the electric fence and/or herding), The plants that are eaten are carefully for signs of overgrazing. intense but brief impact (severalgrasses, hours to forbs, and shrubs available, the is, land managers focus on adjusting the amount of time in any given a That few days) on the land. They eat the more diverse the (Provenza, This 2007). paddock based on continuous observation andbetter plan modification. grasses, forbs, and shrubs available, the feedback is an (Provenza, essential element more diverseloop the better 2007). of Holistic Management, that is,

managers plan (and assume that the original plan may be wrong), monitor The plants that are eaten are carefully Holistic Grazing and Land Planning Zimbabwe The plants that are eaten During their first impact oncarefully the plan,in control (thatare is, make adjustments as necessary), replan, and Holistic Grazing and Land Planning in Zimbabwe observed forButterfield, signs of overgrazing. That Holistic Grazing and Land Planning observed for soils signsthe of overgrazing. That and degraded properly again monitor and control (Savory 1999). in Zimbabwe is, managed land managers focus on adjusting the managers focus on adjusting the animals break the is, land amount of time in any given paddock based on continuous observation and plan soil cap with their hooves, During their first impact on degraded soils, the properly amount of time in any given paddock based on continuous observation andmanaged plan animals modification. This feedback loop is an essential element of Holistic Management, is, fertilize it with urine and dung rich in fertilize it soil withcap urine andtheir that break the with hooves, This feedback loop isinan essential element of Holistic Management, that is, managers planmodification. (and assume that the original plan may berich wrong), monitor the plan, dung gut bacteria, gut bacteria, and trample plant matter into the soil surface, including dead control (that is,managers make adjustments as necessary), replan, and again monitor and plan (and assumeand thattrample the original plancontrol may be wrong), monitor the plan, plant matter grasses which when left standing and oxidizing interfere with new growth. (Savory and Butterfield, 1999). into the soil surface, control (that is, make adjustments as necessary), replan, and again monitor and control This disturbance stimulates _________________________________ including dead grasses which biotic activity by facilitating circulation (Savory and Butterfield, ofwhen oxygen, carbon and dioxide and other gases, by providing nutrients, by left standing 12 1999). oxidizingpenetration interfere withofnew allowing water (Weber, 2011), and by providing land cover _________________________________ Thisordisturbance togrowth. minimize eliminate 12 bybare ground. Most important, in fact, is to cover stimulates biotic activity the ground with dung and trampled grass which holds water in the soil, facilitating circulation of thereby the effectiveness of the rainfall. Grassland biodiversity oxygen,raising carbon dioxide and South Africa with very erratic 200mm flourishes asby the area of bare soil diminishes. Thus ruminants are organs as other gases, providing South Africa with very erratic rain.been of rain. The land on200mm the leftofhas essential to living grasslands as stomachs and hearts are to mammals. nd on the left has been holistically managed since the nutrients, by allowing holistically managed since the 1970s. The right is an example of what results with over-rest. penetration of water (Weber, The land on the right is an example of and providing land what results with over-rest. In2011), response to the suffering grassland habitats worldwide (Suttie, Reynolds minimize or eliminate bare ground. Most important, in fact, is to cover the & Batello, 2005) conventional wisdom prescribes "rest" for deteriorated ith dung and trampled grass in order to raise the effectiveness of the rainfall, as e water10 in the RESTORING soil. Grassland biodiversity flourishes the area ofinstitute bare soil 2013 THE CLIMATE © as savory s. Ruminants are as essential organs to living grasslands as stomachs and hearts

In response to the suffering grassland habitats worldwide (Suttie, Reynolds & Batello, 2005) conventional wisdom prescribes grasslands—that is, removal of animals for years or decades. However, such "rest" for deteriorated grasslands, rest does not work to restore grasslands in semi-arid or arid climates (what thatcalled is, removal animals for which in Holistic Management terms are "brittle"ofenvironments), years or decades. However, such that comprise 75% of all grasslands on the planet. Despite clear evidence rest doesthe notapplication work to restore over-rest is destructive, not restorative, of over-rest remains grasslands in semi-arid oral., arid2012). firmly entrenched in the dominant paradigm (Beschta, et climates (what in Holistic It should be noted that Holistic Management Planned Grazing acknowledges terms are called the tool "brittle" environments, of rest as essential in brittle environments when used forwhich plant recovery. 75% ofand all animal grasslands on bitten The purpose of such rest is, aftercomprise proper grazing impact, the planet). Despite clear evidence plants and their roots are allowed to recover and regrow. The rest period Dying plant and deteriorating soil that over-rest is destructive, notsuch as the may be anywhere from 30 days to 2 years depending on factors It should be noted that due to over-rest. restorative, the application of other over- factors climate, time of year, animal density, precipitation, and many Holistic Planned Grazing acknowledges the tool of rest remains firmly in of the (Savory & Butterfield, 1999). Thisrest period of rest is anentrenched essential part as essential brittle Dying plant and deteriorating soilindue to over-rest. the dominant paradigm (Beschta, holistic planning process, which always includes the return of intense environments when allowed et al., 2012). short-term grazing and animal impact pressure after the recovery period,

for plant recovery. The purpose of such rest is, after proper grazing and animal impact, bitten plants and their roots are allowed to recover and regrow. The rest period may be anywhere from 30 days to 2 years depending on factors such as the climate, time of year, By using the tools of grazing and animal impact and paying attention to animal density, precipitation, adequate plant recovery, in a period of as fewDuring as three years, worst many long-drought in history cattle a multi-year, recorded and many other factors return to a insects recovered such sagebrush steppe pasture in During Wyoming, a USA multi-year, worst-recorded (Savory & Butterfield, 1999). disabled processes come back to life. For example, as dung that had been rested for 570 days to give plants adequate time drought in to history, cattle return to is a an This period of rest beetles return. They retrieve ruminant excreta and store ityears more 18 precipitation recover. In “typical” withthan adequate (10 in./yr) During a multi-year, worst recorded drought in history cattle recovered sagebrush-steppe pasture essential part of the holistic plants would tend to in recover return180 to adays. recovered sagebrush steppe pasture in Wyoming, USA inches beneath the surface creating new soil and storing carbon the in about in Wyoming, United States that had planning which that had been rested for 570 days to give process, plants adequate time to been rested for 570 days to give plants process (Richardson & Richardson, 2000).always Worms andthe small mammals In “typical” years with adequate precipitation (10 in./yr) includes return of intense recover. short-term grazing and animal impact pressure after adequate timeto to recover. In180 "typical" plants would tend recover in about days. such as moles and prairie dogs churn the the soil,recovery while deep-rooted perennial period, mimicking the way nature cycles animal impact in wild herds. Being years with adequate precipitation (10. for health inreturn many in grazing eatenand above the growth point is necessary grasses regrow and create channels for water gases. Mycorrhizal fungi, always includes the ofgrasses, intense short-term an in./yr.), plants would tendwhich, to recover in evolutionary terms, may be why the most nutritious grasses taste so good to the with literally thousands of miles of hyphae in a small patch, transport the recovery period, the way nature animals. cycles anim about 180 mimicking days. Holistic Planned Grazing’s rest period is not measured in apoint timeisspan of several yearsinorma necessary for health above the growth nutrients which they have the unique ability to obtain minerals from soileaten decades, over which time the deleterious effects of over-rest become increasingly evolutionary terms, may be why the most nutritious grasse and exchange them for carbohydrates from photosynthetic plants. The take apparent, but how long the plants to recover. Holistic Planned Grazing’s rest period is not measured in

mimicking the way nature cycles animal impact in wild herds. Being eaten above the growth point is necessary for health in many grasses, which, in _________________________________ evolutionary terms, may be why the most nutritious grasses taste so good 13 to the animals. Holistic Planned Grazing’s rest period is measured in a time span based on how long it takes the plants to recover, not several years or decades, over which time the deleterious effects of over-rest become increasingly apparent.

fungi synthesize a stable glycoprotein, glomalin that holds 4 to 20 timesdecades, its over which time the deleterious effects of over-re apparent, but how long the plants take to recover. using thefray, toolsand of grazing animal weight in water. Microorganisms join theBy elaborate in theand process impact and paying to for adequate create complex carbon molecules that store carbon deep inattention the soils a plant recovery, in a period of as fewBy asusing the tools of grazing and animal long period of time (Jones, 2009a). These are the healthy soils that Holistic impact and paying attention to adequate three years, many long-disabled Managers throughout the world strive to processes recreate,come capturing carbon, plant recovery, in a period of as few as back to life. For three years, many long-disabled providing food, re-establishing balanced example, hydrological and nutrient cycles, insects such as dung beetles processes come back to life. For that retrieve excreta and store it more and imparting beauty to the land (see next page).

than 18 inches beneath the surface example, insects such as dung beetles that retrieve excreta and store it more creating soil return (Richardson & than 18 inches beneath the surface Richardson, 2000). Worms and small creating soil return (Richardson & mammals such as moles and prairieRichardson, 2000). Worms and small dogs churn the soil, while deep-rooted mammals such as moles and prairie perennial grasses regrow and createdogs churn the Dung soil because sheep were soil,beetles whilebuilding deep-rooted beetles soil because brought back tobuilding this once over-rested grasslands in channels for water and gases. perennialDung grasses regrow and create Dung beetles sheep were brought back to thisbrought once back to Patagonia, Chile. Mycorrhizal fungi, with literally channels for water and gases. over-rested grassland thousands of miles of hyphae in a small Mycorrhizal fungi, with literally in Patagonia, thousandsChile. of miles of hyphae in a small

_________________________________

14

________________________________

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013 14 11

These pictures are of neighboring properties in Mexico, Arizona, and Zimbabwe, respectively. They are taken

Theseon pictures are day, of neighboring in Mexico, Arizona, and Zimbabwe respectfully taken the same have similarproperties soils, and the same precipitation. The pictures on the right are examples of properly managing through Holistic Management to restore grasslands. On the we taken see examples pictures are oflivestock neighboring properties in same Mexico, Arizona, and Zimbabwe respectfully theThese same day and which have similar soils and the precipitation. The pictures on theleft right improperly managed asprecipitation. well as exclusion from grazing. These ofofmanaging neighboring properties inthe Mexico, Arizona, and Zimbabwe respectfully taken samepictures day andare which have similar soils through andlivestock same The pictures on the right arethe examples of properly livestock Holistic Management to restore grasslands. the same whichmanaging have similar soils and thelivestock same precipitation. The pictures on the right examples properly livestock through Holistic Management to from restore grasslands. Onare the left weday seeofand examples of improperly managed as well as exclusion grazing. These pictures areproperly ofneighboring neighboring properties in Mexico, Arizona, Zimbabwe respectfully taken These These pictures pictures are of of neighboring properties properties in inthrough Mexico, Mexico, Arizona, Arizona, and andand Zimbabwe Zimbabwe respectfully respectfully taken taken arethe examples of managing livestock Holistic Management to restore grasslands. On left weare see examples of improperly managed livestock as well as exclusion from grazing. theOn same dayand and which have similar soils and same precipitation. The pictures on right the theday left we see examples of improperly managed livestock as well asThe exclusion from the the same same day and which which have have similar similar soils soils and and the thethe same same precipitation. precipitation. The pictures pictures on ongrazing. the the rightright areexamples examplesofofofproperly properly managing livestock through Holistic Management to restore grasslands. are are examples properly managing managing livestock livestock through through Holistic Holistic Management Management to torestore restore grasslands. grasslands. Onthe theleft leftwe wesee seeexamples examples improperly managed livestock as well as exclusion from grazing. On On the left we see examples of ofof improperly improperly managed managed livestock livestock as aswell well as asexclusion exclusion from from grazing. grazing.

12

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

occurs naturally in most terrestrial habitats unless reversed by inappropriate human activities, or prevented by lack of disturbance grazing]…. If the land management is appropriate, evidence of new topsoil formation can be seen within 12 months, with quite dramati effects often observed within three years (Jones, 2002, p.3)

Calculating Soil Carbon Sequestration PotentIAL

When looking at the potential for soils to sequester carbon the discussion and research has focused almost solely on soils that already exist. These are geological in origin and accumulate slowly, over thousands of years. Very little attention has been placed on biological soil that can be created quite quickly through Holistic Planned Grazing (Jones, 2002). This has lead to a dramatic underestimation of soil organic carbon storage capacity in assessing sequestration potential with respect to global warming. Furthermore, there is the predominant assumption that soils have a carbon sequestration capacity that is limited. Both estimates, however, effectively remove new soil creation from the equation and thereby underestimate Neighboring, paired site comparison in Australia. The soil on the left is from a paddo paired comparison groundcover hasNeighboring, been actively managed (no-tilled site cropped and holistically grazed) to e soil sequestration capacity by a yet unknown but potentially significant photosynthetic capacity. On the right the soil a conventionally managed paddo in Australia. The soilis from on the left is from _________________________________ has been set-stocked and has a long history of phosphate applic magnitude. Thus soil creation of biological origin, which can be rapidthrough in the fence)a that pasture in which groundcover has 16 grasslands, remains unaccounted for. As Christine Jones notes: been actively managed (no-tilled The rates of soil formation provided in the scientific literature usually refer to the weathering of parent material and the differentiation of soil profiles. These are extremely slow processes, sometimes taking thousands of years…Topsoil formation is a separate process to rock weathering and can occur quite rapidly under appropriate conditions. In fact, soil building occurs naturally in most terrestrial habitats unless reversed by inappropriate human activities, or prevented by lack of disturbance [i.e., grazing]… If the land management is appropriate, evidence of new topsoil formation can be seen within 12 months, with quite dramatic effects often observed within three years (Jones, 2002, p.3). Since most of mainstream soil and rangeland science has yet to seriously investigate complex biodiversity and the biological creation of soils, at this point in time we must rely mostly on the experience of practicing farmers and ranchers and some pioneering researchers both in and out of academia to estimate soil carbon sequestration potential. For calculation purposes a discussion of soil characteristics is in order. First of all, mineral soil has a higher bulk density (is more compact) than biologically created soil, and is far more easily eroded. Soil loss figures usually assume an average bulk density (weight per unit volume) of around 1.4 g/cm3 (Edwards & Zierholz, 2000). If one millimeter of soil is eroded (about the thickness of a 5-cent coin) that represents about 14 tons/hectare (t/ha) soil loss. When new topsoil is forming, it will have better structure and will contain more air and more pore spaces than degraded soil, so the bulk density will be less. That is, a given volume of new topsoil will weigh less than an equal volume of mineral soil. The bulk density of healthy topsoil may be as low as 0.5 g/cm3. In practical terms, a one-millimeter increase in the height of new soil would equate to the formation of around 5–10 t/ha of organically enriched topsoil (Jones, 2002, p. 5). Therefore, for our estimations we will make a reasonable assumption of bulk soil density in healthy biological soils of 1g/cm3.

cropped and holistically grazed) to enhance photosynthetic capacity. On the right, the soil is from a conventionally managed farm (10 meters through the fence) that has been set-stocked and has a long history of phosphate application. Photo courtesy of Christine Jones.

Since most of mainstream soil and rangel complex biodiversity and the biological c mostly on the experience of practicing far researchers both in and out of academia

Properly managed livestock building Properly managed livestock building soil organ soil organic matter in Patagonia, Chile, matter in Patagonia, being moved as planned t being moved as planned to ensure ensure plant recovery. adequate plantadequate recovery.

topsoil will weigh less than an equal volum 3. In pr may be as low as2013 0.5 g/cm 13 RESTORING THE CLIMATE ©topsoil savory institute height of new soil would equate to the for

rbon dioxide, 8.7 ppm. This does not account for the greater and more stable carbon cumulation in the soils, up to 4 meters deep, which are created by the interactions of ant roots, mychorrhizal fungi, bacteria, small mammals and insects as the health of the nd returns.

Since there are 1 x 108 cm2/ha, to a depth of 1 cm, we have 1 x 108 g of soil per hectare, or 100 t/ha. Soil organic matter will vary according to soil characteristics. For example, Jones (personal communications, 2013) says that it ranges from 50–62%. Lal, (2001) states that soil organic matter is generally estimated at 58% of soil organic matter, which we will use in our examples. If we reasonably calculate that 1% of total topsoil weight is composed of soil organic matter (Troeh, 2005), then the weight of soil organic matter will be:

Total Weight % Soil Organic % Soil Organic Weight of SOC x x = of Soil Matter (SOM) Carbon (SOC) per cm of soil Holisticallymanaged managed bisonbison in SouthinDakota, States restoring depth Holistically SouthUnited Dakota, Unitedtheir ancestral soils. States, restoring their ancestral soils.

100 t/ha

st to explore the potential possibilities, here is an example of applying the formula ove to a soil which, at 100 tons per hectare we increase the soil organic matter by 2% which 58% is soil organic carbon: At a density of 1 g/cm3, 40 cm deep over 1 billion ctares of grasslands would yield 46.4 gigatons of carbon.

x

.01 (1%)

x

0.58 (58%)

= 0.58 tC/ha/cm

To calculate the quantity of carbon captured from the atmosphere and stored in organic molecules in the soil in terms equivalent to those used by climate advocates, the equivalent formula is expressed as follows: _________________________________ 18

Soil organic matter as a percent of total soil weight 1 % x Soil organic carbon – 58% of soil organic matter 58% x 3 1 x Soil density in g/cm Depth in cm. 30 x Note that sequestration of 46.4 gigatons of ca Billions of hectares 1 = approximately 11 times the carbon currently Total weight of carbon in soil in gigatons per billion hectares 17.4 Gt C

Even on the conservative end if we estimate a ppm per year, after subtracting the current an theycarbon same), in principle That is, at a standard soil measurement depth of 30 cm, we would have a total soil weight of this returns us to prehalf a decade. The absolute validity of these 17.4 Gt carbon captured per billion hectares. Or, in terms of atmospheric carbon dioxide, 8.7 ppm. bases for them have yet to be fully vetted. Ho This does not account for the greater and more stable carbon accumulation in the soils, up toconventional 4 current limited perspective on s meters deep, which are created by the interactions of plant roots, mycorrhizal fungi, bacteria, small extremely promising while providing no nega opportunities. mammals, and insects as the health of the land returns.

Just to explore the potential possibilities, here is an example of applying the formula above to a soil which, at 100 tons per hectare we increase the soil organic matter by 2% of which 58% is soil organic carbon: a density of 1 g/cm3, 40 cm deep over 1 billion hectares of grasslands would yield 46.4 gigatons of carbon. If we were to capture 1 ton of carbon per acre per year on the roughly 5 billion hectares of grasslands worldwide, we would remove 12 Gt of C from the atmosphere per year, that is, 6 ppm annually. If gross soil sequestration were approximately 6 ppm/year, after subtracting current annual carbon emissions of 2.5 ppm/year net sequestration would be 3.5 ppm per year.

14

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

C

Holistically managed grassfed beef at Two Dot Ranch, Montana, Holistically managed grassfed beef at Two Dot United States. Ranch, Montana, United States

T i o g s a l s a p

The following erroneous prevailing assumptio scale and pace necessary:







Nature is self-organizing, and when all the elements of biodiversity are in place ecosystem health is the norm, not the exception. There have been significant changes in geophysical and biological contexts over the ages, and these are exceptions that have altered the conditions affecting life many times throughout the earth's history; but that nonetheless functional, resilient states of ecosystem In principle this returns us to pre-industrial atmospheric CO2 levels in less than 40 years. How realistic health have been the prevalent condition under which living creatures have these numbers are is unknown, since the bases for them have yet to be tested. Nor does it yet take evolved and thrived. into account how to address potential pulses of carbon from melting permafrost and seabed sinks. However, it iscomplex apparentcollections that beyond the current limited conventional Healthy soils are of interdependent life forms, and as aperspective on soil sequestration of carbon the potential may indeed be promising. The absolute validity synergistic system soil activity may become seriously impaired when any of itsof these numbers is not elements are compromised destroyed, currently worldwide withHowever, it is apparent that completely known, sinceorthe bases forasthem have occurs yet to be fully vetted. chemical agriculture, mismanagement of grazing animals,on and beyond the current limited conventional perspective soilover-rest. sequestration of carbon the potential is extremely promising while providing no negative consequences, but instead many opportunities.

Effective eco-restoration, of which Holistic Planned Grazing is an essential component, can restore grasslands and geophysical cycles and stabilize carbon in CoNCLUSION the atmosphere to mitigate the adverse and lethal effects of global warming.

Since the advent of agriculture,

There are several conventional assumptions in different mainstream humanity has been moving disciplines carbon that areinobstacles to re-establishing the evolutionary the wrong direction – grassland-grazer relationship for long-term sequestration of carbon in out of the soils and into the soils and restoring atmospheric carbon atmosphere. We plow and dioxide to pre-industrial levels. Each of these disciplines—climate science and advocacy, rangeland have a tendency to mismanage science, andlivestock soil science—contributes its own prevailing assumptions. leaving land bare for

much of the year, exposing soil

The following erroneously prevailing assumptions are barriers to life and humus to sunlight, restoring climate at theand scaleoxidation. and pace necessary: desiccation, On

ground photosynthetic • Grazing bare animals chronically overgraze rangelands and destroy soils

Holistic planned grazing in the foreenergy necessarytofor which must be "rested" be restored; ground. Loss of soil organic matter due humification is not harvested. to lack of ground cover and conven• Climate action should be focused on reducing emissions; We make mattersAnd worse by tional management in the distance. of course, we emit massive amounts of carbon from burning fossil fuels. These kinds Photo by David Marsh, Australia. • Soils are a limited carbon sink, and biologically generated soils of decisions may new have seemed right at the time, but now we know that they are leading us using fertilizers, seriously Holistic planned grazing in the foreground. Loss of soil organic and climate catastrophe. matter due to lack of ground cover and conventionalare not part of the the equation; inhibiting flowto aofsoiland energy to management in the distance. Today wecarbonare in the early stages of understanding the extent to which soils can sequester fungi that make stable, • Soil sequestration of carbon is only significant the first 30 cm, and of livestock atmospheric carbon. It seems clear,in however, that improper management Photo by David Marsh, Australia.

sequestering molecules and stimulating growth in bacterial grazing animals and their grassland habitat is an essential part of the equation to restoring the climate. Furthermore, there are so many ecological, social and economic benefits populations destructive to soil fungi. Unnecessary use of fire also exposes bare ground, Collectively these assumptions create a mechanistic view of howthatthe world works andmanagement should that, be seriously accrue from proper grassland notwithstanding uncertainty with destroys organic soil matter, and emits massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. respect to ultimate carbon storage capacity, we are well advised to pursue such ecosoil models have led us to underestimate significantly such potential for reversing soil carbon cycles throughand the atmosphere insee25that years ortheless. climate change. As a result, few restoring evolutionary relationship between

questioned. These views interfere with a necessary paradigm shift. On with theallother hand, if the necessary restoration due dispatch. _________________________________ paradigm shift occurs it will allow us to act more effectively on planetary eco-restoration, affecting such fundamental biogeodynamics as20 carbon and water cycles, not the least of which is the reversal of an extremely destructive anthropogenic atmospheric carbon burden. In order to realize the potential hope that the grasslands of the world provide for us, we need to make the following shifts in perspective that underlie Holistic Management: • Nature functions as complex, interactive wholes, and humans need to define and work within their given, localized holistic contexts. • Nature is self-organizing, and when all the elements of biodiversity are in place ecosystem health is the norm, not the exception. There have been significant changes in geophysical and biological contexts over the ages, and these are exceptions that have altered the conditions affecting life many times throughout the earth's history.

Photoof of Stream in Wyoming, USA - Taken moments States, apart standing on a bridge. Photo stream in Wyoming, United taken mo-Left: Upstream Land - Properly managed using Holistic Management (150% increase in ments apart onDownstream a bridge. Upstream Land livestockstanding numbers); Right: LandLeft: - Managed conventionally - properly managed using Holistic Management (150% increase in livestock numbers); Downstream Land managed conventionally.

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013 _________________________________

15

Nonetheless functional, resilient states of ecosystem health have been the prevalent condition under which living creatures have evolved and thrived. •

Healthy soils are complex collections of interdependent life forms, and as a synergistic system soil activity may become seriously impaired when any of its elements are compromised or destroyed, as currently occurs worldwide with chemical agriculture, mismanagement of grazing animals, and over-rest.

• Effective eco-restoration, of which Holistic Planned Grazing is an essential component, can restore grasslands and geophysical cycles and stabilize carbon in the atmosphere to mitigate the adverse and lethal effects of global warming. Since the advent of agriculture, humanity has been moving carbon in the wrong direction—out of the soils and into the atmosphere. We plow and have a tendency to mismanage livestock leaving land bare for much of the year, exposing soil life and humus to sunlight, desiccation, and oxidation. On bare ground, photosynthetic energy necessary for humification is not harvested. We make matters worse by using fertilizers, thereby seriously inhibiting the flow of energy to fungi that make stable, carbon-sequestering molecules and stimulating growth in certain bacterial populations destructive to soil fungi. Unnecessary use of fire also exposes bare ground, destroys organic soil matter, and emits carbon into the atmosphere. And of course, we emit massive amounts of carbon from burning fossil fuels. These kinds of decisions may have seemed right at the time, but now we know that they are leading us to a soil and climate catastrophe. Today we are in the early stages of understanding the extent to which soils can sequester atmospheric carbon. It seems clear, however, that improper management of livestock and soil models have led us to underestimate significantly the potential for reversing climate change by restoring soils. As a result, few see that restoring the evolutionary relationship between grazing animals and their grassland habitat is an essential part of the equation to restoring the climate. Furthermore, there are so many ecological, social and economic benefits that accrue from proper grassland management that, notwithstanding uncertainty with respect to ultimate carbon storage capacity, we are well advised to pursue such eco-restoration with all due dispatch.

16

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

References Allard, V., J.F Soussana, R. Falcimagne, P. Berbigier, J.M. Bonnefond, E. Ceschia, P. D’hour. 2007. "The Role of Grazing Management for the Net Biome Productivity and Greenhouse Gas Budget (CO< sub> 2, N< sub> 2 O and CH< sub> 4) of Semi-natural Grassland," Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 121 (1):47-58. Bardgett, R.D. 2005. The Biology of Soil: A Community and Ecosystem Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Barnes, K., Norton, B.E., Maeno, M., and Malechek, J.C. 2008. "Paddock Size and Stocking Density Affect Spatial Heterogeneity of Grazing." Rangeland Ecology & Management 61(4): 380-388. Baskin, Y. 2005. Under Ground, How Creatures of Mud and Dirt Shape Our World. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Beschta, R.L., D.L. Donahue, D.A. DellaSala, J.J. Rhodes, J.R. Karr, M.H. O’Brien, T.L. Fleischner, C.D. Williams. 2013. “Adapting to Climate Change on Western Public Lands: Addressing the Ecological Effects of Domestic, Wild, and Feral Ungulates." Environmental Management 51 (2): 474-491. Brysse, K., N. Oreskes, J. O’Reilly, and M. Oppenheimer. 2012. "Climate Change Prediction: Erring on the Side of Least Drama?" Global Environmental Change 23(1): 327-337. Carey, J. 2012 "Global Warming: Faster Than Expected?" Scientific American. (November): 50-55. Carpenter, S.R., R. Biggs. 2010. “Freshwaters: Managing Across Scales in Space and Time.” In: Principles of Ecosystem Stewardship, edited by F.S. Chapin, G.P. Kofinas, and C. Folke, 197–220. New York: Springer Science + Business Media. Charman, P.E.V. and B. W. Murphy, eds. 2000. Soils: Their Properties and Management. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Derner, J.D., T.W. Boutton, and D.D. Briske. 2006. "Grazing and Ecosystem Carbon Storage in the North American Great Plains." Plant and Soil. 280(1): 77-90. Edwards, K., and C. Zierholz. 2000. "Soil Formation and Erosion Rates." In: Soils: Their Properties and Management, Second Edition, edited by P.E.V. Charman and B.W. Murphy, 39-57. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Frank, D.A., S.J. McNaughton, B.F., Tracy. 1998. “The Ecology of the Earth’s Grazing Ecosystems". BioScience. 48:513-521. Goreau, T.J. 1992. “Control of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.” Global Environmental Change 2(1): 5-11. Hodgson, J. and A.W. Illius, eds. 1996. The Ecology and Management of Grazing Systems. London: CAB Holling, C.S. and G.K. Meffe. 1996. "Command and Control and the Pathology of Natural Resource Management." Conservation Biology 10(2): 328-337.

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

17

International Energy Agency. 2012. Global Carbon-Dioxide Emissions Increase by 1.0 Gt in 2011 to Record High. (May). Retrieved from http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/news/2012/may/name,27216,en. html Itzkan, S. 2012. "Reversing Global Warming with Livestock?" TEDx Talk, Somerville, Massachusetts. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOpoRdpvlh0 Janzen, H.H. 2011. “What Place for Livestock on a Re-Greening Earth.” Animal Feed Science and Technology 166(167): 783-796 Jones, C. 2002. "Building New Topsoil." Stipa Native Grasses Changing Landscapes Forum Armidale (May). Jones, C. 2009a. "Inquiry into Soil Sequestration in Victoria," Submission to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Australia (December 12). Retrieved from http://www.amazingcarbon.com/PDF/ JONES-SoilSequestrationInquiry(17Dec09).pdf Jones, C. 2009b. "Mycorrhizal Fungi - Powerhouse of the Soil." Evergreen Farming Newsletter (September). Retrieved from http://amazingcarbon.com/PDF/JONES-MycorrhizalFungiEVERGREEN (Sept09).pdf Judy, G. 2011. "The Healing Effects of Holistic High Density Grazing on Land, Livestock & People's Lives." 12th Annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference, (February). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=W6HGKSvjk5Q Khan, S.A., R.L. Mulvaney, T.R. Ellsworth, and C.W. Boast. 2007. “The Myth of Nitrogen Fertilization for Soil Carbon Sequestration.” Journal of Environmental Quality 36(6):1821-1832. Lal, R. 2001. "Soils and the Greenhouse Effect." In, Soil Carbon Sequestration and the Greenhouse Effect, edited by Ratan Lal. Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America, Inc. Lal, R. 2008. "Promise and Limitations of Soils to Minimize Climate Change." Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 63(4). Lovell, T. 2011. "Soil Carbon: Putting Carbon Back Where It Belongs," TEDx Talk, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgmssrVInP0 Lyall, S. 2013. "Heat, Flood or Icy Cold, Extreme Weather Rages Worldwide." New York Times (January 10). Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/science/earth/extreme-weather-grows-in-frequencyand-intensity-around-world.htm Milchunas, D.G. and W.K. Lauenroth. 1993. "Quantitative Effects of Grazing on Vegetation and Soils Over a Global Range of Environments." Ecological Monographs 63(4): 327-366. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Biodiversity Synthesis. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee. 2013. (January). Retrieved from http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/download/NCAJan11-2013-publicreviewdraft-fulldraft.pdf

18

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

National Wildlife Federation. 2013. Wildlife in a Warming World (February). Retrieved from http://www. nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Global-Warming/Reports/NWF_Wildlife-Warming-World_Report_web.pdf Neely, C. and A. Fynn. 2011. “Critical Choices for Crop and Livestock Productions Systems that Enhance Productivity and Build Ecosystem Resilience.” SOLAW Background Thematic Report – TR11. NOAA. 2013. Carbon Dioxide Annual Means (January). Retrieved from ftp://ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/ccg/co2/ trends/co2_annmean_mlo.txt Pacala, S.W., G.C. Hurtt, D. Baker, P. Peylin, R.A. Houghton, R.A. Birdsey, L. Heath et al. 2011. "Consistent Land and Atmosphere Based US Carbon Sink Estimates." Science 292(5525): 2316-2320. Prentice, I.C., G.D. Farquhar, M.J.R. Fasham, M.L. Goulden, M. Heimann, H S. Kheshi, Le Quere et al. "The Carbon Cycle and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide." In: Climate Change 2001 The Scientific Basis: Contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Provenza, F.D., J.J. Villalba, J. Haskell, J.W. MacAdam, T.C. Griggs, and R.D. Wiedmeier. 2007. "The Value to Herbivores of Plant Physical and Chemical Diversity in Time and Space." Crop Science 47(1): 382-398. Pucheta, E., I. Bonamici, M. Cabido, and S. Diaz. 2004 “Below-Ground Biomass and Productivity of a Grazed Site and a Neighbouring Ungrazed Exclosure in a Grassland in Central Argentina.” Austral Ecology 29:201-208. Ragab, R. and C. Prudhomme. 2002. "SW – Soil and Water: Climate Change and Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Prospective and Challenges for the 21st Century." Biosystems Engineering 81(1):3-34. Reed, F., R. Roath, and D. Bradford. 2006. "The Grazing Response Index: A Simple and Effective Method to Evaluate Grazing Impacts." Rangelands 21(4): 3-6. Richardson, P.Q. and Richardson, R.H. 2000. "Dung Beetles and Their Effects on Soil." Ecological Restoration 18:116-117. Ruddiman, W.F. 2003. "The Anthropogenic Greenhouse Era Began Thousands of Years Ago." Climatic Change 61:261–293. Savory, A. and J. Butterfield. 1999. Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making. Washington D.C.: Island Press. Schimel, D.S., J.I. House, K.A. Hibbard, P. Bousquet, P. Ciais, P. Peylin, B.H. Braswell et al. 2001. Recent Patterns and Mechanisms of Carbon Exchange by Terrestrial Ecosystems. New York: MacMillian Publishers. Soussana, J.F., T. Tallec, and V. Blanfort. 2010. "Mitigating the Greenhouse Gas Balance of Ruminant Production Systems Through Carbon Sequestration in Grasslands." Animal. 4(3): 334-350.

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

19

Steinfeld, H., P. Gerber, T. Wassenaar, V. Castel, M. Rosales, C. De Haan. 2006. Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options. Rome: United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. Stinner, D.H., B.R. Stinner, and E. Martsolf. "Biodiversity as an Organizing Principle in Agroecosystem Management: Case Studies of Holistic Resource Management Practitioners in the USA." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 62(2): 199-213. Suttie, J.M., Reynolds, S.G., and Batello, C. eds. 2005. Grasslands of the World. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Tainton, N.M., A.J. Aucamp and J.E. Danckwerts 1999. Principles of Managing Veld. In: Veld Management in South Africa, edited by N.M. Tainton, 169-193. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: University of Natal Press. Teague, W.R., F. Provenza, B. Norton, T. Steffens, M. Barnes, M. Kothmann, and R. Roath. 2009. "Benefits of Multi-Paddock Grazing Management on Rangelands: Limitations of Experimental Grazing Research and Knowledge Gaps." In: Grasslands: Ecology, Management and Restoration, edited by H.G. Schroder, 41-80. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers. Teague, W.R., S.L. Dowhower, S.A. Baker, N. Haile, P.B. DeLaune, and D.M. Conover. 2011. "Grazing Management Impacts on Vegetation, Soil Biota and Soil Chemical, Physical and Hydrological Properties in Tall Grass Prairie." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 141(3): 310-322. Troeh, F.R. and L.M. Thompson. 2005. Soils and Soil Fertility, 6th Edition. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishers. Walters, C.J. 1986. Adaptive Management of Renewable Resources. MacMillan, New York. Weber, K.T. and B.S. Gokhale. 2011. "Effect of Grazing on Soil-Water Content in Semiarid Rangelands of Southeast Idaho." Journal of Arid Environments 75:464-470. Weber, K. and S. Horst. 2011. "Desertification and Livestock Grazing: The Roles of Sedentarization, Mobility and Rest." Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 1(19):2-11.

Restoring the Climate Through Capture and Storage of Soil Carbon Using Holistic Planned Grazing is adapted from: Sacks, A.D., R. Teague, F. Provenza, J. Laurie, S. Itzkan, K. Thidemann. In Press. "Re-establishing the Evolutionary Grassland-Grazer Relationship for Long-Term Sequestration of Carbon in Soils: Restoring Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide to Pre-Industrial Levels." In Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase, edited by Thomas J. Goreau, Ronal W. Larson, and Joanna Campe. In Press. Boca Raton, FL:CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group.

20

RESTORING THE CLIMATE © savory institute 2013

Suggest Documents