Holistic Management

The Center for International Environment and Resource Policy (CIERP) hosted Seth Itzkan, President of Planet-TECH Associates, on October 30 for a talk entitled “Climate Mitigation 2.0 – The Promise of Restorative Grazing: Counter-Intuitive Approaches for Reversing Desertification and Global Warming While Meeting Human Needs.”

This paper investigates the grazing management assessment reports authored by Briske (2008), and Holechek (2000) in light of their claims regarding methodologies for grassland restoration advocated by Allan Savory. Rebuttals to the Briske and Holechek conclusions are provided by Teague et al. (2008), Gill (2008, 2009a, 2009b, 2009c), and Savory (2000).

Examples of land restoration using Holistic Management. Pictures from South Africa, Mexico, Zimbabwe & Namibia.

Prince Charles comments on Allan Savory and his integrated approach to ranching and farming, and the role ruminants for the health of grasslands. Segment from speech given by the Prince to the IUCN World Conservation Congress. Full video clip is here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZhep_8aCNQ.

Here's the full written response by Seth Itzkan to the Worldwatch Nourishing The Planet Interview questions. An edited version appeared on the Worldwatch blog.

Increasing evidence is showing that the extinction of megafauna causes major changes to grasslands in Australia. Megafauna once played an essential role in the health and survival of grasslands.

Seth Itzkan gives a talk on Holistic Management at TEDx Somerville, March 2012. Title of the talk is Reversing Global Warming With Livestock?

Excerpts from: A Global Strategy for Addressing Global Climate Change, by Allan Savory

You probably think of small time dairy farming as an idyllic 18th century occupation with Amish practitioners far removed from contemporary science, politics, and economics.  Well, in certain ways, in may be idyllic, but it here at Hendricks Farm in Telford, Pennsylvania, this family run business is no laggard.  They are setting a precedent for how to run a farm that is ecologically restorative, profitable, and fun to be around.  Without the use of pesticides, hormones, or grain feed, they are raising healthy cows while growing grass and replenishing the soils that were devestated by the th