4 ms·

I'm reminded of pasturing animals plowing the soil causing it to be less dry and fertilizing it at the same time. It was discussed here within this year, but I

by hawski 7y ago

I'm reminded of pasturing animals plowing the soil causing it to be less dry and fertilizing it at the same time. It was discussed here within this year, but I can't find the discussion page. One possible link: https://returntonow.net/2017/11/30/cows-can-turn-desert-back-grassland-save-planet/ https://returntonow.net/2017/11/30/cows-can-turn-desert-back...

arethuza 7y ago
I recently read a really good book about the 'rewilding' project at Knepp in Sussex in the UK - they emphasise the role of large animals in maintaining a 'healthy' landscape: https://knepp.co.uk/home https://knepp.co.uk/home Review of the book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/28/wilding-isabella-tree-review-farm-return-nature https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/28/wilding-isabel...
spiderfarmer 7y ago
The approach is called holistic management. Basically, you make sure cows stay in one place until they've grazed (or trampled, doesn't matter) the tall grasses away. Then you move the cows to another place and let nature do its job. On average, the places where tall grasses were converted to natural fertilizer, do much better vs. ungrazed places. It's all about the thickness of the humus layer and the presence of the accompanying microorganisms. He received a lot of criticism, but the evidence shows it's working. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/aug/19/grazing-livestock-climate-change-george-monbiot-allan-savory https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/aug/19... The places where it's not working are usually overgrazed or missing other elements that prevent erosion. The problem of desertification can be solved everywhere, though it's not always easy. You need to: - prevent wind erosion by adding the right grasses - prevent wind erosion by creating terraces - make sure leaves, branches and other dead materials are added to the humus layer - protect the vegetative cover by adding trees - cycle nutrients through grazing - trap water in the humus layer, pits, ditches Also, look up the work of John D. Liu, he did great work in the Löss plateau in China and Jadav "Molai" Payeng, who created a 300 hectare forest mostly by himself.
- youngtaff 7y ago
  Silvopasture is similar too - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-radical-farming-system-trees-climate-crisis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-rad...
- JetSpiegel 7y ago
  Here is something similar to this in Portugal even, albeit on the sourhtern parts. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-radical-farming-system-trees-climate-crisis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-rad...
mceoin 7y ago
You might be thinking about Allan Savory's work on dense rotational grazing for land regeneration purposes in savannas and rangelands. Quick TED talk to get you started: https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_change https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_worl...

by hawski 7y ago

arethuza 7y ago

I recently read a really good book about the 'rewilding' project at Knepp in Sussex in the UK - they emphasise the role of large animals in maintaining a 'healthy' landscape: https://knepp.co.uk/home https://knepp.co.uk/home Review of the book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/28/wilding-isabella-tree-review-farm-return-nature https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/28/wilding-isabel...

spiderfarmer 7y ago

The approach is called holistic management. Basically, you make sure cows stay in one place until they've grazed (or trampled, doesn't matter) the tall grasses away. Then you move the cows to another place and let nature do its job. On average, the places where tall grasses were converted to natural fertilizer, do much better vs. ungrazed places. It's all about the thickness of the humus layer and the presence of the accompanying microorganisms. He received a lot of criticism, but the evidence shows it's working. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/aug/19/grazing-livestock-climate-change-george-monbiot-allan-savory https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/aug/19... The places where it's not working are usually overgrazed or missing other elements that prevent erosion. The problem of desertification can be solved everywhere, though it's not always easy. You need to: - prevent wind erosion by adding the right grasses - prevent wind erosion by creating terraces - make sure leaves, branches and other dead materials are added to the humus layer - protect the vegetative cover by adding trees - cycle nutrients through grazing - trap water in the humus layer, pits, ditches Also, look up the work of John D. Liu, he did great work in the Löss plateau in China and Jadav "Molai" Payeng, who created a 300 hectare forest mostly by himself.

youngtaff 7y ago
Silvopasture is similar too - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-radical-farming-system-trees-climate-crisis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-rad...
JetSpiegel 7y ago
Here is something similar to this in Portugal even, albeit on the sourhtern parts. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-radical-farming-system-trees-climate-crisis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-rad...

mceoin 7y ago

You might be thinking about Allan Savory's work on dense rotational grazing for land regeneration purposes in savannas and rangelands. Quick TED talk to get you started: https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_change https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_worl...