REAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS

REALREAL ENVIRONMENTALISTSENVIRONMENTALISTS

This presentation This presentation is about healing damaged land.is about healing damaged land.

Very damaged land.Very damaged land.

Some damaged by mining.Some damaged by mining.

Some damaged by fire.Some damaged by fire.

Some damaged by protection.Some damaged by protection.

Yes, land can be damaged by protection.Yes, land can be damaged by protection.

Some damaged by protection.Some damaged by protection.

This land in central Arizona has been This land in central Arizona has been protected from all use by humans since 1946.protected from all use by humans since 1946.

Let’s start with this gravel mine in Let’s start with this gravel mine in northern Arizona near Flagstaff.northern Arizona near Flagstaff.

Thirteen million tons of gravel were removed Thirteen million tons of gravel were removed from this hole to build a nearby highway.from this hole to build a nearby highway.

This is an aerial view of the mine located at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks.

The tools used to heal it were simple, but one The tools used to heal it were simple, but one of them will surprise you.of them will surprise you.

First, we spread native plant First, we spread native plant seeds.seeds.

Here are the tools of restoration.Here are the tools of restoration.

Next, we spread hay for mulch.Next, we spread hay for mulch.

Then we used the same “tools” Then we used the same “tools” Nature uses to till in the seeds Nature uses to till in the seeds

and mulch —and mulch —

Animals...Animals...(in this case cows.)(in this case cows.)

Surprised?Surprised? You You shouldn’t shouldn’t

be...be...

Surprised?Surprised? You You shouldn’t shouldn’t

be...be...

Cows bring their Cows bring their own fertilizer, own fertilizer,

which they also which they also till into the soil.till into the soil.

And they’re good at covering And they’re good at covering large irregular areas.large irregular areas.

They’re very effective, too. They’re very effective, too. This is the result of our cow-This is the result of our cow-

created restoration.created restoration.

Find that hard to believe? Here’s Find that hard to believe? Here’s another example.another example.

This is part of a gold mine in central Nevada. This is part of a gold mine in central Nevada.

Same formula — Same formula — Seeds, hay, and cows...Seeds, hay, and cows...

Here is the formula at work.Here is the formula at work.

This is the result 8 months after This is the result 8 months after restoration.restoration.

This is the result 8 months after This is the result 8 months after restoration.restoration.

1 year 1 year after after

restorationrestoration

A pile of copper mine waste near Globe, ArizonaA pile of copper mine waste near Globe, Arizona

300 feet high, 1,100 acres huge.300 feet high, 1,100 acres huge.

Here’s an even bigger challenge.Here’s an even bigger challenge.

Seeds, hay, and cows...Seeds, hay, and cows...

Here are those tools again...Here are those tools again...

Here are the results. Here are the results.

This is the same area getting a This is the same area getting a little touch-up 10 years later. little touch-up 10 years later.

The geologist rule of thumb is that it takes 1,000 years to make an inch of soil. Here’s 12 inches of organic-rich soil that was made by the mine-tailings restoration cows in a mere two weeks.

SOIL SERVICE

The geologist rule of thumb is that it takes 1,000 years to make an inch of soil. Here’s 12 inches of organic-rich soil that was made by the mine-tailings restoration cows in a mere two weeks.

SOIL SERVICE

Carbon Carbon Sequestration?Sequestration?(Notice the brown (Notice the brown

color. That’s carbon.)color. That’s carbon.)

One more time. One more mine One more time. One more mine (another one in Nevada).(another one in Nevada).

Here are the results 7 months later.

The results 7 months later.

This photo shows the effects of a wildfire in Colorado four years after it burned.

How about fire?How about fire?

The West is experiencing a growing The West is experiencing a growing number of large wildfires.number of large wildfires.

Here are the restoration workers — a flock of sheep.

It was a big fire.

In this case, the sheep did their work without added seeds or mulch.

The results after one year.

This area has been damaged by a This area has been damaged by a treatment we normally think of as treatment we normally think of as

a form of healing.a form of healing.

The U. S. Forest Service Drake Study Area in The U. S. Forest Service Drake Study Area in Central Arizona has been Central Arizona has been protected from all human impact since 1946.protected from all human impact since 1946.

ProtectionProtection

The U. S. Forest Service The U. S. Forest Service installed this monitoring installed this monitoring transect inside the study transect inside the study area to confirm the area to confirm the effectiveness of healing effectiveness of healing the land by protecting it the land by protecting it from people and their from people and their livestock. livestock.

Photos taken same day.

The U. S. Forest Service The U. S. Forest Service installed this monitoring installed this monitoring transect inside the study transect inside the study area to confirm the area to confirm the effectiveness of healing effectiveness of healing the land by protecting it the land by protecting it from people and their from people and their livestock. livestock.

Typically, a measuring tape is stretched between the two posts and all the plants that grow along that tape are recorded. The transect hasn’t been read for some time. You can guess why. Photos taken same day.

Photos taken same day.

This is unprotected land This is unprotected land just outside the study area. just outside the study area. It is used (grazed by cattle.)It is used (grazed by cattle.)

Protected

Used (grazed)

This is the monitoring transect This is the monitoring transect on the grazed land on the on the grazed land on the ranch that surrounds the ranch that surrounds the Drake study plot. Drake study plot.

Protected

Used (grazed) Photos taken same day.

Here’s the land a little to the right Here’s the land a little to the right of the monitoring transect. (The of the monitoring transect. (The cowboy is part of the monitoring cowboy is part of the monitoring team.) I included this photo team.) I included this photo because, well, you can guess why.because, well, you can guess why.

Photos taken the same day.Photos taken the same day.

Protected since 1946.Protected since 1946.

This land is grazed by livestock This land is grazed by livestock managed to mimic natural grazers managed to mimic natural grazers —in herds moving across the land —in herds moving across the land in response to natural conditions.in response to natural conditions.

You could protect it.

You could protect it longer. Right?

Here’s more evidence that protection can harm rather than heal the land. The Dry Creek Study Plot near Sedona has been protected for 64+ years.

Here’s another example.

This is a photo of the USFS White Hills Study Area near Cottonwood, AZ, taken in 1958 after 23 years of protection.

The White Hills Study Area has been protected for 78+ years.

Photo courtesy of U. S. Forest Service Photo courtesy of U. S. Forest Service

So, how do you restore a damaged area to ecological health and function?

So, how do you restore a damaged area to ecological health and function?

You could protect it.


Or you could use those same familiar tools: seeds, hay for mulch, and animals to fertilize the mix and stomp it all together. (Cattle are available and manageable.)

What do you want?

Healed by Real Environmentalists
