Read at : Google Alert – desertification
2002-08 : Campanas (isla do Fogo, Cabo Verde) - Demonstration of the application of the Terraottem soil conditioner in a small family garden to improve food production (Photo WVC)
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http://www.savoryinstitute.com/imported-20100211170933-home/2011/3/25/changing-our-future.html
Changing Our Future
We want to thank Erica Etelson for her latest entry on her Sungevity blog. Erica highlights the successes at Dimbangombe Ranch in Zimbabwe and helps her readers gain a better understanding of Holistic Management. Be sure and read her entire post – we think it is quite wonderful.
You know the famous, inspirational Margaret Mead quote:
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
I was reminded of the truth of this quote when I learned about the work of the Savory Institute. It might sound like a culinary academy but, in fact, the Savory Institute (named after its founder Allan Savory) is on a quiet, humble mission to save the world from the ravages of climate change.
This blog doesn’t usually delve into topics like animal manure and wild elephants, but we like the way the Savory Institute is using social media to create a buzz around its “message of hope”. While the solar industry tackles the critical issue of domestic energy independence, we know that restoring fertility to damaged landscapes is an equally important mission and, in our small way, we’d like to give them a boost. So roll up your pant cuffs as we take a short walk on the wild side…
It all begins at a demonstration ranch in Zimbabwe, where the Institute has literally reversed the process of desertification that threatened to render the area inhospitable to life. Using a practice known as holistic management, the ranchers use the manure and herding behavior of domesticated and wild animals to restore depleted soils. As a result, maize yields have more than tripled, the grasslands have been restored and the once-dry Dimbangombe River now flows year-round and is abundant with fish. Best of all, no fossil fuels are used — the manure provides ample fertilizer and the natural herding and grazing activity of the animals takes the place of diesel bulldozing and tilling machines.
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