SOIL TALK WORKSHOP SERIES ECOSYSTEM TOOLS & MONITORING Soil for Water SOIL TALK WORKSHOP SERIES ECOSYSTEM TOOLS & MONITORING

Brief Review of Key Principles Nature functions in whole systems Ecosystem is dynamic The Concept of the Brittleness Scale Uplands with brittleness tendencies evolved with grazing animals Riparian health requires protection to minimize destructive disturbances

ALDO LEOPOLD The Father Of Wildlife Management “A land ethic, then, reflects the existence of an ecological conscience, and this in turn reflects A conviction of individual responsibility for the health of land”

Holism is the theory that different aspects of a whole are interconnected – they cannot exist independently of the whole – or cannot be analyzed or understood without reference to the whole. A Tale of Two Seashores Sometimes, tinkering with individual parts of a whole system can have dramatic and often disastrous results. An American biologist, Robert Paine, was studying seashores. He wondered what would happen if he removed one species of aquatic life—a starfish—from that environment. This species of starfish was a predator in that community, preying on some 15 or so smaller fish and organisms. After one year, only half (8) of the original prey species remained. With no predator to control the populations, some of the remaining species grew quickly in number, using up available space and food. Other species were crowded out and either forced to move or died out. During that same year, in another part of the seashore where the starfishes were still present, all 15 species continued to thrive. The relationship between the predator (starfish) and prey species was maintained. Refer to the bottom of page – assign each table an example to create. Discuss

TOOLS FOR MANAGING THE ECOSYSTEM Axe Cow Plow Fire Gun Leopold’s Tools: HMI’s tools: Technology Rest Fire Animals and Living Organisms [ TOOLS USED BY NATURE ]

The Tool of Fire Tendencies in Brittle Environments: Expose soil surface and produce bare ground which reduces effectiveness of the water cycle; releases carbon into atmosphere. Careful management required following a fire.

Animals & Living Organisms When managed properly; regenerative grazing provides: Improved forage diversity with increased root mass; Speeds up nutrient cycling; Increased soil organic matter; Increased water holding capacity Increased solar energy flow

Impact from Animals Properly managed, animal impact provides: Breaking down of plant material as litter to cover the soil; Digesting plant material & returning nutrients to soil; Break up any capping on the soil surface; Invigorate plant growth; Contributes to shifting of the biological community toward improved function.

Living Organisms Tendencies: Provide relative stability Reduce pest problems More diversity above ground reflects more diversity below ground = more water holding capacity

REST [The most misunderstood tool] Must understand the Brittleness Scale Concept Tendencies in brittle type environments: Decreases biodiversity Could increase bare ground Could decreases soil organic matter = less water holding capacity

Technology Fencing Water systems Gun & Axe Plow / re-seeding Potential Tendencies: Cost money May Disrupt ecosystem processes May decrease biodiversity May degrade ecological function = less water holding capacity Fencing Water systems Gun & Axe Plow / re-seeding Trucks & trailers GPS Google Earth Permaculture Earth works

Technology Key Principles: Keep soil covered Maintain as much diversity as possible Maintain Living plants as long as possible Stop erosion Monitor soil organic matter

Principles of Monitoring

Principles of Monitoring Create a future landscape description Select your monitoring method Select sites on your land and mark them Follow monitoring instructions Collect and save all your monitoring forms Change and adapt your management based on monitoring data.

Monitor Soil Organic Matter Select a Soil Testing Lab Follow their instructions on collecting a soil sample Send in; save your results Conduct each year; monitor your trend