Resources

Let the discussions - and the progress begin.

Merriam-Webster defines resource as:
a: a source of supply or support : an available means—usually used in plural.
b: a natural source of wealth or revenue—often used in plural.
c: a natural feature or phenomenon that enhances the quality of human life.
d: computable wealth —usually used in plural.
e: a source of information or expertise.

In a discussion of land management, the first four apply.

For the purposes of this page, all five apply.

Here you will find a listing of our various natural resources: fisheries, forests, livestock, predators, rangelands, water management, waterfowl and wildlife (game and non-game).
These broad categories provide the organizational framework for additional information—a resource—about ongoing issues involving each. Taken from popular media, scientific journals and a myriad of other sources the information herein illustrates how singularly focused quick fixes are being applied to complicated natural systems across the country.

Arguably intentions are good. Generally the results are not.

We offer these articles, as well as some success stories, to prompt discussion and thought that moves our natural resource management efforts away from the status quo. In recent years, traditional land management efforts have sat on opposite ends of the spectrum, ranging from unsustainable chemical inputs, intensive industrialization and an unwavering devotion to eradication to benign neglect in the name of preservation.

Ironically, in the 21st century we need to return to the basics of past centuries. We should focus our attention on the big picture, which in nature is nuanced, and begin to work with her forces instead of against them. In Holistic Management, our decision-making framework of choice, the goal is balance through biodiversity.

Let the discussions—and the progress begin.

The objective of biodiversity conservation is to maintain viable native animal and plant populations of all kind.

The complex issue of biodiversity encompasses virtually all plants and animals at genetic, species, community, and landscape scales. We provide resources and our working insights on the topic across the following areas.

Fisheries

Fisheries, both freshwater and saltwater, serve as the proverbial canaries in the coal mine when it comes to water quality.

Rangelands

Rangelands act as nature’s factories, while also providing wildlife habitat and the viewsheds that lift the human spirit.

Forests

Native forests are as diverse as native rangelands or any other healthy ecosystem. Like rangelands, forests produce oxygen, sequester carbon, provide wildlife habitat and play a role in the water cycle.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl reflect the conditions of the land and the water across the North American continent. As they migrate from north to south and back again, they, depending on species, rely on a wide range of environments.

Livestock

Instead of being a threat, well-managed livestock can reinvigorate landscapes that have devolved into barren unproductivity, helping restore other essential ecological processes along the way.

Water Management

The quality and quantity of water available in America is directly correlated to the condition of the land.

Predators

When we look at nature’s big picture, we have to recognize the role predators play in the health of the natural world. True biodiversity must also include fangs and claws.

Wildlife

Wildlife are part of nature’s whole. To improve their future, we have to improve their habitat from the soil up.

Latest articles

Read more about the resources listed above:

Wyman Meinzer’s West Texas

A beautiful portrayal of a unique part of our country.      A WALTZ ACROSS WEST TEXASWyman Meinzer, the Texas State Photographer, used to live in the old jail in Benjamin, TX. The photo […]

Buffalo Facts

Surprising Facts About Buffalo | The American Buffalo | A Film by Ken Burns | PBS   

Battle for the American West How Four Elk Hunters and a Ladder Could Reshape Wyoming’s Chequered Frontiers

“For many years, access to public land has been increasingly denied by the managing agencies, under the misguided theory that human impact in any form is bad for wildlife and wildlife habitat. Logging, ranching, hunting, […]

Can Beavers Restore Far-West Texas?

Two so-called invasive species, cattle and beavers, have the power to restore desert habitats.     NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on April 12, 2017 AND on August 26, 2021.

Research Being Carried Out at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

“CKWRI is probably the leading wildlife research facility in the US.  

Alaska: Wolves vs Bull Caribou

Produced by Drew Williams who says, “A pack of wolves attacks a bull caribou near the Delta River in Alaska’s Interior.”    Alaska: Wolves vs Bull Caribou from Drew Williams on Vimeo   NOTE: […]

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Follow along as we manage the resources within our fence lines, but think beyond the box.