habitat restoration - Pitchstone Waters (Page 25)

Sign in Subscribe

habitat restoration

A collection of 708 posts

circle_ranch_keyline

The History of Keyline

PA Yeomans was a true hero of environmentalism.

circle_ranch_west_texas_reunion_feature

AIAR Far-West Texas Reunion

My brothers and I hosted our high school graduating classes for a far-West Texas reunion. We spent two nights at Circle, two more at Cibolo Creek, one night in the Chisos Mountains and our last night in Fort Davis. Our classmates came from around the world. They could not believe

federal_lands_west_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Can the States Seize Control of Federal Lands?

When Texas joined the union, we kept our public lands and almost all of those were sold over the next hundred years. That’s why 97% of Texas is private. This is a major reason for the economic viability of our state. Nevada in contrast is owned 80% by the

Jean-Claude_Juncker_13598006975

"Invasion Biology"

Wall Street Journal Versus Germany, Science and Common Sense

Germans, who invented environmentalism in the early 1800’s are simply recognizing the current evidence: Roundup causes cancer. Wall Street Journal spins this for their cronies, changing the subject from Roundup to GMO seeds, as if there were a difference. It also says the regulatory rubber-stamping of destructive agribusiness practices

sa_express_news_deer_wasting_lavaca

"Invasion Biology"

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Lavaca County Deer; Ranch Quarantined

Obvious responses to CWD are blocked by the economic interdependence of universities, agencies, conservation organizations and legislatures with the agricultural and agrochemical giants. Decisions within this coalition of special interests are often based internal politics, turf fights and cronyism. Another block is the crippling dogma of invasive species “biology”, which

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Captive Deer Industry Jeopardizing Future of our Natural Resources

Animal Development

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Captive Deer Industry Jeopardizing Future of our Natural Resources

Government experimentation with captive deer created Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Confinement operations — whether public or private — spread CWD. This fact has nothing to do with liking or disliking deer breeders, political persuasion, property rights, public rights, personal preference, hunting ethics or the motivation of any person or group who might

circle_ranch_west_texas_ram_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Animal and Plant Biodiversity Restoring Desert Habitats at Circle Ranch

A basic doctrine of wildlife “management” is that nature is under attack by thousands of “invasive” plant and animal species which “compete” with “natives” to “harm ecosystem health.” Analysis of the knowledge supporting this ideology exposes invasive species biology as pseudo-science: biological bigotry, dignified with empirically-hollow buzzwords. Efforts to eradicate

WolfRunningInSnow

Animal Development

How a Wolf Named Romeo Won Hearts in an Alaska Suburb

It seems that the question about which animals merit our highest standard of care and consideration—or at least a no-kill approach—often turns on intelligence. The “dumb beast” is clearly least like us. I find what sparks my sense of simpatico, though, is not necessarily sharp intelligence, but basic

A Lesson for Wildlife "Management”: The Rise of the Medical Bureaucrat and Centralized Health Care

A Lesson for Wildlife "Management”: The Rise of the Medical Bureaucrat and Centralized Health Care

The rise of the medical bureaucracy has harmed health care by reducing the role of doctors in health care decisions. The wildlife parallel is that the ever-expanding role of the agribusiness monopolies, agencies, universities and NGOs, has usurped the historic role of ranchers and farmers, and displaced their traditional methods

Should Washington End Agriculture Subsidies?

Should Washington End Agriculture Subsidies?

Agricultural subsidies fundamentally disrupt the economics of farming and ranching, making both unprofitable, leading to monopolies and harming the environment. Eliminating them would be the cheapest and quickest environmental & wildlife measure possible. NOTE: post originally appeared on WSJ.com July 12, 2015 The U.S. government has been protecting

They Brought Wolves to Yellowstone But Had No Idea This Would Be The Result

"Invasion Biology"

They Brought Wolves to Yellowstone But Had No Idea This Would Be The Result

Predators including wolves are important to habitat because they influence animal behavior in ways that benefit plants. Predator eradications always harm habitat and the animals the eradications are intended to help. Cattlemen and conservations alike should take note. NOTE: post originally appeared on TheShrug.net on May 19, 2015 After

CWD Detected In Captive Deer Breeding Facility Near Medina

Animal Development

CWD Detected In Captive Deer Breeding Facility Near Medina

This was bound to happen as wildlife “management” increasingly copies the confinement methods of industrial agriculture. AUSTIN —(TAHC)— A two year-old white-tailed deer in a Medina County deer breeding facility has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease. This is the first case of CWD detected in captive white-tailed deer

Spraying-Pesticides

"Invasion Biology"

Bees' Decline Linked to Poisons

When “managing” wildlife and habitat, it is useful to think of plants, animals and soil life as a single organism. Whatever hurts any part of this organism, harms the organism as a whole. NOTE: this article originally appeared on WSJ.com May 26th EU to Revisit Question of Insecticides’ Responsibility

A Sharp Spike in Honeybee Deaths Deepens a Worrisome Trend

"Invasion Biology"

A Sharp Spike in Honeybee Deaths Deepens a Worrisome Trend

Yet another example of the damage being done to biodiversity, in this case insects, by the chemicals used in our industrial agriculture. This is germane to wildlife and habitat. NOTE: this article originally appeared on NYTimes.com on May 13th, 2015 A prolonged and mysterious die-off of the nation’s

"Invasion Biology"

Cows Can Save the World

I write to offer a constructive way forward in the tragic cultural genocide unfolding in America’s wonderful western ranching culture that is embedded in the nation’s culture. I do so knowing the risk of trying to help a lion by operating on a back molar in its jaw.

aerial_spraying_columbia

Columbia Halts Spraying to Prevent Cancer

The World Health Organization: “Roundup Causes Cancer”. EPA: “Roundup is Safe as Aspirin”. The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, like the conglomerates that own them, remain in lockstep with the major US agencies, universities and agrochemical giants in saying that Roundup and the witches’ brew of toxic

how Holistic Management is beginning to spread in Chihuahua.

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Grasslands Restoration: Manejo Holistico in Chihuahua - Las Damas Ranch

At Circle Ranch, holistic planned grazing of herds including the one above has been very beneficial to wildlife and habitat. Planned grazing is increasingly used in northern Chihuahua, as described below. NOTE: this post has been re-published with permission of the author and HMI – after originally appearing in HMI’s

west_texas_thunderstorm_circle_ranch

Erosion Control

Notable & Quotable: John Steinbeck on Dry Years and Wet Years

‘But there were dry years too, and they put a terror on the valley.’ John Steinbeck was of a generation that lived close to the land. Grapes of Wrath, and The Red Pony reveal his farmer’s insight. Writing about California’s Salinas Valley, where he grew up, in the

circle-ranch-texas-cattle-herding

Livestock Management for Coexistence with Large Carnivores, Healthy Land and Productive Ranches

Experience is proving that when cattle are run in large herds they are less susceptible to predation, especially from smaller predators like coyotes and Mexican Wolves. LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT FOR COEXISTENCE WITH LARGE CARNIVORES, HEALTHY LAND AND PRODUCTIVE RANCHES A white paper by Matt Barnes, Field Director for Rangeland Stewardship Keystone

circle_ranch_defending_beef_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Defending Beef—The Case for Sustainable Meat Production

This is the best and easiest-to-understand book about why sustainable ranching is necessary for a healthy environment. It is a must-read for every landowner, rancher, wildlife manager, conservationist, wild horse advocate, hunter, wildlifer, and consumer. Defending Beef—The Case for Sustainable Meat Production. The Manifesto of an Environmental Lawyer and

CKI Studies Scaled Quail Decline

"Invasion Biology"

CKI Studies Scaled Quail Decline

This study of blue (scaled) quail decline, conducted by the Caesar Kleberg Institute, finds that brush removal, monocultures of non-native grasses and cattle removal cause blue quail numbers to fall. The prescriptions would seem obvious: graze cattle in ways that help plants, preserve brush, and get lots of weeds growing

Spraying-Pesticides

"Invasion Biology"

Glyphosate Is Anything But Safe

Under our industrial agricultural methods, virtually all of our major crops are being grown with GMO seeds designed to withstand glyphosate, more commonly known by its trade name Roundup®. Seeds are planted. After they sprout, the fields are poisoned, up to three different times, to kill all weeds. This poison

crillo-cattle-high-country-news-feature

Animal Development

Steak Wars: The Desert-Friendly Cow

This New Mexico rancher is fighting the perception that only British breeds produce great beef. By Cally Carswell, High Country News Alfredo Gonzalez manages a modest herd of 200 beef cows on the Jornada Experimental Range, near Las Cruces, New Mexico, where grass is scarce, and water scarcer. Occasionally, he

Desert Restoration: Insights From the Human Body

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Restoration: Insights From the Human Body

Holistic thinkers rightly point out the health of wildlife and its habitat depends on the health of soil particularly its life-giving microorganisms. Here is a wonderful TED Talk discussing how microorganisms determine human health and behavior. Did you know there are 10X as many micro-organic cells in your body as

Innovative Fence Idea for Planned Grazing

Innovative Fence Idea for Planned Grazing

Here is a great way to create multiple entrances into a pen, without gates. Very helpful when water is shared by multiple pastures as is so often the case in a planned grazing program. “Cowboy Bob” Kinford explains: Anyone who has ever ran more than two bulls is familiar with