Activity 2.3.1- Ranchers, Anglers, Beavers

1. Exploratory 

Probe basic facts and knowledge found in the video and article.

The Bureau of Land Management, otherwise known as BLM, uses Proper-Functioning Condition which is an assess the condition of steams and streamside vegetation. The reasoning behind this is to convert streams affected by drought, wildfires, and historical grazing practices. They do this by combining the forces of livestock and beavers.  

2. Diagnostic 

Probe motives or causes.

Due to drought the vegetation has no access to the water they need to supply themselves with food (photosynthesis), Livestock would then have nothing to eat which in turn would be bad for the rancher's business.  

3. Cause and Effect 

Causal relationships between ideas, actions, or events.

They move or herd cattle from area to area to give the vegetation time to grow and recover before moving the cattle back to that area.  This rotation is called Conservation-oriented grazing.  “Conservation-oriented grazing is all about timing and intensity,” said Todd Allai (Fesenmyer) The beavers help restore the wetlands due to their dams holding water from the streams from running off stream allowing the vegetation around the stream to soak up the water. In simpler words, the cattle eat the grass; the grass regrows and while it regrows it drinks up the water the beaver’s dam holds; thus, allowing them to regrow nourish. 

4. Priority 

Seek to identify the most important issue.

The degradation of streams and the greenery around it. 

5. Application 

Probe for relationships and connect theory to practice.

It’s important that I inverse myself in knowing what is going on in my country. Just because I do not live in the West of the U.S. does not mean the that area should be overlooked. It relates to me because it feeds me more meat from the live sock and fish as a consumer and it benefits the environment. 

 

6. Critical 

Analyze how this challenges your thinking/assumptions.

 

I had learned about livestock grazing and the criticisms and benefits of it when I listened about the grassland's restoration journey. This is another example of how grazing can help restore and bring life back to an environment, of course in this case the cattle had a little help from the beavers, but none the less the restoration and rebalance can only come from mother nature when humans work with her and not against her. 

References:

Fesenmyer, K. (2016). Restoring streamside vegetation using grazing and beavers. Trout Unlimited. https://www.tu.org/magazine/science/restoring-streamside-vegetation-using-grazing-and-beavers/Links to an external site. 

Fesenmyer, K. A, Dauwalter, D. C., Evans, C., & Allai, T. (2018). Livestock management, beaver, and climate influences on riparian vegetation in a semi-arid landscape. PLoS ONE 13(12). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208928Links to an external site.