Activity 2.3.2 ranches as Grassland Conservation

Six-point Critical Analysis of current Event 

 

1. Exploratory 

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

    There is 12 billion acres of Grassland making up about 40% of earth’s surface and are important for human’s food supply in both livestock and fruit production. Grasslands are the most under conserved biome and are known to be in environments called brittle tending.  

2. Diagnostic 

Probe motives or causes.

    Where the pattern of precipitation is unpredictable or seasonal, meaning for a good chunk of the year there would be no humidity at the soil surface level, which means very little biological decay of carbon, which creates a “standing haystack”. If the carbon isn’t cycled, when it starts to rain again the above ground accumulation of the carbon becomes a problem for the plants because the plants grow back from their plant bases but are inhibited from defoliating eventually leading to that plant's death. 

 

3. Cause and Effect 

Causal relationships between ideas, actions, or events. 

    Lucky, Livestock help the plants by eating away at the carbon plant decay, which then in return the livestock output biomass for the plants to nourish themselves and grow anew to start a healthy prosperous cycle. There can be setbacks, if a group of livestock stay and one area and leave their excrement everywhere in that area, not wanting to eat there they will leave, but come back after the plants have soaked up the nourishment from the excrement and then the livestock will eat the plants that are fresh and still not back to their root mass, which would eventually lead to the plant depleting it’s carbohydrates in its roots and dies. Ranchers help by herding the livestock to gaze the land in a way that won’t hurt the grasslands. 

4. Priority 

Seek to identify the most important issue.

    The myth that grazing is a negative influence on grasslands. When in reality it helps bring diversity in animal life and plants life. It just depends on the intensity of grazing, in other words the behavior of the livestock with grass. 

5. Application 

Probe for relationships and connect theory to practice.

    This relates to me as a consumer; I want to make sure my food products are taken care of. But if the grasslands aren't being conserved and taken care of, how can I be that I am eating/drinking something good for me? 

6. Critical 

Analyze how this challenges your thinking/assumptions.

    This podcast opened my eyes to an issue I had not made myself aware of. That issue being the not-so-cared-for grasslands. And the importance of the relationship between grazing animals and flatlands. I knew of the relationship between these two, but I did not realize how fragile it was (more so the importance of every piece in this puzzle), especially when trying to restore said grasslands.