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

2. 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

3. 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”

4. 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

5. 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 ]

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Principles of Monitoring

14. 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.

15. 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