How to green the world's deserts and reverse climate change | Allan Savory

Summary

In this compelling talk, Allan Savory challenges conventional wisdom on desertification, arguing that livestock, when managed correctly, can reverse climate change and restore degraded land. He advocates for holistic management and planned grazing, which mimic nature's processes, to prevent soil degradation and store carbon. Savory's approach, already implemented on 15 million hectares across five continents, offers a hopeful solution to global environmental and social challenges.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ The world is facing a 'perfect storm' of challenges including rising population, desertification, and climate change.
• 🌱 Desertification is not just a problem for arid regions; it's a global issue affecting about two-thirds of the Earth's land.
• 🐃 Traditional views blame livestock for desertification, but Allan Savory challenges this, suggesting that managed livestock can actually help combat desertification.
• 🌿 Savory advocates for holistic management and planned grazing, using livestock to mimic the natural behavior of herds and predators to maintain soil health.
• 💧 The importance of soil organic matter in water and carbon cycles is highlighted, emphasizing how soil health affects climate change.
• 🔥 The script criticizes the use of fire for land management, pointing out its contribution to carbon emissions and pollution.
• 🌎 The speaker shares examples of successful land restoration in various parts of the world, demonstrating the potential of his approach.
• 🌾 Savory's method involves increasing the number of grazing animals and planning their movement to simulate natural grazing patterns, which can lead to increased productivity and soil health.
• 🌍 The approach is applicable globally, with the potential to reverse desertification and contribute to climate change mitigation on a large scale.
• 🌈 There is hope for restoring degraded lands and reversing the trend of desertification, offering a more optimistic outlook for the future of our planet.

Q & A

What is the 'perfect storm' referred to in the script?

The 'perfect storm' is a metaphor for the convergence of multiple environmental and societal challenges, including a rising global population, desertification, and climate change.

Why is technology believed to be the solution to our problems according to the speaker?

The speaker suggests that there is a common belief that technology can solve our problems, particularly in replacing fossil fuels, which is a significant contributor to climate change.

What is desertification and how does it relate to climate change?

Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. It is related to climate change because it contributes to the release of carbon dioxide and is exacerbated by it.

How does the speaker propose to combat desertification using livestock?

The speaker suggests using livestock managed in a way that mimics the behavior of natural herds and predators, moving and grazing in a planned manner to prevent overgrazing and maintain soil cover, thus combating desertification.

What is the significance of soil organic matter in relation to water and carbon cycles?

Soil organic matter plays a crucial role in water and carbon cycles. When soils are damaged, they release carbon back into the atmosphere. Healthy soil organic matter helps retain water and can mitigate desertification.

Why does the speaker argue that traditional views on the causes of desertification are incorrect?

The speaker argues that traditional views are incorrect because they often blame livestock for desertification without considering the role of large herbivores and their predators in maintaining healthy ecosystems, which is essential for preventing desertification.

What is holistic management and planned grazing, as mentioned in the script?

Holistic management and planned grazing are techniques developed by the speaker to manage land and livestock in a way that mimics natural processes. This approach considers the complexity of ecological, social, and economic factors to maintain healthy landscapes.

How does the speaker's approach to managing livestock differ from traditional pastoralism?

The speaker's approach differs by using a systematic, planned method of grazing that takes into account the natural behaviors of herds and predators, rather than the traditional, often unsustainable, methods of moving animals without a comprehensive plan.

What are the potential global impacts of desertification and poor land management mentioned in the script?

The potential global impacts include climate change, hunger, poverty, violence, social breakdown, and war. These issues are interconnected and can exacerbate each other, leading to a cascade of negative effects on societies and the environment.

How does the speaker suggest that using livestock can help reverse desertification and climate change?

The speaker suggests that by using livestock in a way that mimics the natural movement and behavior of wild herds, we can maintain soil cover, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the land's ability to absorb and retain water, thus reversing desertification and mitigating climate change.