[Iyrp-gcg] Biodiversity WG: Key Messages and Recommendations

[Dana Kelly]

Hi everyone,
Sorry for being absent for most of this conversation.
I support Barry's comments, as sedentary pastoralists are the norm in
Australia.

However the definition of mobility can include animals and people moving
together, as well as animals being moved by humans, but the animals only do
the moving. This definition encompasses countries like Australia better.
This is Maryam Naimir-Fuller's definition of mobility, one which
incorporates people managing how animals move through the landscape in a
controlled manner, not allowing stock to roam and graze freely.

In Australia, and other countries, many pastoralists live in one location,
but do move their stock regularly, often following the principles of how
native herds move naturally through the landscape e.g. African migratory
herds. Allan Savory is one who promotes this approach, but he is seen as
controversial; there are many others who have developed variations on this
theme. It is sometimes called Rotational grazing, or in Australian
"Regenerative grazing" among many other terms. These pastoralists often see
themselves as "grass managers" as they watch the growth of the grass, when
the grass seeds etc.; and some incorporate management of the soil. They do
not focus only on the health and weight gain of animals, but manage the
land holistically. This is a quick explanation from my personal experience
as a pastoralist, rather than a scientific explanation with appropriate
references.

Best regards
Dana


Best regards
Dana
Sent from my iPhone

On 23 Apr 2025, at 5:04 am, Barry Irving <birving at ualberta.ca> wrote:


Rashmi and Chris;

Note this is a second attempt at this message.

Thank you for the diversity document.  It is evident there has been a great
deal of effort that went into this circular.  As I read it I can't help but
think there are a couple of areas that could be highlighted.  This may
indeed be due to my quick read.  If 20% of the earth's surface is
represented by commons, and 50%  is rangeland, then perhaps 30% of the
earth's surface and 60% of its rangeland are managed in some other fashion
than by the commons.  2 potential areas that spring to mind are public land
rangelands that are managed by single or near single pastoralists and
private land rangeland.  The private land rangeland could be a specific
bullet point because those areas are diversity hotspots, sometimes
occurring within a sea of converted land, and at the same time, as private
land, have even less protections provided (can be sold and converted to a
variety of other land uses).  Is there room to bring out the critical
biodiversity that is provided by public lands that are not managed as
commons and rangelands that are private land?

Support of biodiverse rangelands is also provided by sedentary pastoralists
who may use internal rotation on a reduced scale to mimic pre-history
migrations.  Sedentary pastoralists may also use moderate use practices and
integration with other forms of agriculture to allow sustainable use
practices (what is known as a mixed farmer, at least in North America).
Sedentary pastoralists may operate on public land held under disposition,
private land, or commonly a combination of both.  Often, an important
method of keeping biodiversity on areas managed by sedentary pastoralists
is to keep them on the land.  Because if they are not, the land tends to go
to other uses that often results in land conversion and a reduction in
biodiversity.  Is there room to highlight the value of biodiversity
maintenance that is provided by the managers of rangelands that are
sedentary?

Thanks for your consideration.

Barry Irving


> On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 12:16 PM Rashmi Singh <rashmi89singh at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear IYRP members,
>>
>> I am delighted to share the finalised Key Messages and Recommendations
>> from the IYRP Biodiversity Group.
>>
>> Our group members have been fantastic in providing detailed comments and
>> suggestions twice, and we extend a big thank you to David Briske and
>> Jonathan Davis for their continued support.
>>
>> I request you to share any critical comments or suggestions you may have
>> by the end of Wednesday, April 23.
>>
>> After incorporating your inputs, we will get the document professionally
>> designed and uploaded on the IYRP webpage as soon as possible.
>> Warm regards,
>> On behalf of BWG
>> Chris Magero and Rashmi Singh
>> --
>> Iyrp-gcg mailing list
>> Iyrp-gcg at list.cals.arizona.edu
>> https://list.cals.arizona.edu/mailman/listinfo/iyrp-gcg
>>
> --
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