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Allan Savory urges world leaders to recognise role of livestock in combatting climate change

Beef Central, 17/09/2020

 

CLIMATE change is a crisis more serious than any wars ever fought, and one that will require millions of more animals on the land to reverse, according to prominent ecologist and regenerative agriculture specialist Dr Allan Savory.

In a 2013 Ted talk which has now been viewed more than 7 million times Dr Savory explained how he learned in the mid 1960s in Africa to use livestock to reverse desertification.

Dr Allan Savory delivering the 2020 Tony Coote Memorial Lecture

Dr Savory has amassed 60 years of practical ground-based observations and evidence-based insights as an ecologist, independent scholar, farmer, soldier, national park manager, political leader, international consultant and educator.

He is perhaps most widely recognised today as the creator holistic management systems for managing natural resources  now progressed through the Savory Institute.

In a live streamed lecture hosted by the Mulloon Institute last night, Dr Savory said Australians and all nations face grave dangers from desertification, mega fires and climate change.

“Like frogs in slowly boiled water the fate of our grand children is in the hands of the current governing generation more than at any time history, he said.

However, the scientific advisors that political and world leaders currently depend on and the many climate conferences and meetings vital to the future of humanity have so far delivered only “conflict, chaos and confusion” he said.

It was an unarguable truth that “if we do not address the cause of a problem we cannot solve it”.

In short, he said, it is clear that climate change “is a management problem”, he said.

Dr Savory, who today spends his time between Zimbabwe and his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, noted in his presentation that where he lives there are large national parks that are shocking examples of environmental destruction, biodiversity loss and desertification contributing to climate change, managed by governments and the world’s large environmental organisations.

“No one can blame coal, oil, livestock, greed, corruption or anything, but management by the best of our scientists,” he said.

“If ever there was a greater case of dead canaries warning us that we are destroying our human habitat I cannot imagine it.”

It is going to require millions more animals on the land to reverse desertification, than we can even imagine today, after centuries of belief that too many animals cause desertification.

“Thankfully today, due to training thousands of people and the Ted talk going to over 7 million people, millions of people were today are of things like capped soil and oxidation and are saying that we need to use livestock to mimic nature.”

Dr Savory said that without the use of livestock as a tool it would simply not be possible to reverse desertification and the major role it plays in climate change.

In his presentation Dr Savory explains why climate change is a management problem, and his thoughts on the policy and action that leaders like Prime Minister Scott Morrison should be implementing.

 

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Comments

  1. RAJENDRA PRASAD, 21/01/2022

    To know the latest updates from you. Thank you.

  2. ahmad ghalandari, 19/01/2022

    Thank you Allen we just want to start your experiences on our region and we need your help

  3. visser, 01/11/2020

    In eurpope we see already the davastating outcomes of our ag politics even in the netherlands where i am farming we see longer periods of drought amd lowering groundwaterlevels overhere the ag sector is blamed for everything but i think the main cause is the ongoeing urbanisation and mismanagement of the few remaining forrests and peat areas we have.. Also a big issiuw we have is the immigration of thousands out of north africa who need housing the dutch governement seems to be willing to sacrifice the whole ag buissnis in the netherlands for concrete and tarmac… Creating their own desert by the way. Ooo so stupid

  4. Berthou Pierrick, 30/10/2020

    Bonjour.
    C’est la végétation qui fait le climat et pas l’inverse !!!
    Donc il nous faut végétaliser massivement les villes et remettre de la production de végétaux “verts” dans nos campagnes. Sur l’ensemble du globe nous avons beaucoup trop développé les céréales. Pour utiliser les végétaux verts il nous faut du bétail.
    Ce sont les végétaux “verts” sui produisent de la pluie en grande quantité.
    Les végétaux “verts” sont notre climatiseur et notre arrosoir !!!

  5. Berthou Pierrick, 29/10/2020

    Bonjour.
    C’est la végétation qui fait le climat et pas l’inverse !!!
    Donc il nous faut végétaliser massivement les villes et remettre de la production de végétaux “verts” dans nos campagnes. Sur l’ensemble du globe nous avons beaucoup trop développé les céréales. Pour utiliser les végétaux verts il nous faut du bétail.
    Ce sont les végétaux “verts” sui produisent de la pluie en grande quantité.
    Les végétaux “verts” sont notre climatiseur et notre arrosoir !!!

    English Translation:
    Hello.
    It is the vegetation that makes the climate and not the other way around !!!
    So we have to massively revegetate the cities and restore the production of “green” plants to our countryside. Across the globe, we have over-developed cereals. To use green plants we need cattle.
    These are the “green” plants that produce rain in large quantities.
    “Green” plants are our air conditioner and our watering can !!!

  6. Brad Bellinger, 17/09/2020

    After 2 years of study I am now implementing Savory’s principles on my farm. Allan has learnt the hard way through experience like the Churchill motto he has never ever given up.

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