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Holistic Management
An AlternativeDecision-Making Process
A process that simultaneouslyconsidersthe ecological, economical and
social impacts of decisions prior
to their implementation.
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Stated Another Way.Holistic Management is aprocess of goal setting,decision-making andmonitoring which integratessocial, ecological and economicfactors.
(Stinner et al., 1997)
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Story Time...Highlighting the Evolutionof Holistic Management
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Some Key Insights Leading to the
Evolution of Holistic Management
A holistic perspective is essential in
management. Environments can be classified by a new
scale based on the distribution of
humidity throughout the year and howfast dead vegetation decays.
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The only form of wealth that cansustain nations is wealth derived frombiodiversity.
Four fundamental ecosystemprocesses sustain biodiversity; the
water cycle, mineral cycle, community
dynamics and energy flow. Some 20 past civilizations failed as a
direct result of decision-making that
destroyed their biodiversity.
More Key Insights
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More Key Insights
People have a tendency to let theirexpenses rise to the level of theirincome. Similarly, farms andbusinesses have a tendency to allowproduction costs to rise to theiranticipated level of income.
Overgrazing is a result of the timeplants are exposed to animals, not thenumber of animals.
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Grazing efficiency is maximized whenanimals are moved to the right place,
at the right time, for the right reasons.
Causes traditionally attributed todesertification are not supported by
research results nor do they exist insome areas that are turning to desert.
More Key Insights
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Whole Under Management
DecisionMakers
ResourceBase
Money
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Decision Makers- Seth and Sharon
My Whole Under Management - An Example
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Resource Base
Parents, Siblings, Relatives Friends, Neighbors, Community
Clientele, Co-Workers, ProfessionalAcquaintances
5.5 Acres of Woodlands, Blueberries,
Vegetables, Flowers House, Barn, Sauna, Shed
Car, Tractor, Bicycle
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Money
Savings Account
Checking Account
Parents and In-Laws Credit Line
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Forms of production to provide such lives.Future resource base (human & land)
essential to sustain desired lives.
Quality of life sought based uponthings valued most deeply.
Holistic Goal
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Your Holistic Goal
Ties your deepest values to your lifesupport system.
Like magnetic north guides directionwithout being seen or reached.
Ensures objectives, goals and actions
move you to what you want. Decision-making attractor rather
than any goal in a linear sense.
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Example:
Quality of life: We desire a happyprosperous rural farm life, family andcommunity harmony, freedom of religion,
security, time for family and friends, goodhealth, clean food and water.
Forms of production: profit, tolerant
environment, full and meaningfulemployment in community, leisure time,unpolluted environment..
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Future resource base:
Landscape Effective water and mineralcycling, high biodiversity and energy
flow in open parkland and withcomplex small crop fields.Abundant wildlife and perennial
grasslands (see map).
Clients/suppliers, etc. We must be
friendly, professional, good attitude, promptand reliable, honest, open-minded,responsive.
This would drive the process ofdecision-making on this farm.
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Testing Questions
Cause & Effect Weak Link
social biological financial
Marginal Reaction
Gross Profit Analysis Energy/Money - Source and Use Sustainability
Society and Culture
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Ecosystem Processes
WaterCycle
MineralCycle
EnergyPlan
CommunityDynamics
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Tools for Managing Ecosystem Processes
HumanCreativity
LivingOrganisms
Money&
Labor
)AnimalImpact
GrazingFireRest )Technology
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Impacts of Holistic Management?
The following examples were taken from:
The Allan Savory Center for Holistic
Managements web site(http://www.holisticmanagement.org/)
Farmers I am working with
My personal / family experiences
A study from Ohio State University(Stinner et al., 1997)
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Impact of HolisticManagement on Farms
and Families- Personal Anecdotes -
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Bill Burrows15 years ago we were a dysfunctionalfamily of 28 decision-makers on our
ranch, disagreeing on almost every issue,with seven years of red ink decreasingland viability and productivity. We were
losing our dream of being able to holdour ranch in open space for futuregenerations.
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Today our family, ranch andenvironment are no longer dysfunctional.
Our finances have been running in theblack for 13 1/2 years. We havedramatically increased our landproductivity. Our 28 family members
work together as a team.
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Sandy MathesonWe were in debt and getting deeper.There didnt seem to be a way out. Our
farm which traditionally lost a great dealof money, is now profitable. Pastureproductivity has also increased. The plantsare healthier and so are the cattle. Were
spending less money on supplemental feed.Were proud of what we haveaccomplished.
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Philip and Lindsay Theron
Prior to managing holistically, wewere in crisis management. Our inputcosts just kept rising and rising. Butnow we see a reversal of this process.We are very positive about our
future.
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Robert PazstorWith Holistic Management, you find outwhat your kids think and feel and feeland where they want to go and how youcan incorporate that into the familystructure. It really helps to get peopleto a different level of conversation nomatter what relationship they have.
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My PersonalAnecdotes
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SeveralFarmers I work with
have told me about the great benefit
they gained by openly exchanging valuesand beliefs and forming a shared visionabout the future direction of their farm.Some family members expressed feelings
and opinions that others had never heardbefore.
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My personal experiences
Shortly after taking my first class, I returnedhome with an attitude a kin to the proof is inthe pudding. For my wife and me, the puddingcame in short order and was rich. PracticingHolistic Management has strengthened ourmarriage and allowed us to define the life we
want to live together and move towards it in ameaningful way. This not only impacts ourfamily life, but impacts our careers,community work and extended family and
friends.
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The Proofs in thePuddingA Study of
Holistic ManagementPractitioners Stinner et al.,1997
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25 farmers living throughout the U.S. andpracticing Holistic Management wereinterviewed.
The scale of operations ranged from 18 to
over 222,000 acres.
Time practicing Holistic Management rangedfrom 1.5 to 17 years.
24 of the 25 farms were using plannedintensive grazing on some of their land.
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Results of the interviews:
24 of the 25farmers observed increasedbiodiversity since they began using HM.
80%reported increased profits from their landsince practicing HM.
16%reported little-no profit increases, butwere optimistic about the future.
91%reported improvements in their quality oflife because of changes in their time budgets.
52%reported decreases of up to 40-60% inlabor requirements in their operations.
Almost allinterviewees reported observingimprovements in the ecosystem processes on
their farms.
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Self-Test
How do you make decisions?
What do you consider when making a
major decision? When making minordecisions?
Do you consider the impact of an action
on your family, your workers, theenvironment and your check bookbefore moving forward with a decision?
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Do you even have the informationto consider all these factorsbefore making a decision?
If not, what is the cost you pay interms of the quality of your life,
the productivity of your farm, and
the condition of your financialsituation?
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Helping You Put Knowledge and Research to Work.
Wh W t th W ld
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Why Wasnt the World
Overgrazed Before Humans?
Millions of herbivores & pack-hunting predators.
Two strategies handled predator packs.
All young dropped over short time.
Large herds bunched.
Bunched animals dung & urinate in concentration.
No animals like to feed on own feces.
Animals only return when feces weathered.
So no overgrazing.
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