Mountains in northern New Mexico.  Photo by Collier, John, ca. 1943.

I was introduced to Holistic Management International through the book Grass: The Forgiveness of Nature by Charles Walters and I blogged about it here. It was possibly the most inspiring thing I have learned this year, the idea that proper management of grazing land cannot only prevent desertification but can bring desert back to vibrant range land was nothing sort of miraculous to me. Not only that, but well tended range land can survive droughts which is something that the Southwest is prone to. You can imagine my delight when Holistic Management International agreed to be interviewed by the Grass-fed Party. Dr. Ann J. Adams, who is the director of educational products & outreach at Holistic Management International, was kind enough to answer a few questions.

Could you tell us about mission the of Holistic Management International?

Dr. Ann J. Adams: HMI works to reverse the degradation of private and communal land used for agriculture and conservation, restore its health and productivity, and help create sustainable and viable livelihoods for the people who depend on it.

What is Holistic Management?

Dr. Ann J. Adams: HMI was founded in 1984 as the Center for Holistic Resource Management. Holistic Management is a decision making process that allows people to make decisions that are simultaneously socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable for the short and long term. It is used in conjunction with other management tools to help people understand how nature functions and how our actions affects that functioning. In this way we make decisions that help people partner with Nature, improving land health, profitability, and quality of life. We have goal setting, decision testing, financial planning, grazing planning, land planning, and biological monitoring tools to help people get the results they want.

Desertification is something that Holistic Resource Management can prevent; do you see more need for this practice out west, and particularly in the Southwest?

Dr. Ann J. Adams: Yes, it would be great if more people were using this management practice because we have seen consistent results of improved land health and water infiltration that is so critical in an arid landscape like the Southwest. We have people who even in drought have more forage than they have ever had before because the land is helping make the rainfall more effective that they do get.

Do you feel that our federal government effectively addresses the threat of desertification out west?

Dr Ann J. Adams:  For the most part, government efforts are based on symptoms of desertification (dams for flooding, noxious weeds, etc.). If we could get more education of producers and government agents so they can use the Holistic Management tools to help them improve the health of the land and the improved water cycle and mineral cycle, energy flow, and succession of the biological community.

Do you feel that there is more public support and interest in Holistic Resource Management?

Dr. Ann J. Adams: We have found that there is more public support for Holistic Management because land managers using Holistic Management have consistently improved land health and productivity. In fact, many Holistic Management producers have received awards for land stewardship from many different agencies.