Quote of the Moment:

“The trouble with using experience as a guide is that the final exam often comes first and then the lesson.”
Unknown

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Environmental Management

Management

“How do you tell a dung beetle or an earth worm what to do?” B.M.

In the context of landscapes, “Management“ cannot equal “Control”.

In the context of landscapes, “Management” is about influencing all biological activity in a way that all species (including humans) develop their potential in a manner that is in tune with the greater scheme of things.

Biodiversity includes a diversity of species, a diversity of age and genetics within each group of a species, the way in which groups of species are distributed, the mass, volume or numbers involved, inter-species relations and much, much more...

It seems that Biodiversity is the engine that drives our ecosystem and that the primary fuel it uses is Sunshine: National economies depend on sunshine: timber, meat, milk, cereals, honey, natural medicines, bush tucker or whatever... the job of agriculture is to tap solar energy using green leaves and then package it in the form of a primary product (plant or animal). This process is affectionately known as "sunlight harvesting". It is a complex process to create new wealth, but when we do it right the job is simple

Land management is therefore all about energy-capture and energy-budgeting. It is working with nature towards the return of a healthy, productive “solar economy”.

UPPER LEVEL MANAGEMENT:
As humans we are the custodians of the planet. Being at the top end of the energy-pyramid, we hold the key to managing the eco-system: We influence all biological activity on the planet.		 Upper Level Management
Middle Level Management
MIDDLE LEVEL MANAGEMENT:
The large animals (most of our vertebrates and others). By the way in which these animals behave, they can dramatically impact biodiversity in either an enhancing or in a destructive manner.
LOWER LEVEL MANAGEMENT:
Plants control what happens under the ground by the way in which they release energy. They also do a whole lot more.		 Lower Level Management
Workers
THE WORKERS:
The little beasties above and below the ground and in the water. The information age tells us there should be over 600 million organisms representing over 15'000 different species in one gram of healthy soil alone. No land manager will know what they all do. However we do not need science degrees to know that if they are not there, they cannot do their job. (This is of course a simplification, but it may help get the picture across.)