Allan Savory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allan Savory
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born | 15 September 1935 (age 89) |
| Alma mater | University of Natal |
| Known for | Holistic management |
| Awards | Banksia International Award (2003) Buckminster Fuller Challenge (2010) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Ecology, resource management |
| Institutions | Savory Institute Africa Center for Holistic Management |
Clifford Allan Redin Savory (born 15 September 1935) is a farmer and scientist from Zimbabwe. He is known for creating a special way of managing land called Holistic Management. This method helps heal the environment by using livestock.
Savory believes that animals like cows can help stop desertification. Desertification is when fertile land turns into desert. He says that livestock can reverse this process. He thinks that healthy grasslands can store a lot of carbon dioxide from the air. This could help fight climate change.
Many farmers like his ideas. However, some scientists disagree with him. They question the evidence for his methods. Allan Savory received the Banksia International Award in 2003. He also won the Buckminster Fuller Challenge in 2010.
Contents
Allan Savory: Helping the Earth
Early Life and Education
Allan Savory was born in 1935 in what is now Zimbabwe. He studied biology and botany at the University of Natal in South Africa. He finished his studies in 1955.
Working with Nature
Savory had many different jobs early in his career. He worked as a biologist, a soldier, and a farmer. He also served in government. These experiences helped him develop his ideas about Holistic Management.
He started studying why land was turning into desert in 1955. This was in what is now Zambia. He continued his work in Zimbabwe.
At first, Savory thought that too many elephants were harming the land. He suggested reducing their numbers. This idea was common among many experts at the time. However, even after many elephants were removed, the land did not get better. Savory later called this decision "the saddest and greatest blunder of my life."
This experience made him realize something important. He learned that simply removing animals was not the answer. He understood that complex natural systems needed a different approach. This led him to create his holistic framework. This framework helps people make decisions about land management. He wrote about his ideas in books like Holistic Management.
Savory was influenced by André Voisin, a French expert. Voisin believed that overgrazing happened when plants were exposed to animals for too long. It was not just about having too many animals. Savory agreed. He thought that moving cattle often and letting plants rest was key.
Political and Military Roles
Savory was also involved in politics and the military in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He served as a Member of Parliament. He tried to bring about changes in government. He also worked with the military. He helped train soldiers in tracking skills. These skills were used in conflicts during that time.
In 1979, Savory left Rhodesia. He moved to the Cayman Islands and then to the United States. He wanted to focus on his scientific work.
Moving to the Americas
After leaving Zimbabwe, Savory continued to develop Holistic Management. He showed how carefully moving livestock could help heal dry grasslands. This method copies how large herds of animals moved in nature. It allows plants enough time to recover before animals graze them again.
In 1984, Savory and his wife, Jody Butterfield, started the Center for Holistic Management. This organization later became Holistic Management International. In 2009, Savory started the Savory Institute.
He also helped create the Africa Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe. He donated land for this center. It helps train people in Africa about holistic management.
Personal Life
Allan Savory and Jody Butterfield live in Albuquerque, USA. They also spend time in Zimbabwe. Savory often travels to share his message about healing the Earth. He sometimes goes barefoot.
Holistic Management Advocacy
In 2013, Allan Savory gave a popular TED Talk. It was called "How to green the desert and reverse climate change." Millions of people watched it. He also wrote a book called The Grazing Revolution.
In his talk, Savory said that using livestock is the only way to reverse desertification. He believes that animals, when moved in groups, can mimic natural herds. This helps the land recover.
Savory also supports using high technology for clean energy. He wants to reduce pollution. He is a strong supporter of grass fed beef. He is against large-scale industrial livestock farming. He believes that cows are important for saving mankind. He says it is wrong to keep them in feedlots.
He also speaks out against slash-and-burn farming. This practice involves burning forests and grasslands. Savory says it harms the soil and releases carbon. He points out that burning grasslands creates a lot of pollution.
See also
In Spanish: Allan Savory para niños
- Agroecology
- Joel Salatin
- Tragedy of the commons
