2.3.1 Critical Thinking 6-Point

Six-Point Critical Analysis of Current Event


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1. Exploratory

Probe basic facts and knowledge found in the reading and video. (What research evidence supports _________? Type up several facts and basic knowledge from the reading and video. Relate this to what you find in other resources, prior activities for stronger scores.))

The video Tipping the Hat and the article by Fesenmyer (2016) describe collaborative efforts between the Bureau of Land Management, ranchers, and conservation groups to restore degraded riparian zones in the Intermountain West, particularly at South Fork Salmon Falls Creek, Nevada. They used a combination of rotational grazing and beaver reintroduction to improve habitat. This approach resulted in up to 40% more vegetation productivity in managed areas (Fesenmyer, 2016). The article also mentions that encouraging natural processes, such as beavers building dams, can be a cost-effective and ecologically sound method of restoration. These findings are consistent with prior studies that show how beaver activity improves water retention, biodiversity, and vegetation health (Fesenmyer et al., 2018).


2. Diagnostic

Probe motives or causes.  (Why? (Tell your reader why this occurs. Explain the causes in detail.))

Riparian degradation occurs due to unmanaged livestock grazing, wildfire, and drought (Fesenmyer et al., 2018). Livestock tramples banks, reduces vegetation, and disrupts streamside stability. Without plant life, beavers, which depend on woody vegetation, cannot thrive. To reverse this, land managers implement rotational grazing, which allows plants to regrow and supports beaver habitat. As the video shows, by giving the land rest, it begins to “heal itself” with minimal human engineering (Trout Unlimited, 2014).


3. Cause and Effect

Causal relationships between ideas, actions, or events. (If __________ occurs, what happens?)

When livestock grazing is limited and carefully managed, vegetation can regrow along streambanks. As plants return, they provide food and materials for beavers, whose dams slow water flow and increase wetland areas (Fesenmyer et al., 2018). These changes stabilize banks, recharge groundwater, and boost biodiversity. In turn, better stream habitat supports more wildlife, such as native fish and birds (Fesenmyer, 2016; Trout Unlimited, 2014).


4. Priority

Seek to identify the most important issue. (What is the most important issue?)


The most critical issue is the long-term degradation of riparian areas caused by poor land-use practices, especially conventional,

unrestricted grazing. Without intervention, these ecosystems continue to erode and dry out. The most important step is adopting

management strategies that both restore and protect these sensitive environments, such as integrating livestock control with natural

ecological engineers like beavers (Fesenmyer, 2016).


5. Application

Probe for relationships and connect theory to practice. (How does this apply to you? How is this related to culture as we have studied so far?)


This example shows how ecological restoration doesn’t always require expensive technologies. Sometimes, respecting and working

with natural systems, such as letting beavers do what they do best, can yield long-term results. This relates to environmental culture,

where human values must shift from domination over nature to cooperation with it. Culturally, this also reflects a broader trend toward

sustainable ranching and stewardship-based land use in the American West (Fesenmyer, 2016).


6. Critical

Analyze how this challenges your thinking/assumptions. (How did this change your thinking? Did it? Why?)


Before, I assumed environmental restoration mainly involved using heavy machinery or replanting efforts. I didn’t expect beavers

and grazing plans to be key tools in habitat recovery. This case changed my thinking: it shows that sustainable management means

stepping back and giving nature a chance to recover through its processes. It made me reconsider the balance between human activity

and ecological resilience (Trout Unlimited, 2014; Fesenmyer et al., 2018).




sources: 

Fesenmyer, K. (2016). Restoring streamside vegetation using grazing and beavers. Trout Unlimited.

https://www.tu.org/magazine/science/restoring-streamside-vegetation-using-grazing-and-beavers/


Fesenmyer, K. A., Dauwalter, D. C., Evans, C., & Allai, T. (2018). Livestock management, beaver, and climate influences

on riparian vegetation in a semi‐arid landscape. PLOS ONE, 13(12),

e0208928. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208928


Trout Unlimited. (2014). Tipping the Hat [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/96138507






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