2.3.2 Critical Thinking 6-Point

Six-Point Critical Analysis of Current Event

My blog posting is available online at: 

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.))

Jim Howell, CEO of Grasslands LLC and co-founder of the Savory Institute, advocates for Holistic Management a grazing strategy based on mimicking natural grazing patterns of wild herbivores (Roberson, 2016). This method supports the idea that properly managed livestock can actually regenerate land instead of degrading it. According to Howell, rotational grazing areas allows grasslands to rest and recover, boosting soil health, water retention, and plant diversity. These practices connect to Earth system concepts we’ve studied, particularly how the biosphere (plants, animals) interacts with the lithosphere (soil) and atmosphere (carbon cycles). Other research supports this; for instance, the Savory Institute has documented improved biodiversity and soil carbon levels on holistically managed ranches worldwide.

2. Diagnostic

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

The motivation behind Holistic Management lies in reversing the damage caused by overgrazing, conventional ranching, and land mismanagement. Howell emphasizes that grasslands evolved with grazing, and removing that interaction or misapplying it leads to land degradation (Roberson, 2016). The root cause of this damage is not grazing itself, but how it’s done. When livestock continuously graze one area, the plants don’t get time to regrow, leading to soil erosion and desertification. Howell’s approach seeks to restore that natural cycle by mimicking herd movement patterns observed in the wild.

3. Cause and Effect

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

If grazing is mismanaged, such as through continuous overuse or underuse,  it can lead to barren soil, erosion, decreased biodiversity, and even desertification. However, if grazing is managed holistically, it has the opposite effect: improved plant growth, richer soil, and healthier ecosystems (Roberson, 2016). For example, when cattle are moved in tight herds and rotated frequently, similar to how wild herds behave, their impact helps aerate the soil, spread nutrients, and stimulate plant regrowth.

4. Priority

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

The most important issue highlighted in the podcast is the need to change how humans view and manage grazing animals

in grassland ecosystems. Misunderstanding the role of livestock has led to damaging policies and environmental degradation

(Roberson, 2016). Howell argues that by rethinking how we manage grazing, we can not only stop the damage but also reverse it,

restoring vast tracts of land and sequestering atmospheric carbon in the process.

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 content applies to modern land use, conservation, and even agriculture as studied in class. Howell’s approach offers a practical example of how Earth system science can be used to solve real-world problems. It also shows the intersection of environmental science and culture, where local communities, agricultural practices, and environmental outcomes are tightly connected. In our studies, we’ve seen that sustainable solutions often require rethinking cultural norms, and Holistic Management challenges mainstream ideas about livestock and land degradation.

6. Critical

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

This podcast challenged my assumption that livestock grazing is always harmful to the environment. I used to think all cattle ranching led to overgrazing and destruction of ecosystems, but Jim Howell’s perspective introduced a more nuanced view. Managed correctly, grazing can be a regenerative tool (Roberson, 2016). This changed my thinking about land management and showed how environmental science solutions can come from unexpected places, even from ranchers working with cows.

Works Cited

Roberson, E. (Host). (2016, May 26). Conserving and restoring the world’s grasslands [Audio podcast episode]. In Mountain & Prairie Podcast. http://mountainandprairie.com/jim-howell/