Measuring Success: How ACHM Tracks Impact and results!!
Regenerating Our Future: Stories from Dimbangombe Newsletter 6
In our last newsletter, we discussed how ACHM empowers communities through education and training. Now, we turn our focus to a critical aspect of our work—measuring the success of our Holistic Management Practices. Through a combination of scientific protocols like Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) and the keen observations of our herders and game scouts, we ensure that our efforts lead to tangible, positive changes in the environment, wildlife, and communities.
What is Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV)?
EOV is the backbone of our impact measurement strategy at ACHM. Developed in collaboration between the Savory Institute and Michigan State University, EOV is a scientifically rigorous, outcome-based monitoring protocol. It operates on both short-term and long-term scales, providing a comprehensive view of ecosystem health.
Short-Term Monitoring (STM): Conducted annually, STM focuses on leading indicators such as plant diversity, soil cover, and evidence of regenerative processes like litter decomposition and dung breakdown. These indicators allow us to make timely management adjustments to enhance the health of the land.
Long-Term Monitoring (LTM): Conducted every five years, LTM captures deeper, slower changes in the ecosystem, such as soil carbon levels, water infiltration rates, and overall biodiversity. This long-term data is crucial for tracking the progress of land regeneration over time and ensuring the sustainability of our efforts.
Using EOV, we empirically validate our land management strategies, ensuring continuous improvement and supporting our participation in the Savory Institute’s Land to Market program, which connects consumers to products sourced from verified regenerative lands.
Wildlife Transects: Tracking Patterns and Trends
Wildlife transects are another vital tool for monitoring biodiversity at Dimbangombe. A transect is a dedicated area where we systematically record wildlife spoor—such as footprints, droppings, and other signs—to assess the presence and behavior of various species over time. While transects don’t provide exact population numbers, they reveal important patterns and trends in wildlife activity.
For instance, our transect data has recently shown a significant increase in honey badger activity, indicating a healthy small predator population. We’ve also observed positive trends in giraffe activity, suggesting that our holistic land management practices are creating favorable conditions for these animals. However, not all trends are positive; a concerning decline in sable antelope spoor has been noted, prompting National Parks to reduce sable hunting quotas—a step in the right direction, albeit a bit late.
These transects provide a dynamic picture of how wildlife interacts with the landscape. For example, increased buffalo spoor in certain areas suggests that these regions are becoming more attractive due to improved grazing conditions, while decreases in other areas might indicate a need for intervention, such as water management or adjusted grazing patterns.
Indicator Species: Guardians of Ecosystem Health
Certain species play a critical role as indicators of broader ecological conditions, acting as "canaries in the coal mine" for the health of our entire ecosystem. At Dimbangombe, species like the honey badger, sable antelope, and giraffe serve as important indicators of the health of our grasslands, water sources, and overall biodiversity.
Honey Badger: A Sign of Resilient Predators
The resurgence of honey badgers, known for their resilience and adaptability, is a promising sign that our ecosystem is supporting a healthy population of small predators. Small predators are often among the first to disappear when an ecosystem is under stress, so their increased presence indicates that our efforts are fostering a more balanced and thriving environment.
Sable Antelope: A Warning Signal
Conversely, the declining trends in sable antelope, as detected through our wildlife transects, have raised concerns. Sable are sensitive to changes in their environment, particularly in terms of available forage and water. Their decrease has prompted a response from National Parks, which has reduced hunting quotas for sable. This decision highlights the importance of these species as barometers for ecosystem health.
Giraffe: The Gentle Browsing Giants of the Savanna
Giraffe populations, as monitored through our transects, have shown encouraging signs of growth, particularly in areas where vegetation has been restored. As browsers, giraffes play a key role in maintaining the balance between trees and grasslands, and their presence is a positive indicator of a well-functioning savanna ecosystem.
By paying close attention to these indicator species, we gain valuable insights into the overall health of our ecosystem. These species help us identify areas that may need more focused management and allow us to adjust our practices to ensure that we are meeting our goals for land and wildlife regeneration.
Herders: The Stewards of the Land
Our herders are the backbone of our habitat management efforts at ACHM. These individuals possess a deep, intuitive understanding of the land and its needs, honed through years of experience working with the cattle that are central to our holistic management practices. Herders are experts in identifying grass species, assessing the health of different areas, and understanding the specific impacts needed to regenerate degraded lands. They know the land intimately—every valley, hidden area, and grazing spot—and use this knowledge to guide the cattle to where they can be most effective in the regeneration process.
Herders also have a sharp eye for livestock health, recognizing subtle changes in behavior or condition that might indicate a problem. They know each animal individually, understanding its role within the herd and its impact on the land. This personal connection to the cattle and the land allows herders to make nuanced decisions that technology alone could never replicate. They ensure that the cattle are in the right place at the right time, creating the desired impact on the ecosystem while also maintaining the health and productivity of the herd.
Game Scouts: The Guardians of Wildlife
While herders focus on the cattle and the land, our game scouts are the vigilant guardians of wildlife at Dimbangombe. These scouts are responsible for monitoring wildlife populations, conducting foot patrols, and performing crucial anti-poaching and security roles on the conservancy. Trained as expert trackers, game scouts have an unparalleled ability to read the land and understand the habits and needs of the wildlife species that inhabit it.
Game scouts play a vital role in monitoring wildlife transects, where they record the presence of species like kudu, impala, buffalo, and predators such as lions and leopards. Their deep knowledge of wildlife behavior and habitat preferences allows them to identify shifts in animal populations and movement patterns, providing essential data for our conservation efforts. Whether it’s detecting a new lion territory or noticing a decline in sable antelope sightings, game scouts are the first to observe and report these critical changes.
Wildlife Photos with thanks to Etienne Oosthuizen!
In addition to their monitoring duties, game scouts are instrumental in maintaining the safety of both wildlife and livestock. They are the first to be called in when predators attack the livestock Kraals for instance! They ensure that the land remains secure from poachers and other threats, and their work is essential to creating a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and the human activities on the conservancy.
Integrating EOV with Other Monitoring Tools
Beyond EOV and wildlife transects, we also take careful note of river flows and borehole depths to assess water availability—a critical factor in the success of our land management practices. These measurements help us understand how our efforts are affecting the broader ecosystem, particularly in terms of water cycle regulation, which is vital for both wildlife and livestock.
By integrating these various tools and data sources, we can ensure that our holistic management practices are leading to positive outcomes across the board. This comprehensive approach allows us to respond quickly to challenges, adapt our strategies as needed, and continue driving the regeneration of the land.
Conclusion:
Measuring success at ACHM is a multifaceted process that combines rigorous scientific protocols with the deep, contextual knowledge of our team. By integrating EOV, wildlife transects, water monitoring, and the invaluable insights from our herders and game scouts, we ensure that our holistic management practices lead to real, positive change.
In our next newsletter, "Join the Movement: Get Involved with ACHM," we’ll explore how you can become more deeply involved in our mission, whether through sponsorship, volunteering, or spreading the word about our work.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement with ACHM. Together, we are making a difference.
Warm regards,
Lao Watson-Smith