Regeneration & Resilience: Celebrating 2024 and Stepping Boldly into 2025
From thriving grasslands to empowered communities, join us in shaping a regenerative future with Holistic Management.
Stepping into 2025: Transforming Landscapes with Holistic Management
Dear Friends of ACHM,
As we turn the page to 2025, we want to reflect on the achievements of 2024 and share our exciting vision for the year ahead. Together, we’ve demonstrated the power of Holistic Management to regenerate landscapes, empower communities, and create a brighter, more sustainable future.
Looking Back: 2024 Achievements
2024 was a year of resilience, innovation, and transformation at ACHM. Here are some highlights:
Regenerating Grasslands
Using Holistic Planned Grazing, we continued to regenerate barren, overgrazed areas into thriving ecosystems, backed up by the scientific EOV protocol which allows us to closely monitor the trends on the land. Strategic herding practices, which we advocate for in the place of traditional fencing, supports wildlife movement soil restoration. Visual transformations across Dimbangombe Conservancy have showcased the effectiveness of these techniques, inspiring both local communities and global supporters
Water Management Breakthroughs
We celebrated the successful funding of a new water point project, ensuring a more consistent water supply for paddocks and our wildlife during one of the driest seasons on record. This project exemplified the power of community and donor collaboration in addressing environmental challenges.
Empowering Communities
Our training programs equipped farmers, herders, and community leaders with tools to manage their lands sustainably:
Community Facilitator’s Training Programme (CFTP): Graduates returned to their communities with skills in ecological literacy, conflict resolution, and land planning.
Crop Field Soil Workshops and Herding Courses: Participants saw increased crop yields and improved grazing practices, benefiting both their families and the environment.
Measuring Success
We advanced our monitoring systems using Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) and wildlife transects. These tools enabled us to track biodiversity, soil health, and water retention, ensuring that our strategies deliver lasting results.
Building Connections
The launch of our Supporter Rewards Program strengthened ties with our global network, offering immersive experiences at ACHM and exclusive access to courses. Supporters played a pivotal role in driving our mission forward.
Looking Ahead: 2025 Focus
Training Programs for Transformation
2025 will see an expanded focus on education, starting with our Holistic Planned Grazing and Herding for Herders program. This course is designed to equip herders with skills in:
Low-stress stock handling.
Basic cattle nutrition.
Ecological literacy.
Holistic Planned Grazing.
By empowering herders with these tools, we aim to further support environmental regeneration and sustainable livelihoods. Enroll today or contact us for more details.
Holistic Hooves Initiative
This year, we’re launching Holistic Hooves, a sponsorship program to grow our Habitat Management Herd. The herd is central to our land regeneration efforts, mimicking natural grazing patterns that restore soil health and biodiversity. Sponsorships will directly contribute to the herd’s welfare, expanding its impact on the landscape.
The Power of Holistic Management
Holistic Management is a decision making framework which integrates the water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow, and community dynamics. It’s more than a framework; it’s a pathway to environmental, economic, and social resilience. In 2025, we will deepen our commitment to this philosophy, driving change through:
Regenerative land management.
Empowering local communities.
Fostering biodiversity.
Join Us in 2025
As we step into the new year, we invite you to be part of this transformative journey:
Enroll in our herder training programs.
Sponsor a set of hooves through the Holistic Hooves initiative.
Engage with future newsletters as we dive into training programs, success stories, and innovative projects.
Together, we can regenerate our landscapes, empower our communities, and build a sustainable future for generations to come.
Warm regards,
Lao Watson-Smith
Africa Centre for Holistic Management (ACHM)