Farmers and ranchers world-wide are transitioning to regenerative land use practices. Regeneration is a common-sense approach to reversing global warming, restoring ecosystem function and promoting human health. In agriculture, the results of using regenerative methods are healthier crops and better yields. In terms of human health, that means better nutrition.
Regenerative land management results in increased rainfall absorption, less erosion, increased resilience to flooding and drought, and improved water cycling by using a series of simple nature-based actions that revitalize the soil. It sounds too good to be true, yet I know from personal experience over a 40-year period that it works, and it can easily be replicated! The only difference between what many ranchers are doing and what conscientious homeowners can do, lies in the scale of the operation.
Imagine what it would mean for water capture and storage in our arid state prone to periodic droughts juxtaposed with periodic flooding if all “idle lands” were managed regeneratively. Regenerative practices can rehydrate California by using the land as a reservoir. Please join me in advocating for effective water policy at the state level and help let people know how simple, logical and effective these soil and carbon capture practices can be. Their implementation affords the economic benefits of new green jobs and training for them.
Today’s best practices for reducing the severe impacts of climate change are nature-based solutions that regenerate. How ironic it is that the answer to the degradation of the land and water systems lies in restoring nature’s ability to heal itself!
