Savory's unsubstantiated claims should not be confused with multipaddock grazing

Authors: BRISKE, DAVID - Texas A&M University; Bestelmeyer, Brandon; BROWN, JOEL - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2013
Publication Date: 2/1/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58716
Citation: Briske, D.D., Bestelmeyer, B.T., Brown, J.R. 2014. Savory's unsubstantiated claims should not be confused with multipaddock grazing. Rangelands. 36(1):39-42.

Interpretive Summary: In this paper we respond to a critique of our assessment of Mr. Savory’s claims. No evidence was provided to counter our claims that not all global rangelands are degraded, rangelands have a limited capacity to store carbon, and intensive rotational grazing is not necessary to prevent rangelands from degrading. We then conclude with comments regarding the future direction of grazing systems research.

Technical Abstract: The sole objective of our critique of Mr. Savory’s TED video published in Rangelands1 was to “fact check” a portion of the extraordinary claims that he had made relative to science based information. It is incumbent upon a professional discipline to evaluate the relevant evidence and potential viability of proposed management strategies and policies. Regrettably, Richard Teague’s response does not address any of Mr. Savory’s claims that we addressed in our critique—not all global rangelands are degraded, rangelands have a limited capacity to store carbon, and intensive rotational grazing is not necessary to prevent rangelands from degrading. Here we reiterate these last two points of our initial critique, then address the concerns presented by Teague, and conclude with comments regarding the future direction of grazing systems research.