Drylands Agroecology Research’s Post

In the 1980s, Peter and I were back-to-the-landers, believing we were on the cutting edge of social change. Children of the city and suburb, we were part of a larger cultural conversation, wanting to root our lives in soil and sun, to make the world better by making our personal connections to the world more direct in the shape of an onion or adobe brick. It was in the air. Earth Day. Deep ecology. Bioregionalism. So we built our house of mud and had a too-big garden, too many goats, two homebirths—a daughter and a son—and too much goat cheese in the refrigerator. Our illusion that we could live off the land lasted a few months, or maybe a few years, and then Peter began a series of jobs, and I started teaching at the small university in Silver City. Meanwhile the larger cultural conversation shifted to green cities, the hope now for our relationship to the planet. Green cities are where 85 percent of Americans live, where humans will use the least resources and emit the fewest greenhouse gases, where creativity sparks in the diminished spaces between us, and where we’ll contain the damage of overpopulation. The big changes that need to take place are in the meta-systems of politics, law, and business. My individual connection to the land is much less important than I once thought. The role of the rural West is less important than I once thought. And living in the rural West is less ecologically sound than living in places like New York City or London. I am not unhappy that the ideas of my youth—the very arc of my life—have been proven wrong. I’m only relieved that the cultural conversation is still alive. I’m pleased that hope still exists. And I believe those of us with roots in the country have continued value as stewards on the ground and on the frontline for our public lands. I have seen that in the recent battles to prevent a boondoggle dam on the Gila River and a Military Operations Area over the Gila Wilderness. We have found our niche in the environmental community. #authorlife #sharmanaptrussell #Bioregionalism #ecology #naturewriter #environmentalist

We recently published a paper titled "Where the Moose Were": Fort William First Nation’s Ancestral Land, Two–Eyed Seeing, and Industrial Impacts, now available in *Land*. 🌍 In this work, we delve into the profound relationship between the Fort William First Nation members and their ancestral lands, applying Two-Eyed Seeing as a framework for understanding the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and Western perspectives. Using Indigenous knowledge, GIS and remote sensing, and Thunder Pulp and Paper mill’s pollution analysis, we also address the industrial impacts on this sacred land and present the voices of the FWFN members. This research is not just an academic endeavor; it’s a call to recognize and honor the histories and voices connected to these lands. I hope it inspires further conversations about the importance of Indigenous stewardship in today’s world. I’m eager to hear your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions around these vital topics. #Research #IndigenousKnowledge #TwoEyedSeeing #Land #FortWilliamFirstNation #Sustainability #Reconciliation 👉 https://lnkd.in/gGD6x3kT

This is a good idea to implement in India as well. Coastal data collected through citizen science initiatives plays a crucial role in understanding and preserving marine environments. These efforts harness the observations and insights of local communities, providing valuable information about coastal ecosystems that may otherwise go unrecorded. By engaging citizens in the process of data collection, these initiatives foster a sense of stewardship and raise awareness about environmental issues impacting coastal areas. Furthermore, the diverse perspectives and experiences of citizen scientists contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of ecological changes, such as the effects of climate change, pollution, and habitat degradation. This grassroots approach not only enhances scientific research but also empowers communities to advocate for sustainable practices and policies, ultimately leading to healthier and more resilient coastal ecosystems. My research focuses on using such data in shoreline change prediction and can be extended further to use such information available from different sources.

Treating each other, in the here and now, the way we would in a liberated world is such hard and such necessary work. I've learned so much and been truly humbled over the years by all of the organizations I've worked with that are radically reimagining how to do everything from decision-making to budgeting to dealing with conflict and emotion—I see the incredible openings that emerge, the limitless things we can accomplish when we imagine beyond the status quo; as well as the ways we can fall back into well-worn dominant patterns despite our very best efforts to do things differently. We need to continually be living into our most liberated and aspirational dreams about how to work together and how to treat each other—no matter the political landscape, no matter what formations we're in. I love the human-ness of that, the way it always comes back to connection. No process or strategy or campaign can succeed if we can't work together.

Trauma that is not processed and healed passes on to the next generation. The same can be said about our deeper communication patterns. If we do not become consciously aware of the patterns that underlie our field, we run the risk of perpetuating those patterns. Communicators commonly use scarcity and fear-based storylines to direct consumers’ behavior. Techno-optimistic stories, on the other hand, tell people that the future is within your hands — if only you take individual responsibility, recycle your Coke bottles, and subscribe to the latest app. As communicators, we need to be aware of the soil we communicate from and reflect on the potential first-, second-, and third-order consequences of the narratives we spread. Some questions to consider: 🤔 From which place does this narrative emerge? What are its historical roots? 🤔 By sharing this story, do I contribute to an already polluted attention landscape? 🤔How will this story make those who engage with it feel? Would it empower and enliven them or would it make them feel hopeless and distracted? 🤔 What stories want to be told, and who should be telling them? Can I create a platform for others to tell their own stories? Communications is an ecology, and stories, like an ecosystem, need diversity to thrive. A healthy communication ecology establishes relationships instead of tearing them apart. Read our latest publication “Re:storying the Possibility of a Thriving World” on our blog 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/dg3V8hvz #regenerativecommunications #restoried #narratives #communicationsdesign #community

🌍 #BC3Seminar | Last chance to register for Miguel Berdugo’s talk! The ecosystem ecologist from Universidad Complutense de Madrid will discuss tomorrow at 12:00 PM about drylands' resilience and vulnerability under #climatechange, exploring critical aridity thresholds & impacts on local communities. Drylands are one of the most intriguing ecosystems of the world because of their beauty, and the extraordinary harsh conditions they endure. They are also highly important because of their extent (almost half of the Earth surface) and because the people inhabiting them are highly vulnerable, sometimes in the limits of poverty and, thus, depend tightly on the services that ecosystems provide. Do not miss it!👇 https://lnkd.in/dJC5wPJi

Principle 5: Prefigure the world we want. As Movement Generation Justice and Ecology Project says in their roadmap for a just transition, “If we’re not prepared to govern, we’re not prepared to win.” It isn’t enough to disrupt the status quo or interrupt the goals of the ascendant Right wing; we must also “Build the New”—new practices, new institutions, new alliances, new economies, and new governance structures. Our organizations can be incubators for democratic practice; the question we are always asking in AORTA is: “How do we create organizations that embody the change we seek?”. How can we prefigure a world of justice, peace, liberation, and solidarity in our organizing and our everyday lives? And how can we do it in a way that feels not only sustainable, but positive and joyful? More resources in comments. <3 ********************* As we adjust to our new and changing political reality post-election, there are principles that can guide our strategy and next moves. Each day over the next couple weeks, Roan will be sharing one guiding principle (along with a resource or two) here on our page that can help ground our work on the Left, no matter what the future brings.

I needed to stop scrolling so I went for a run. Recommended. Along the ways there was a turtle in the middle of the road, and I moved her to safety. Also recommended. So much needs help! Find a little way to help and do it. I also had a few thoughts while plodding uphill... Don't leave environmental collapse out of your analysis of democracy collapse. Some questions: - to what degree has premonitions of ecological collapse led to these power grabs? - to what degree will these power grabs accelerate ecological collapse? -How can your movements be more fit to the conditions of destabilization and collapse than the structures of consolidated power? In what ways can those organized around love and community, sufficiency and ecology, find advantages vs structures of consolidated power, under conditions of destabilization? No answers from me, but I think these are good questions.

Happy (belated) #WorldElephantDay! Although we should wonder why some people need a(n economic) reason why NOT to push a species into extinction, studies clearly indicate that the value of this iconic species can create win-win opportunities for government, the private sector, local communities, and global partners. This International Monetary Fund (IMF) article summarizes it nicely: https://lnkd.in/e_VyGGZU

Please share this survey widely with listserves as we want to make sure to include people from all areas of life, community members, researchers, policy makers, and more! It is super short and fast! I am part of ICARP IV, an Arctic research planning initiative developing priorities for the next 10 years. This impacts all Arctic nations, Indigenous Peoples, and the world. I am specifically supporting a team looking at sustainability. We have a survey and want your input!    The survey is: “Understanding the dynamics and resilience of Arctic social-ecological systems to foster a sustainable future”   https://lnkd.in/esUWPE8u #Arctic #Indigenous #community #sustainability #environment #ice #ecology #glacier #economy #built