In Revolution on the Range, Courtney White describes how the American West is coming into a new waive of ranching. How ranching is not just about making money to survive anymore, but also a way to help preserve their land and the land of those around them. For too long the Federal Government has taken away from the rancher’s livelihood, putting restrictions on how many cattle they are allowed to have, where they are allowed to graze, and taking away their right to controlled grass fires. Courtney White has news for everyone. Today, with the help of non-profit organizations, ranchers who are willing to make changes, and yes, the Federal Government, ranchers are now starting to see improvements in not only the number of cattle they can have,
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Between “persistently poor economics, tenacious opponents, shifting values in public-land use, changing demographics, decreased political influence, and the temptation of rapidly rising private land values” (White, p.6), ranchers have been pushed to a point of making a life changing decision, fight or flight. According to White the population of farmers from 1900 to 1990 has decreased by 38 percent. This is due to many factors, however two being the main reasons. First, the land was not healthy enough to produce the grass necessary for the cattle, whether it was caused by weather conditions changing or over grazing. Second, the Government was stepping in, at times when not necessary, making it even harder for the ranchers to take the necessary steps for keeping the land healthy and prosperous. According to Goralnik et al, “’Love…is where attentiveness to nature starts, and responsibility toward one’s home landscape is where it leads” (p. 423). Therefore, if we want to preserver our land and nature we ALL, not just the ranchers, need to love our surroundings enough to want to learn and become more attentive to ITs needs, and that starts in our own backyard. This is exactly what the ranchers and the Government are finally starting to …show more content…
They were so focused on returning the island back to its “’presettlement’ condition”, that they began removing animals such as the feral pig (p.65). This caused the fox to become prey to the golden eagle. Just like the ranchers, the Government and different environmental groups need to focus not just on one thing, such as the animals or making a living, they need to focus on everything that will make the land and environment a healthier one. After all, don’t we all, human and non-human alike, have an affect on nature? According to Goralnik et al, it is important for ‘students’ “to explore their relationship with the natural world experientially” (p.414). I take this to mean that we as humans – as we are all students - not just those in a school setting, need to have an emotional experience to be able to have a better relationship or understanding with
Between “persistently poor economics, tenacious opponents, shifting values in public-land use, changing demographics, decreased political influence, and the temptation of rapidly rising private land values” (White, p.6), ranchers have been pushed to a point of making a life changing decision, fight or flight. According to White the population of farmers from 1900 to 1990 has decreased by 38 percent. This is due to many factors, however two being the main reasons. First, the land was not healthy enough to produce the grass necessary for the cattle, whether it was caused by weather conditions changing or over grazing. Second, the Government was stepping in, at times when not necessary, making it even harder for the ranchers to take the necessary steps for keeping the land healthy and prosperous. According to Goralnik et al, “’Love…is where attentiveness to nature starts, and responsibility toward one’s home landscape is where it leads” (p. 423). Therefore, if we want to preserver our land and nature we ALL, not just the ranchers, need to love our surroundings enough to want to learn and become more attentive to ITs needs, and that starts in our own backyard. This is exactly what the ranchers and the Government are finally starting to …show more content…
They were so focused on returning the island back to its “’presettlement’ condition”, that they began removing animals such as the feral pig (p.65). This caused the fox to become prey to the golden eagle. Just like the ranchers, the Government and different environmental groups need to focus not just on one thing, such as the animals or making a living, they need to focus on everything that will make the land and environment a healthier one. After all, don’t we all, human and non-human alike, have an affect on nature? According to Goralnik et al, it is important for ‘students’ “to explore their relationship with the natural world experientially” (p.414). I take this to mean that we as humans – as we are all students - not just those in a school setting, need to have an emotional experience to be able to have a better relationship or understanding with