Holistic Management Shifts Ranchers’ Mental Models for Successful Adaptive Grazing
This study explores how Holistic Management transforms the way ranchers think and make decisions—shifting them from control-based approaches to regenerative mindsets grounded in values, systems thinking, and ecological feedback.
Amping up soil carbon: soil carbon stocks in California rangelands under adaptive multi-paddock and conventional grazing management
This study measured soil carbon across 64 California ranches and found that AMP-grazed pastures held 13–29% more soil carbon than conventionally grazed ones. The gains extended deep into the soil profile, highlighting AMP grazing’s strong potential for long-term carbon storage and climate impact.
Ruminating on soil carbon: Applying current understanding to inform grazing management
This paper proposes a unified conceptual framework combining plant ecophysiology and soil biogeochemistry to explain how soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulates and is stabilized in grazed systems.
Grass and ground dwelling beetle community responses to holistic and wildlife grazing management using a cross-fence comparison in Western Kalahari rangeland, Namibia
Researchers compared the impact of Holistic Management to wildlife grazing on grass and ground-dwelling beetle species diversity on neighboring farms in Namibian rangeland, finding the holistically managed livestock operation demonstrated greater species richness and biodiversity for both vegetation and beetle populations.
Regenerative rotational grazing management of dairy sheep increases springtime grass production and topsoil carbon storage
The aim of this study was to determine the mid-term effect of regenerative grazing in Basque country of Northern Spain on soil ecosystem services and evaluate their synergies and trade-offs. Regenerative rotational grazing achieved 30% higher springtime grass production and 3.6% higher topsoil carbon storage than conventional rotational grazing.
Managing soils for negative feedback to climate change and positive impact on food and nutritional security
This paper by Dr. Rattan Lal detailing the scope of nature-based climate solutions, including but not limited to grasslands and soils. Findings show that “the soil C sink capacity, between 2020 and 2100, with the global adoption of best management practice which creates a positive soil/ecosystem C budget, is estimated at 178 Pg C for soil, 155 Pg C for biomass, and 333 Pg C for the terrestrial biosphere with a total CO2 drawdown potential of 157 ppm.”
Accelerating regenerative grazing to tackle farm, environmental, and societal challenges in the upper Midwest
This paper provides an overview of opportunities to increase regenerative grazing in the Upper Midwest of the United States. With a growing body of research complemented by anecdotal evidence, this approach is increasingly understood to be a “win-win-win” for farmers, society, and the environment.
Ecosystem Impacts and Productive Capacity of a Multi-Species Pastured Livestock System
This paper conducted a whole-farm life cycle assessment (LCA) of a multi-species pasture rotation (MSPR) farm in the southeastern United States that was originally converted from degraded cropland. Results showed an average of 2.29 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Incorporation of soil C sequestration into the LCA reduced net GHG emissions by 80%, resulting in a footprint 66% lower than commodity production systems.
Holistic Management and Adaptive Grazing: A Trainers’ View
The authors avoid the usual debates on whether or not Holistic Management, Holistic Planned Grazing, or any its many derivatives deliver outcomes as claimed by practitioners, and instead focuses on their contribution to managing complexity. Holistic Management’s biggest acknowledged contribution to the grazing world is (arguably) its emphasis on adaptivity, strategic decision-making, goal-setting, and ability to manage complexity. Based on data gathered from educators in American and Canada who have trained many farmers and ranchers, the authors conclude that Holistic Management represents systems thinking in practice.
The Effect of Holistic Planned Grazing on African Rangelands: A Case Study from Zimbabwe
South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council completed this study over a 6-year period comparing the Africa Centre for Holistic Management’s land at Dimbangombe under Holistic Planned Grazing (HGP), to nearby communal areas where HPG was not practiced. The researchers concluded that HPG yields positive long-term effects on ecosystem services (soils and vegetation) and points to the HPG approach enhancing the sustainability of livestock and wildlife in this environment.
