NOTE: This event is made possible by a generous grant from Working Lands Conservation and the NRCS’s Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. Your registration fee supports locally sourced meals each day. Additional funding is available to assist with meal and lodging costs—please contact learn@3springsutah.com for details.

This course is a deep dive into the identification of the 4 ecosystem processes observed on the land. This course is designed to help managers and citizen scientists understand what consequences their management decisions have on the health of their land.

We will go over in detail how to monitor the surface of the land via the Basic Monitoring Protocol which is appropriate for landowners and producers seeking to see which direction their land is going.

We will also address, in detail, the Comprehensive Monitoring Protocol which is critical for those seeking more scientific results when dealing with government agencies and environmental organizations.

“If you have not ever monitored your land before, taking the responsibility for monitoring your land and yourself should symbolize a significant shift in your whole approach to management. Almost all stock growers weigh their animals at least once a year. When you realize that the stock functions only as a broker in the marketing of solar energy, it makes more sense to “weigh” the primary agent in this transaction—your land.” -Excerpt From Savory Institute Ebook 13 “Monitoring Our Land”

Learning objectives:

• Come away with a deep understanding of the observable characteristics of the Water Cycle, Mineral Cycle, Community Dynamics, and Energy flow on the surface of the land.
• Be able to observe soil capping and understand the tools to create a more water absorbable surface.
• Understand the difference between Leading Indicators and Lagging Indicators it relationship to Landscape Health and Soil Health.
• Be able to “read the land” and know what tools can be used to affect change in your given environment.
• Come away with the confidence to institute the Basic and Comprehensive monitoring protocols on your land.
• Create a personalized feedback loop to proactively be able to adjust your grazing plans and be able to control for changes weather patterns or decisions that didn’t go according to plan.

This course has been made possible in part by Working Lands Conservation. Working Lands Conservation (WLC) bridges the gap between science and land stewardship to enhance the sustainability of working lands. Through collaboration, research, and outreach, we empower land managers and rural communities with science-based solutions that benefit both people and ecosystems. Our approach is rooted in relationships, ensuring durable, lasting impacts on the land.