Grazing with Nate Chisholm: From Kenya to Point Reyes

Nate Chisholm is a grazing ecologist and rancher currently based in Kenya, where he is studying the impact of megafauna on savanna grassland ecosystems. For years, he ranched in Marin and Sonoma counties, including Point Reyes. He has amassed a decade of scientific research on the impact of grazing in environments very similar to Point Reyes, where a group of 12 ranchers are currently being removed after years of hostility from the National Park Service. Nate’s research shows that cattle grazing on the California coast has a profound and positive impact on biodiversity and native plant cover. His work emphasizes the loss California is about to suffer as decades of generational ranching knowledge prepare to leave Point Reyes National Seashore.I asked Nate to share his findings, what he’s learned about grazing, how a scientist who loves savannas became a cattle rancher, whether the Tule elk can replace cattle on Point Reyes, and if the Park Service ever showed an interest in his research.This episode is fascinating for anyone who loves nature, wildlife, American grassland, and the science behind ranching.To see the scientific results Nate shares, visit the Sonoma Mountain Institute website where all his data including photos of grassland change are publicly available (plot 1, plot 2, and plot 3 as shown in the episode).Follow Nate at Project Savanna on Instagram and his website www.projectsavanna.com.UNWON is reader supported. Click below to become a free or paid subscriber and help support independent Western journalism! Get full access to UNWON at www.americaunwon.com/subscribe