A Holistic Approach to Conservation

The Diablo Trust works with Arizona organizations to research and improve the impact of ranching on rangelands.

Ranchers and environmentalists have often fought over the use of land, water and resources in the American west. Members of the Diablo Trust, located in northern Arizona, believe they can bring the two warring sides together to meet the same goals.

The stubborn divide between these two groups piqued in the ’80s and ’90s. It was characterized by fence-cutting and Edward Abbey-style activism committed by environmentalists, with ranchers threatening violence in return. Today, some bitterness remains, but the Trust hopes to offer a middle ground.

While the Diablo Trust — a coalition of ranchers, environmentalists, federal land managers and volunteers — is found in a discreet corner of Arizona, its roots are deeply intertwined with the regional history of cattle ranching. Now entering its 23rd year, the Diablo Trust emerged in the midst of a volatile time by the Prossers of the Bar T Bar Ranch and the Metzgers of Flying M Ranch, two established Arizona ranching families.

Jeremy Krones, program manager for the Diablo Trust, acknowledged that while members of the Trust may have radically different political opinions, all contention must be put aside to accomplish the tasks at hand.

“What sets [the Diablo Trust ranches] apart from the rest of the Southwest and Midwest is the social attitude that these ranch owners have,” Krones said. “They don’t agree on a lot of different topics with people, but when it comes to Diablo Trust, we actively don’t discuss those topics because they don’t serve our end goal.”

Today, cattle ranchers, who contribute to the United States’ insatiable hunger for beef and other cow-derived products, have been condemned for the use of water and land that is required to grow a single cow. 
 
 A study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations found that an immense amount of water is dedicated to agriculture, accounting for 70 percent of water use and 93 percent of water depletion in 2000. This water withdrawal is expected to increase by 22 percent — mainly due to domestic, industrial and livestock (notably cattle) uses.

Krones’ perspective is different. According to him, beef production is one of the more sustainable agricultural practices, because of the great responsibility held by prominent ranchers. He described how cattle ranching is a form of arid land conservation, due to the rancher’s necessity for ample feed, pasture and water to simply support themselves and their business. Therefore, individual ranchers are likely to care deeply for the land they have. They understand minuscule changes in climate and how to efficiently respond.

“The attitude is that ranches are anti-environment, because people have an idea of what land management should be, and it isn’t that,” Krones said.

100 percent of the beef for Flagstaff-based restaurant Diablo Burger, which was established in 2009 and has expanded to Tucson, is obtained from the Diablo Trust ranches. The restaurant sources most of their ingredients from a 250-mile radius.

“We want to enhance the connection between community and ecology through gastronomy,” Diablo Burger’s website asserts.

The Trust uses a holistic approach to accomplish its initiatives: taking into consideration the local environment, economic and social sustainability, and preservation of habitat for wild animals.

The IMfoS (Integrated Monitoring for Sustainability) Project, was developed and implemented in 2005 by individuals from NAU, Prescott College and elsewhere. This Project monitors and evaluates the sustainability of collaboratively managed rangelands within the Diablo Trust. In 2008, illustrative data was obtained through sampling, surveys and the Census Bureau.

Jill Rundall, a board member and data analyst for IMfoS, emphasized the importance of not only monitoring natural resources, but also maintaining a positive view of the land as something to be valued and conserved.

“Sustainable means renewable, a positive feedback cycle. It has to integrate soils, water, air, vegetation and recreation,” Rundall said, “We have natural resources and we have social resources; we have to remember that they are quite connected. Our collaboration offers the opportunity to look at these together.”

Rundall sees the Diablo Trust as a local organization helping to reduce the carbon footprint by providing local beef to Arizona eateries, while also contributing to a stronger community.

Those involved in the Diablo Trust see ranchers and environmentalists working hand-in-hand for the betterment of all: conserving rangelands in northern Arizona for future generations of ranchers, cattle and wildlife.