Stewardship

Holistic management guides land management at the Conservation Research Center of Teton Science Schools. Pioneered over 30 years ago by a wildlife biologist, holistic management provides the framework to consider the “whole” needing to be managed. This process allows incorporation of technical information (i.e., wildlife and vegetation data) and non-technical information (i.e., societal values) into a cohesive management strategy with goals appropriate to the Jackson Campus.

Holistic management encourages the development of a “toolbox,” or list of tools (including people) to help accomplish the identified goals. Each tool is considered prior to implementing a management action to make sure the right tool is being used. For example, a goal in the agricultural management unit was to replace the vegetation in a weed-infested portion of the unit with plants with a higher value to wildlife. To accomplish this goal, livestock (the tool) were used to graze the weeds. While the livestock were grazing, the site was seeded with desirable plant species. The “hoof action” of the livestock incorporated the seed into the soil and eliminated the need to bring in machinery to seed these species. In the spring, we look forward to a newly rehabilitated portion of the unit.

In any situation we manage, we want to make sure we are bringing about the desired goal. To ensure we are continually moving toward our goal, we use a four-step feedback loop. First, we develop a goal and a plan to achieve that goal. The second step is to implement the plan and monitor its success. Third, if monitoring indicates we are moving away from our goal, we control this deviation from the goal by changing management to bring us back toward the goal. Sometimes events can go beyond our control, so we re-plan and begin the process again.

Purpose/Goals
The Conservation Research Center is dedicated to finding a balance between the needs of wildlife and people to achieve a tradition of responsible growth that other western communities can follow. We strive to improve wildlife habitat through innovative management actions on our property, including:

Preserving and perpetuating the long-term health, function and aesthetic value of wildlife habitats
Improving habitat value and biodiversity for wildlife
Providing a hands-on learning environment for the public and resource managers in the regio

Projects
Land management projects focus on improving wildlife habitat. Recent projects include:

Develop marshes to improve habitat for trumpeter swans and other waterfowl (construction begins November 2006)
Cooperative weed control projects with Teton County Weed & Pest, Teton Conservation District, the Jackson Hole Land Trust and Teton Science Schools' groups
Use of livestock to convert weed-infested areas into productive grassland
Construction of a “beaver deceiver” to allow beaver dam building without affecting creek flows or irrigation
Conversion of barbed wire into wildlife-friendly fence
Musk thistle research with Journeys School to direct weed control strategies and evaluate weed control efficacy
Fence removal to facilitate ungulate movement

Plans
Data drives management actions on the Jackson Campus. The holistic management philosophy of “plan, monitor, control, re-plan” is implemented in all areas of management. Land management on the Jackson Campus is guided by short- and long-term planning documents and adjusted as needed based on monitoring results. Our guiding document is the Open Space Management Plan.

Other plans include:
Grazing Plan (updated annually)
Fuel and Habitat Management Plan (2005)
Trumpeter Swan Marsh Biological Inventory
Access Policy
Irrigation
Trail management
Weed management
Fence maintenance
Monitoring (flora and fauna)