Ecological Outcomes Verification (EOV)

Ecological Outcomes Verification (EOV)

EOV or Ecological Outcomes Verification is a scientifically developed approach to empirically evaluate and monitor the ecological impact of land management, through the lens of 4 Ecosystem Processes.

Water Cycle: 🌦️💦🌱

Mineral Cycle: 🐂🦠🍄🌱

Energy Flow:🌞🌱

Community dynamics: 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🐢🦩🦗🐛🦋🌱

All are vital for the health of the same whole! 🌀🌍🪐 

These are four windows looking into the same room. 

The soil surface is a good early indicator of soil and ecosystem health, and the consequences of management decisions and actions. 

4 ecosystem processes :

1. Water cycle. This is the movement of water through the atmosphere, soil, and plants. Bare ground is a sign of a disrupted water cycle, which leads to soil compaction, water erosion, evaporation, and poor water infiltration and retention. We need to catch and store water on our land, slow it down, and use it wisely. Soil rich in organic matter and microbial life acts like a sponge that holds water. Measured rainfall is ineffective if lost through evaporation or runoff.  Water should leave the land through transpiration by plants as much as possible.

2. Mineral cycle. This is the free movement of minerals through the ecosystem. Waste and dead plants and animals are always resources in this cycle, not problems. Scavengers, small animals, and insects process this material to make it available. Diversity in the soil and above the soil is key to a healthy mineral cycle. Nitrogen fixation is the process by which bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use.

3. Energy flow. This is the movement of solar energy through the system via photosynthesis, which creates carbon and sugars that feed diverse life forms. To maximize energy flow, we need to maximize the diversity and biomass of plant leaf cover on the soil. Scavengers, small animals, and insects process dung and dead animals to make energy available. A Long food chain covers different seasons and succession stages.

4. Community dynamics or biodiversity. This is the diversity and balance of life forms in an ecosystem. The more biodiverse an ecosystem is, the more healthy, resilient, and productive it is. We need to maximize biodiversity below and above the soil. The diversity of plant life feeds the diversity of biology in the soil at different root depths and above the soil. Integrating animals, composting organic matter, and creating habitats for wildlife increases diversity.  Predator-prey relationships are important for maintaining balance and diversity. Humans are a part of natural ecosystems, not separate from them and our social and economic well-being depends on ecological health.

These partly drive natural systems. They are interrelated, cyclical, and not linear. Use a constant feedback loop while monitoring to apply learning and observations to your next management decisions. 

Plan - Monitor (4 ecosystem processes) - Control - Replan. 

Our EOV service will generate a comprehensive report that can be used to benchmark and monitor progress.

Short-term monitoring - Annal.

Long-term monitoring - Every 5 years