Holistic Policy: A Path to Real Change
By Abbey Kingdon
When I first saw the land through the lens of Holistic Management’s four ecosystem processes, I was stunned by the extent of degradation I saw. Today, as I dive deeper into the intricacies of holistic policy creation, I find that same sense of revelation, it's a joy and a burden, because we can never “unsee” what we now perceive.
It’s impossible to ignore how many policies today are entrenched in division. They often cast people as heroes or villains, winners or losers, while primarily addressing symptoms instead of root causes. Rarely do policymakers pause to adjust course based on feedback and data. As a result, many policies fail to address the root cause of the issue.
Instead of feeling disheartened by this, however, I feel hopeful. The potential for real transformation is limitless. But what stands between us and that future?
Where has holistic policy been implemented successfully? And what does it really take to make it happen?
To answer these questions, I sat down with my business partner at UVE, Andrea Malmberg, whose origin story of holistic policy began in the 1990s, a time of great division on what the West should be.
The Seeds of Change
Andrea’s journey into holistic policy began during her time at Washington State University, where she pursued a master’s degree in natural resources sociology. It was there she met Don Nelson, a professor who taught her about consensus-building and the importance of diagnosing root cause using the Holistic Management Framework. This was the age of the Spotted Owl and the "Cattle Free by '93" movement, which sought to remove cattle from public lands. The political climate was fraught with conflict. The policies born of these tensions often caused more conflict and division, contributing to a broader pattern of reactive policymaking.
While conducting interviews for her master’s thesis, Andrea listened to both sides and found that there were many sides and most people were motivated by the love of place and community. Following her graduate work, Andrea joined the Montana Consensus Council, where she brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to solve high-conflict issues.
One of her most notable successes was in the Big Hole River region, where ranchers and anglers, both dependent on the river’s water, were at odds about policy around a fish called the Arctic Grayling. By bringing these groups together, literally getting them to boat the river together to examine the situation firsthand, Andrea helped facilitate understanding that led to a policy that not only protected the river but also preserved livelihoods of both ranchers and anglers who derived their livelihoods from the river. The process was collaborative, inclusive, and ultimately, it worked.
Why Holistic Policy Matters
Holistic policy creation asks a fundamental question: What is the root cause of the problem we are really trying to solve? Solutions consider the social, ecological, and financial impacts of a policy.
At the heart of holistic policy is the understanding that all aspects of life depend on a functioning Ecosystem. Policies that don’t examine root causes often result in quick fixes that do little to solve underlying problems. For example, consider immigration reform or reproductive rights policies that fail to address deeper systemic issues like economic inequality or social insecurity. Or in the case of avian influenza, a policy might call for culling infected chickens to prevent disease spread. A truly holistic approach would seek to find where the disease originates, and put measures in place to address it there.
The Fundamentals of Holistic Policy
For a policy to be truly holistic, it must be socially, financially, and ecologically sound. Socially, it must engage the decision-makers, and ensure all affected parties are heard. Financially, it must be efficient, addressing economic needs without incurring unnecessary costs. Ecologically, it must work with — not against — nature.
But creating holistic policy is not without challenges. Power dynamics often obstruct the process, especially when those in leadership positions are reluctant to share control. This resistance can make it difficult to establish collaborative, multi-stakeholder solutions. However, it’s crucial that these power imbalances be addressed if holistic policy is to succeed.
Real-World Examples of Holistic Policy
Are there places in the world where holistic policy creation and monitoring is happening? A Holistic Management accredited professional with the Savory Institute, and Savory Global Network Member, Joel Benson has deep experience with holistic policy creation as the Town of Buena Vista’s (Colorado, USA) senior policy advisor and project advocate. He says:
Traditional policy processes help an organization hone in on alternatives to solve problems. While the holistic process includes finding solutions, policy design first requires identifying the problem that is cause for concern, and frames potential actions toward addressing that problem.
It has been my experience that the traditional policy process approach encourages emphatic assumptions about the problem with limited discussion, especially surrounding the root cause of that problem. Resultant policy is often a crapshoot with each designer having their own idea of what problem they are trying to address.
Monitoring to ensure the policy is doing what it intends is virtually nonexistent since time and capacity are seldom prioritized to create an appropriate monitoring scheme.
Integrating a new approach to policy takes dedication and longevity, both of which can be difficult in a governmental setting with multiple layers of people setting policy, and others in charge of implementation. The rewards of the holistic policy process are immense and well worth learning the nuances, how to roll out policy, and how to check progress.
My community has taken some bold steps in prioritizing expenses, creating quality of life and building resilience based on the holistic policy approach—worth every effort to incorporate a new paradigm of policy.
And now for some comic relief from The New Yorker:
Steps to Creating Holistic Policy
Creating a holistic policy involves several critical steps:
Needs Assessment/Policy Analysis: Understand the issue at hand and diagnose the root causes.
Identify Policymakers: Recognize who has decision-making power and who will be affected.
Seek Input from Experts: Consult a broad range of stakeholders, from community members to technical experts.
Form or Adapt Policy: Develop a policy that addresses the root causes and aligns with stakeholders' needs.
Implement the Policy: Ensure clear communication and accountability during implementation.
Oversee the Policy: Ensure the policy is being executed as intended.
Monitor Outcomes: Track both the positive and negative results to gauge the policy’s impact.
Adapt the Policy: Adjust the policy based on outcomes and feedback.
Overcoming Obstacles
One major obstacle to holistic policy in the United States is the complex bureaucracy of federal and state systems. Many policies are created in isolation, without consideration for the broader ecological and social picture. However, smaller-scale, community-driven efforts often provide more fertile ground for implementing holistic policies. Take, for instance, watershed groups or consensus councils find success where top-down regulations fail.
Holistic policies address root causes, foster collaboration, and integrate social, ecological, and economic considerations to offer a promising way forward in community–without heroes and villains, winners and losers. Whether addressing natural resource management, public health, or food security, these policies provide the pathway to peace and stability.
SIDEBAR
Have you seen policies monitored and adapted? Please share with us! We’d love to hear from you and continue the conversation about creating effective policy.
Abbey Kingdon is Savory Professional Educator and an owner of UVE