Apr 1, 2026
Nate Chisholm is in a lifelong exploration of
the savanna ecosystem—the landscape in which the first human
societies evolved, and some of the most biodiverse places on the
planet. Savannas are where we learned to hunt and gather.
Ironically, as human beings developed technology, starting with
stone tools, we altered these landscapes by over-hunting large
animals, leading to degradation of the land and eventually the loss
of most of the savannas themselves.
According to Chisholm, the degradation of land through technology
is the root of all our modern problems—but we can return to balance
by restoring savanna landscapes, and restoring the savanna roots of
our own psyches.
Chisholm is a livestock grazer, with a background in forestry
and ecologically based land management. He started two ranching
businesses in the US and is currently living in Kenya and working
on a book called Savanna.