Bela Sanchez

I'm tired. I am supposed to reflect on my capstone, but I can't, and I don't know when I will. For now, I am just trying to keep breathing, and reminding myself that that in and of itself is a privilege. Be gentle with yourselves, y'all. #ENVIR492

I have felt incredibly fortunate to have the POE faculty as my leaders, and I am eternally grateful to them for their inimitable teaching. But I have also noticed the faces that are not there. What are we doing about it? Hopefully something, and soon. #ENVIR492

Our program is overwhelmingly white, and even more overwhelmingly non-black. It's a fact that troubles me, and it's one of the biggest things I've learned in my time at UW. How can we advocate for equity with so many voices missing from the conversation? #ENVIR492

@KaelynThede @farmer_nat I'm so glad! Thank you for taking an interest! #ENVIR492

@farmer_nat @bela8299 Yes! Thank you for your presentation @bela8299 I learned a lot from your research and all the resources you’ve shared during the capstone experience #ENVIR492

My page is beginning to look like a @bela8299 fan club, but hear me out-- this lady has taught me so much from her research on sustainable livestock grazing to farmers to follow on social media to get perspective from non-white farmers #envir492

@farmer_nat BEST gal!! Grateful for your friendship and everything I learn from you! #ENVIR492

One tweet doesn't allow me enough characters to shout you out @bela8299 ! An inspiration and a friend for a life time!!! #envir492

It is extremely hard to put focus on my #POEcap while there are so many other pressing issues going on #ENVIR492

Biggest surprise of #POECap was @ClinchDuke’s haircut amiright #ENVIR492

My breakout room partner @AliceqzUW absolutely crushed it on Wednesday--it was a delight to learn about how beluga whale calls could be a vital component of understanding their behavior, social structures, and geographic distribution! #ENVIR492

We don’t live in a “free” country, never have.

The available scientific evidence is incongruent with the lived experience of managed grazing practitioners. There is a need to balance the observational evidence of practitioners & the randomized experiments of science to further knowledge in this field. #POEcap #ENVIR492 (6/6)

However, managed grazing is also more land intensive and more time consuming, according to one farmer. Furthermore, there is no consistent data illustrating increased species richness, biodiversity, or carbon sequestration capacity. #POEcap #ENVIR492 (5/6)

Different grazing systems provide different benefits to the farmer. While continuous grazing has the highest gross yields of both plant and animal matter, rotational grazing is more likely to promote biodiversity and ecological function. #POEcap #ENVIR492 (4/6)

From July to December of 2019, I worked as the livestock intern at SkyRoot Farm. I ran a grazing experiment with goats and chickens, interviewed managed grazing practitioners, and conducted a literature review to assess benefits and challenges. #POEcap #ENVIR492 (3/6)

Despite myriad posited benefits including improved soil fertility, the ecological impact and climate mitigation capacity of managed grazing remain inconclusive. So, I asked: What are the benefits and challenges of utilizing a managed grazing system? #POEcap #ENVIR492 (2/6)

Industrial meat production drives 15% of global carbon emissions. Managed livestock grazing offers an alternative meat production system with improved health for the planet, animals, and human beings. #POEcap #ENVIR492 (1/6)

An endorsement from Liz Landefeld herself?! Couldn't be more honored. #ENVIR492 #POECap

One farmer told me that he thinks "sustainability isn't enough. We're working to regenerate and improve the environment, not keep it the same." Wondering how livestock fit into that mission? I'll be sharing my findings in the first session! #ENVIR492

The #POECap symposium is nearly here! Wednesday on Zoom I'll finally get to share the work I've been doing since April of last year!! #ENVIR492