E.I. Land Steward Qualifications and Procedures

E.I. Certification/ disability and need A critical ingredient of the Land Steward Program as it currently exists is the utilization of non-chemical labor contributions provided by the community of those with known chemical/ immune damaged systems in exchange for provision of safe siting for their portable residential facilities...sites which often do not exist to levels of freedom of contamination sufficient to assure their health and living viability anywhere except on remote and unpolluted public lands. It is, after all, the nearly complete collapse in the protective and regulatory functions of government that has produced levels of environmental and product pollution which have created this disease and for which the public certainly has paid through taxation and is still for the most part under the illusion that they enjoy. It is to that same government that these people...those for whom the protective system of governmental assurances of safety and health have failed...must now hold out in some form of hope as a source of potential help and solutions...at least until the tide of corporate lobby buy offs of regulatory policy and influence and their curtailment of funding for adequate, disinterested research and regulation of toxins in consumer products and the environment can be restored... to a level effective in prevention of these now epidemic environmental diseases.

A program of government giveaways and "welfare-like" artificial support mechanisms are historically unworkable, producing huge drains on governmental coffers and producing little more that paralyzing dependencies on the part of the recipients.

The innovation breaking ground into a whole new concept of interchange between government and...for instance...the chemical disability community poses a promising viability in terms of effective, low-cost quid-pro-quo dynamics insightfully assessing the needs of the community, the assets of the government and the deterioration dynamics now rampant on our public lands. It is in the piloting and inauguration of a complex and comprehensive system of solutions to the mutual benefit of all concerned that the effectiveness of this program for the project at hand holds out some further promise for providing the syllabus for the approach to similar challenges in areas beyond the scope of the present one.

For these reasons, participation in the E.I. Land Steward Program needs to be limited to people with legitimate environmental immune damages and needs. The current state of conventional medical diagnosis, education and training in dealing with these maddeningly complex allergies is not sufficient (as the past 20 years of successful treatment outside the conventional medical community graphically shows) to warrant or recommend medical certification of immune impairment as the sole criterion for qualification for this program.

Certainly that diagnosis and certification would suffice and would be recommendable, especially in terms of leading MD's into examination of the causes of the myriad immune dysfunctions they treat daily, instead of simply diagnosing the cellular dysfunction and applying (usually chemical) band aids to treat it, without regard to the causes of the disease and often at the result and danger of sending the patient back into the environmental condition which created it without knowledge, remediation, education or protection....the result of which is invariably an escalation of the disease itself, or its transitioning into a more deadly form.

Alternative and parallel certification methods need to be developed for this program including diagnosis by alternative practitioners (acupuncturists, herbal practitioners, naturopaths) and from the knowledgeable E.I. community itself. It may be possible to qualify an E.I. based on stated conditions and allergies submitted in their program application through screening guidelines created as a part of this program itself.

It is intended that the specifics of this qualification procedure be further developed in participation with Smart Shelter, the E.I. community, medical practitioners and lands managers as part of the objectives and focus of the present pilot projects.

Competence and willingness to fulfill program parameters

Training, education in services Provisions must be in place to assure that participating Land Stewards are versed in non-chemical, non-mechanical irradication, identification of invasive species, environmentally sound methods of collected debris disposal, protection of the natural environment the inhabit and work in and in off-grid living technologies, sanitation, etc. For the foreseeable future, it is assumed that training would come from Smart Shelter and from the relevant land management entities.

Identification of study/ services locales Current pilot study procedure for identifying prospective project locales involves roving regional preliminary surveys (by Smart Shelter), selection of prospective sites on the basis of safety for occupancy (absence of EMF and chemical or pollution contamination) , accessibility, level of infestation and damages (to assure that work demands are not overwhelmed by unfeasible levels incapable of remediation), suitability for designation as chemical-free recreation areas.

Preliminary identification, reconnaissance and mapping are typically done during a short term (two week) camping stay with the end result of proper scale mapping development, invasive species infestation site and liter location, preliminary remediation plan, medium term occupancy site locations, and land manager submission and field verification for pilot study approval.

Emphasis in criterion for selection are small tributary drainage basins supporting "headwaters irradication strategy" (discussed elsewhere), accessible to potential E.I. recreation public, supporting non-impacting occupancy visibility, harboring infestations of invasives on scales reasonable for effective non-chemical and non-motorized irradication, feasible for monitoring, project phasing and follow-up on a minimum four-year program time frame and providing the ingredients known to be safe for E.I. accommodation explained in detail in the E.I. Standard (published on this web site)

The levels of detail in mapping and reconnaissance are sufficient for competent and clear definition of project scope and services, but not exorbitantly demanding to the extent to make them a barrier to pilot project feasibility...typically an enlarged topographic map section showing the entire tributary basin and providing accurate description and location for illegal dump sites, general liter and species identified invasives locations slated for removal.

It is deemed best, if the pilot study appears acceptable to the land managers, that a verifying field trip be made and photographic documentation of conditions be made with named locations to be documented again following remediation (slide color photographs or video footage).

If consensus is developed following the short term reconnaissance and mapping phase, the project would move into a medium term occupancy and remediation work executed.

Housing Equipment

Off grid capabilities

Project/ occupancy approval process

Supervision of work

Evaluation of performance

Qualification for successive projects

Program Operation Parameters

Official Signage at Sites The status of the Land Steward in the performance of approved work will be quasi-official...placing them in a status close to being an employee of the land management entity. For the time being, it appears that support of the short or medium term occupancy and the gray zone of a watchful, but not official or functional law enforcement presence (ingredients deemed to be integral to the provided benefits of this program) would be supported by official signage at the occupancy site....for instance, a simple BLM or Division of Wildlife department sign at or on the occupancy dwelling. This signage may provide an upgraded image of that presence and assist in land damaging activity discouragement while helping to protect the Land Steward and their property.

These provisions and procedures obviously need further discussion and development, which are also focuses of the procedure generation portion of these pilot studies.

Funding Primary intent of the Land Steward program is to produce a system which operates at minimal or no cost to the land management agency. At current time, Smart Shelter's portion of the pilot study development is funded to a small extent by already existing grant funds. The availability of further grant funds based on enlisted of land management entities and accumulation of experiences with the pilot studies seems obvious. Many of these potential funding sources would not be available to the land management or private property agencies under existing programs, but because of the E.I. ingredient and the environmental track record of Smart Shelter to date, would be produced automatically in the process of this joint venture.

Operating expenses for the fully developed program once in place are not known, but the focus of pilot study development is to identify, empower and produce policy support for zero cost or very low cost administration through provision of E.I. safe occupancy in exchange for work.

Many known entities providing funding for research, development and support of E.I. sufferers and environmental objectives would be viable sources for grant applications which could either be carried out by Smart Shelter itself or in partnership with land management staff.

Value of Occupancy and Basis of Exchange The original intent of the Productive Occupancy concept is not to provide a full time labor force similair to what would be enlisted should paid hand irradication projects be undertaken. Most E.I.s are disabled to a level only allowing brief or part time exertion each day, especially in the early stages of diagnosis, lifestyle changes and recovery instigation. On the other hand, they definitely benefit from and should be able to provide limited labor daily, incidental to their daily routine and benefit from the aerobic, liver activating and cleansing benefits of the work. The basis of this program is for the E.I., say for instance providing their own "Micro Habitat", to contribute labor (on the scale of about an hour per day) in exchange for what accommodation would be valued in the commercial market...say an R.V. park or commercial campground on a weekly or monthly basis. As a starting point, current experience in the Western Colorado area is that such accommodations go for $150-200 per month. If we value the E.I.s labor at $10/hour(also the experienced regional average) ...we arrive at a 15-20 hour per month labor contribution for debris removal and invasive species remediation ....well within the capabilities of the E.I. and a certain positive contribution to land health garnered at no cost to the public lands entity along with peripheral benefits of the Occupancy including watchfulness, deterrents, unauthorized uses.

The program at this base-level is not designed to produce large impact or limited time frame irradication labor force. It is designed for long term, lower impact, mutually beneficial remediation and support ...a conceptual basis much more in line with the objectives and experiences in other programs which have proven viable and effective in time frames of a few years and beyond. The extended presence encourages more thorough reconnaissance and is increasingly critical in the follow-up irradication and prevention of reinfestation.

Most E.I.s at the Alpha Two and beyond levels are completely disabled functionally (unable to be in conventional work spaces or afford general public contact as a part of employment). Many of us are certified disabled by the Social Security Administration, V. A. etc. Compensation for disability in this country is so low that it makes living on (usually around $700/ per month) disastrously unfeasible. Some of us have managed to put together limited income generating venues as means of at least partial self support (in fact, the Smart Shelter Network, the website you're visiting and the document you now read have exactly that origin...they are produced by an Alpha Two E.I. of total disability who simply refused to give up and die). Some of us have part time employment in safe locales. The basic level of the Land Steward Program is to provide an economic exchange of labor producing positive effects on the land while providing locational safety for the E.I. in a no cost framework, which also leaves the E.I. free for the rest of their day to continue their other means of self support.

In the instance where labor beyond that time frame is part of the arrangement, funding or compensation would be a consideration, possibly providing safe income sources in addition to Occupancy for the E.I. This level of program development is not of primary focus at present, but once the viability of hand irradication and workability of declared Chemical-Free recreation zones is established, there seems no barrier to procuring the same types of project funding for higher levels of hand irradication we are now dedicating to toxic herbicides and more land-destructive techniques. These are aspects to be considered after the pilot study experience is more matured. It would be very likely, because of the addition of immune damaged and environmental damage protection aspects of extended services for clean up and irradication, which place such programs into environmental circles, that we would that they bring with them a broadened horizon in terms of available funding sources...possibly placing the land management agencies and the E.I. community in a situation of working together to develop funding and augment program expansion. The base level of this program would operate well without any of that.

In the mean time, it is cautioned that we should not expect huge, widespread irradication impacts from this program at its basic level, which is designed to optimize contribution of a limited source for myriad productive impacts over longer time frames and garners its effect by repetitive presences year to year. What we should expect, is slow, deliberate, researched and consistent improvement of land damages, misuse and infestation on a year to year timeframe in the sites selected for pilot study and implementation.

Law Enforcement procedure and status It is not the intent of this program to place Land Stewards in an official law enforcement role on public lands. The training, qualification and administration of law enforcement need to remain clearly within the administration of the lands managers and their existing policies and staff. It is a well known fact, and a desired spin-off benefit of this program, that a responsible, officially sanctioned and watchful presence are effective, around the clock deterrents to drug parties, sexual violation, illegal off-road vehicle damages and dumping. Every single land manager interviewed to date has identified this factor as a potential plus to the program and their challenges to keep up with an increasingly abusive and destructive deteriorating public impact on public lands. Unless we discover and implement additional productive and protective presences and effects on our public asset...we can only stand by watching their continued deterioration in the future....something none of us want and seemingly so easy to avoid.

Reporting procedures to competent law enforcement for violators witnessed by land stewards is crucial. Instigation of reward systems for reporting leading to successful and punitive conviction are key long-range, known-to-be-effective program objectives on a future basis. The Div. of Wildlife Operation Game Thief and the State Patrol phone in traffic violator networks have demonstrated conclusively that the future of effective stemming of increased violation and abuse caused by growth and cultural deterioration lie in the empowerment of the responsible and concerned citizenry itself. The Land Steward is an ideal start.

Removal Techniques Emphasis for removal of invasives and debris is that they be completely non-chemical and generally non-motorized in nature. Hand iradication of the leafy plant invasive species is a no-brainer and known to be effective. Substitution of "non-harmful" chemicals as invasive treatments to replace herbicides is not advisable or part of this program. Larger dimension tree invasives (tamarisk, elm, russian olive) are remediated by paring back with hand pruning and where feasible, root ball irradicated by hand or hand mechanical devices. In locales, levels of infestation or tree sizes impairing hand irradication, pulling with the use of vehicles or winches is sometimes necessary. It is imperative, in Smart Shelter's experience, that complete root ball removal be used with all tree invasives. If vehicle or other motorized uses prove necessary, they are included for approval, access and review with the land manager at the pilot study phase.

The specific use of chain saws is discouraged with this program. Their noise is inappropriate for public lands and the damages to wildlife. Their stench and impact on other humans is common knowledge. Of little knowledge is the damaging effects, especially over prolonged usage, of the electromagnetic fields generated by rotation of the metal engine parts on the connective tissue of the user's hands and wrists...which is one of the reasons carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis are such common maladies with repetitive chain-saw users (and other hand-held electrical and rotational mechanical devices). They are particularly obnoxious to E.I.s due to the toxic smoke, pollution contact with the reactive petroleum products and emf, which ramp up allergic reaction syndromes.

All of these techniques have been tested, developed and proven effective and of limited feasibility in work already conducted by Smart Shelter over the past four years. Locations and headwater basins are located and submitted for approval based on feasibility of these technologies for long term effectiveness balanced against the level of infestation or damages.

Disposal techniques Emphasis in program development is to use the irradicated slash in the development and research for eventual value-added products which will eventually fire the work force for large scale invasive species removal. Basically, the trash and slash are viewed as assets to be developed. Trash removed from illegal dump sites is ground into glass gravel, aluminum recycled, biodegradables chipped/shredded/composted and returned as soil augmentations, plastics are recycled.

Uses under investigation for value added products are discussed elsewhere. In summary, the wood stock olive, elm and tamarisk are in trial and preliminary product production for kindling, firewood sales, chipping for substitute use in wood pellet stoves, music instrument manufacture, wood furniture and custom product turning and carving (one participant is a well-known Santa Fe Mexican Folk Art Wood Carver...with high production output). Under investigation are the larger volume product potentials as door knob stock for automobile manufacturers, chipboard manufacturer resource stock, rustic furniture stock sources and pencil manufacturers (similar to the current tamarisk pencil factory in Hawaii).

None of the slash or debris is burned on site (which only increases an already problematical regional air quality problem...fired mainly by automobiles and crop/ditch burning). All members of the E.I. community along with myriad asthma and allergy sufferers experience painful and debilitating respiratory and allergic impairment as a result of unnecessary burning of crops, ditches and wood stoves. Disposal of invasives through burning is categorically irresponsible and unconscionable. In the instances where the short term viable end use of slash is for wood stove pellets and firewood, this is done with the rationale that the invasives resource stock replaces damages to already impacted native pine, aspen, narrow leaf cottonwood, juniper, pinion and oak. In the long run, parallel programs to ramp up renewable heating sources and increasing fuels efficiency will supplant those uses...but one thing at a time, right?

Much of the slash from invasives in its smaller dimensions may be chipped into onsite soil amendments or other uses (such as driveway/landscape or roadside soil cover...which in sufficient depth is an invasive curtailment strategy of great effect in itself).

 

Access approvals

Documentation and Evaluation