In Memory
of
Joy Belsky
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Following a long illness, Joy Belsky died in
Portland, Oregon on the morning of Friday, December 14, 2001. |
Joy Belsky, booster for public land, dies
12/15/01
Michael Milstein
The Oregonian
Joy Belsky, a Portland range ecologist who rose to national prominence in a male-dominated
field while crusading to boot cattle off public lands in the West, died Friday of breast cancer.
She was 56.
Belsky took on ranchers who she argued were letting their cattle trample native plants and
wildlife, public agencies that she believed discriminated against women and fellow range
scientists who she maintained were too timid to speak up against practices that damaged
the land.
In Oregon, she fought plans to shoot coyotes on the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge and
forced federal land agencies to face scientific questions about the impacts of livestock
grazing.
"Certainly she was out front on a lot of issues that were important to her and society," said
Bill Marlett, executive director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association, which employed
Belsky as a staff ecologist. "She had this unbridled spirit and integrity that she was not
willing to compromise what she thought was right."
Born in Texas, Belsky received degrees from Smith College, the Yale School of Forestry and
Environmental Studies and the University of Washington. She studied the grasslands of
Africa for more than five years before poaching became so rampant she had to leave.
"The last few months we were there, they shot 17 poachers from helicopters," said her
husband, Bob Amundson of Portland.
She later completed research at Syracuse and Cornell universities before moving to Oregon
and taking a job with the Oregon Natural Resources Council and, later, the Bend-based
desert association. She published more than 45 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters
on African and North American grasslands, many of them blaming livestock grazing for
upsetting the delicate balance of native plants and wildlife in the arid interior West.
That made her one of the most prominent American women in range management and
earned her the ire -- and often the grudging respect -- of the mostly male ranchers and
range managers who had long dominated the field.
"We have certain things we believe to be true and when someone like Joy challenges you
on them, it forces you to think them through more carefully," said William Krueger, professor
and head of the Department of Rangeland Resources at Oregon State University. "In that
way, she probably made us better at the same time she made us angry."
An activist on many fronts, Belsky also sought a greater role for women in natural resource
management and science. When she felt scientific conferences sponsored by federal
agencies lacked women speakers, Belsky often sent organizers -- and congressmen -- a list
of female researchers who were qualified to speak.
Survivors include her husband; her mother, Sally Belsky; and a sister, Janice Schwartz.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Sunday at Holman's Funeral Home on Southeast
Hawthorne Boulevard.
In Remembrance
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Profession or Area of Expertise
Grassland ecologist (Ph.D.), staff ecologist for a grassland/desert
grassroots environmental organization
Biographical Sketch #1
Joy Belsky came on board with the
Oregon Natural Desert Association
in the Summer of 1996. As staff ecologist, she reviewed the scientific and
legal adequacy of federal and state resource management plans and developed
scientific bases for protecting natural ecosystems. Joy held a B.A. from
Smith College, a masters in forest ecology from Yale University, and a Ph.D.
from the University of Washington. Prior to moving to Oregon in 1992, she
was an assistant professor at Syracuse University and senior research associate
at Cornell University, where she also taught graduate courses in plant ecology
and investigated the ecology of grazed ecosystems and the properties of tropical
savannas in Tanzania and Kenya. She published over 45 peer-reviewed
scientific papers and book chapters on African and North American grasslands
and rangelands. From 1993-1996, Joy was staff ecologist for the
Oregon Natural Resources Council.
Biographical Sketch #2
ONDA Staff Ecologist Joy Belsky was born in Abilene, TX, where ranching and oil are
supreme. It wasn't until many years later that she learned that the mesquite,
thorny shrubs, and prickly pear that cover the West Texas landscape were not
the original vegetation dominants, but had migrated there from Mexico after livestock grazing had
decimated the midgrass prairies that originally covered the land.
Joy's job at ONDA was to review the scientific and legal adequacy of federal resource management
plans and develop the scientific basis for protecting natural ecosystems. She
held a BA. from Smith College, a Masters of Forest Ecology from the Yale University School of
Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a Ph.D. in plant ecology from the University of Washington. Prior to
moving to Oregon in 1992, she was Research Assistant Professor at Syracuse University
and Senior Research Associate at Cornell University, where she taught graduate courses on plant ecology
and investigated the ecology of grazed ecosystems and the properties of tropical
savannas in Tanzania and Kenya. She published over 45 peer-reviewed scientific papers
and book chapters on African and North American grasslands and rangelands.
Recent publications on western grassland conservation:
Painter, E.L. and A.J. Belsky. 1993. Application of herbivore optimization theory to rangelands
of the western United States. Ecological Applications 3:2-9.
Belsky, A.J. 1996. Viewpoint: Western juniper expansion: is it a threat to arid northwestern
ecosystems? Journal of Range Management 49:53-59.
Belsky, A.J. 1996. Wild and prescribed fire in forests of the Intermountain West: A policy
statement. Wild Earth, Fall, 1996.
Belsky, A.J. 1996. Timber imports: Environmental concerns. In: Morrell, J.J. and G. Filip
(editors). Importing Wood Products: Pest Risks to Domestic Industries. Oregon State
University, Corvallis, OR.
Belsky, A.J. and D.M. Blumenthal. 1997. Effects of livestock grazing on stand
dynamics and soils in upland forests of the Interior West. Conservation Biology 11:
315-327.
Belsky, A.J., A. Matzke, and S. Uselman. 1997. Survey of livestock influences on stream and
riparian ecosystems in the western United States. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation:
54:416-531.
Gelbard, J.L., and A.J. Belsky. (Draft) Contributions of livestock grazing to exotic plant invasions in
rangelands of the Intermountain West. To be submitted to Conservation Biology in the Fall
of 1999.
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In Remembrance
(email sentiments for posting here to Lwalker@rangebiome.org)
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REMEMBERING JOY
ONDA web page
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I am very sorry to learn of Joy’s death. She was a wonderful,
vibrant person; the world is poorer without her.
In addition to her contributions to range management and conservation that
are the focus of the obituaries, she also did fine basic science. Her American
Naturalist article on the question ‘does herbivory benefit plants?’ has become
a classic. It reviewed the literature and ‘knocked a lot of sense’ into what had
been a rather speculative subject, demonstrating that there was, in fact, almost
no evidence that herbivory can have a positive effect on the plant that is
being eaten (although herbivory may indirectly benefit that plant’s competitors). That
was a major contribution to the field! Her African papers are excellent
scientific studies, too.
Norma Fowler
Professor, Integrative Biology
University of Texas at Austin
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Joy was ONDA's staff ecologist and one of the most knowledgeable,
dedicated, passionate grasslands advocates in the United States. In addition
to being an excellent and accomplished scientist, Joy demonstrated an amazing
commitment to the meaningful protection of the West's drier landscapes.
She was a true champion of underdogs, of the sometimes-charismatically-challenged creatures that comprise the vital
bedrock of intact, healthy, functioning arid-land ecosystems...bunchgrasses,
cryptobiotic crusts, coyotes, junipers, redband trout, Washington ground
squirrels. In her much-too-short but incredibly action-packed career, Joy
eloquently identified and described the ecological travesty wrought by
livestock grazing in the Intermountain West; her myriad peer-reviewed papers
(45 in all) helped form the scientific foundation for the need to end livestock
grazing on public lands.
Joy was, in a word, remarkable. Other words that have been used to describe her during these past couple of days include: warm, brilliant,
inspiring, tenacious, spirited, stubborn, loving, funny, openly passionate,
and one heckuva role model.
It was an enormous honor for all of us at ONDA to be able to work with Joy
these past five years. We'll miss her very, very much. And we promise
that we'll try like heck to pick up where Joy so ably left off.
Gilly Lyons
Grassroots Coordinator, Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA)
Portland, OR
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Joy and I were postdocs at the same time in Sam McNaughton's lab.
Although she and I disagreed about her interpretations of Sam's work (and
later my work), it is a shame to lose her so early in life. Her conservation
efforts are much appreciated. Safari njema, Joy!
Linda L. Wallace
Professor of Botany
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK
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I've always admired Joy because of her commitment to use rigorous science in the cause of conservation and her willingness
to ask hard questions and to persevere even in the face of intense opposition. Even though I didn't see her
that often, she was an inspiration to me. She will be sorely missed.
P.A. Harcombe
Professor
Rice University
Houston, TX 77251
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While I did not know Joy very well, only a brief acquaintance for information
on the impacts of grazing, I think that she would welcome these thoughts of
how we might remember her...
I AM NOT DEAD
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings
Hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there.
I did not die.
For as long as man remembers me
I am not dead,
But dwell in thee.
May she rest in peace in a place where the cattle don't graze on public
lands.
Greg Schneider
Danville, CA
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Dr. Belsky was a conservation ecologist who studied and wrote
of herbivore / plant interactions in Africa and in North America as well
as other conservation issues related to arid lands management. Some of
her most important work related to the destructive impacts of livestock
grazing in arid lands, and is critically important in management of those lands to the benefit of all sorts of
wildlife taxa. To my thinking, Dr. Belsky's greatest attribute was her
outstanding ability to understand the scientific process and understand
research methodology and its proper interpretation and application. She was
able to understand the subtleties of research design and show why some
research, including peer reviewed publications, did not actually demonstrate
results claimed for that research. In particular, perhaps her most famous
scientific contributions centered around the important question of whether
herbivory actually benefits plants or whether plants tolerate herbivory. This
question may seem unimportant to the layman, but in the world of arid lands
management, the dynamic issues relating to that question make a world of
difference in conservation management. With the endangerment and decline of
numerous species of birds, raptors, fishes and other taxa due to poor aridlands management, it is significantly important that the
issues researched by Dr. Belsky continue to receive attention and application.
In honor of Joy Belsky, I would like to share a neat poem by Scottish poet
Robert Burns, called "Goodnight and Joy." In the past, when I read this
poem, or hear it sung by Scottish folksinger Dougie MacLean, I have thought
of American conservationist John Muir and his famous action of climbing into
a tall tree and riding out a severe, thundering winter storm in utter
exhuberation. But I will now think of Joy Belsky as well when I hear this song,
because her name is included in the poem itself and because it seems to echo
some of her own greatness of personality and of a wonderfully significant life
of service to her fellow man and of the ecosystems of which we are a part.
Here is: "Goodnight and Joy" by Robert
Burns
The year's wearin tae the wane
And day is fadin west awa
Out raves the torrent and the rain
And dark the cloud comes down the shaw
Let the tempest taut and blaw
Upon his loudeswinter horn
Goodnight and joy be with you all
We'll maybe meet again the morn
O we hae wandered far and wide
O'er Scotland's hills o'er firth and fell
Many a simple flower we've culled
And trimmed them wi' the heather bell
We've ranged the dingle and the dell
The hamlet and the baron's ha
Now let us take a kind farewell
Goodnight and joy be with you all
Though I was wayward, you were kind
And sorrowed when I went astray
For o my strains were often wild
As winds upon a winter day
The far I led you from the way
Fergie a minstrel since for a
A tear fas wi his parting lay
Goodnight and joy be with you all
Submitted with grief, but immense appreciation for a splendid scientist
and person. Joy Belsky will be missed and never forgotten
Stan Moore
San Geronimo, CA
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Words cannot express my gratitude for Joy, what she stood for and what she accomplished. I have come to rely on her for her
insight, her work and all that she did to bring light to our cause. Her loss is a great loss to us all. I will miss
having her there.
John Carter
WWP Utah
Mendon, UT
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She was one of the first scientists to take on the bogus "holistic ranching"
paradigm and challenged its progenitor, Alan Savory, in scientific journals. Joy
was also one of the most articulate and knowledgeable researchers on the
critically important issue of cryptobiotic crusts.
While the no-grazing movement has lost an invaluable leader, Joy has left a
legacy of pioneering spirit and scientific courage that is rare among PhD-level
scientists and perhaps rarer still within the mainstream environmental
movement.
Joy Belsky will be missed!
David Orr
Moab, UT
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It is so hard to think of a world without her, she has been such a
tremendous force in my life for so very long. To begin to appreciate what an influence she has been in our world, one
need only go to Google and search under Joy Belsky.
Beth Painter
Santa Barbara, CA
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