J. David Bamberger: A Biography

J. David Bamberger A BiographyAchampionoflandstewardshipandhabitatrestorationJ. David Bamberger has become an internationally k straight offn and exceedingly respected environmentalist who has dedicated his life work to protecting the environment while using its resources. He has transformed a once blighted.useless proportion into a beautiful sanctuary that serves as a model for others interested in habitat restoration. He has do strides in protecting and explicateing certain endangered species populations which have made positive impacts around the world. Bamberger shares the knowledge he has gained throughout his life by teaching others through trainings and workshops.Bamberger grew up in rural Ohio during the Great Depression and World War II. He had always admired the Amish for their ability to live in harmony with the land. (Greene, 2007) His father was a farmer so he lgain to grow food at a young age. (Mcleod, 2001) His mother gave him a book titlePleasant Valley, written by Louis Bromfield, when he was growing up. Bromfield was an American advocate for land restoration and he wrote about his ideas in that book. Bamberger once say if I ever make money I want to do what Bromfield did,(Greene,2007) referring to his work in habitat restoration.According to Goodwyn, (2010), Bamberger began working in Ohio as a door to door vacuum cleaner salesman in the 1940s. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University in 1950 before he moved to Texas where he continued to sell vacuum cleaners. He worked long hard hours with few geezerhood off to make as much money as he could, as he was paying by commission. Although his family was disappointed in his initial career choice according to Goodwyn (2010), he was able to marge half of a million dollars over a ten year period. Then he met another(prenominal) vacuum salesman named Bill Church who was trying to expand his fried chicken restaurant unless requisite some financial backing. Bamberger u sed some of his fortune to invest into the company known as Churchs heat Chicken and became a partner in that business. By thelate 1960s the restaurant expanded across Texas making them both very wealthy.Bamberger used the wealth he had worked for to fulfill a lifetime envisage in habitat restoration. Goodwyn (2010) reported while realtors were trying to show him properties with air strips and nice houses, he told them he wanted something nobody else wants. He ended up purchasing a 5500 acre banquet that was full of retem plants which choke out other plants by spreading and taking over the landscape so energy else can grow, reported in the article Restoring the Range. The land was overgrazed from years of misuse and there was little top nation which had been blown away by wind due to the absence of plant root systems which would have held wet in the soil. The creeks on the home were mostly dried up and not supporting the habitat. The animals that lived on the ranch were under nourished as well due to the lack of food in the area.Bamberger worked for decades to restore the ecological relief of the property. He cleared the land of Juniper, carved plateaus into the hillsides to hold rain body of water, planted patronize to hold the soil in place and to absorb the water into the soil. (Goodwyn, 2010). He changed and improved the water distribution across the property and planted trees and wildflowers according to the article Restoring the Range. Mcleod (2001) cited the incredible work he has accomplished on his property is diaphanous by simply looking at his fence line. On one side of the fence, Junipers are heretofore ravaging the landscape while on his side of the fence there are fields of grass along with a diversity of many other plants.The wildlife on the property have prospered on the better ground according to the research. Bamberger said there were initially 48 species of birds when he first acquired the property but that number has climbed to over 219 species. (Restoring the Range, 2012) At the beginning the best deer harvested weighed 55 pounds after field dressing. (Mcleod, 2001) like a shot the average weight is 105 pounds. The ranch is also a working farm that raises and sells livestock. According to Goodwyn (2010), he used one square mile of his property to provide ahabitat for a highly endangered Scimitar-homed Oryx, an antelope that had disappeared from the African Sahara. The animal is currently extinct in the wild but still bred in captivity. The ranch is now home to a large herd of thriving Oryx and breeding senior(a) males are regularly traded withzoos and other animal preserves to preserve genetic diversity. He carved a three dome cave into a hillside on his property in 1998 and lined the ceiling with gunite, a mixture of cement, sand, and water that is generally sprayed into tunnels to line them with a hard dense layer. This is nowhome to more(prenominal) than 400,000 Mexican Free-Tailed Bats.Bamberger ra nch has been one of the largest habitat restorations in Texas. His work has not only improved the flavor oflife for the 5500 acres and species living there, but has served as a model for others to follow. Goodwyn (2010) acknowledged he has improved the water quality of the water on his land which positively effects everyone downstream of his property.Bamberger hosts research on grasslands and telescope management at the ranch. He holds conferences and educational workshops on habitat restoration for students, landowners,scientists, and conservation agencies. He has earned dozens of awards for his work on the ranch and in the community.J. David Bambergers life journey is an inspiration to others. His inspiration came from a book his mother bought him. He worked hard, saved money, and fulfilled his dream. He found the worst piece of property he could find and he was able to transform it into a model for land stewardship. The refurbished property now boasts healthy water and vegetati on. His work didnt stop there, as he added endangered species to the property, as well as helped the species thatwere already there to prosper. Then, he continued to help the enviromnent by passing on the knowledge he has gained through his experience to others by hosting training and workshops. He has shown that everyone can make a difference if they train their mind to it.Works CitedAround the Nation. Texas Rancher An Unlikely Environmentalist, Heard on All ThingsConsidered, by Wade Goodwyn, 2 February 2010 http//www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storylcl=12306868 lThe Austin Chronicle, Day Trips, J. David Bamberger has taken a slice of the Hill Country and restored it to primary beauty, by Gerald E. Mcleod, 12 October 2001http//www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2001-10-12/8325 l/Making a Difference Restoring the Range, posted 29 May 2012 https //hmclecozine.com/2012/05/29/restoring-the-range/Water From Stone, The Story of Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, by Jeffrey Greene, 26 March2007