What is Bioregionalism?
A bioregion is a shorthand designation for ‘bio-cultural region’ and is rooted in the idea that culture stems from placed and that human cultures develop in relation to the natural ecosystems they inhabit. It is a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by man-made divisions, and the sum of the ecoregions and watersheds of a particular place that gives a unified sense of geographic, topographic and living flora and fauna that all work together to create a ‘bio-region’. Cascadia is a land of flowing waters, and for the Cascadia bioregion, it is the topographic region that is defined from which a drop of rain hits the western side of the continental divide - and flows into the Pacific - from the headwaters of the Fraser and Columbia, to the headwaters of the Snake, which stems from the Yellowstone caldera.
The Mission of Bioregionalism
a world comprised of watershed movements, each working to make our world more sustainable, democratic and just.
We envision a network of interconnected bioregional movements that work together, connect people into place based bioregional cultures, assist each other in the hard times, learn lessons from around the world, and share their own models for what has worked, and what hasn’t.
The Mission of a Bioregional Movement
To break down global issues and translate the principles of bioregionalism into direct, local and actionable solutions within a bioregion, and are place based hub that empowers individuals and groups to work together around shared principles and values.
Within these movements, bioregionalists build connections, develop solutions, magnify solutions already being practiced, and create accessible pathways for the millions of inhabitants to connect in with these solutions and shift their habits in a beneficial manner.
Bioregionalism at its most simple is a philosophy that connects people and ideas into place, which work watershed by watershed, in ways that are sustainable, democratic and just.
The mission of a bioregionalist:
To better ourselves in our habits, principles, how we eat, consume, work and play - and improve our relationship to the land we live and rely on.
We view being a bioregionalist as a lifelong goal. Bioregionalists work to find solutions to the world's most challenging issues by using bioregions to break large issues down to a local level, creating or magnifying solutions already being practiced in a community, and create accessible pathways for every person living in a region to be able to get active about issues they care about. Each watershed and community will be different, and each region and community will know their needs the best, and be the best to represent those needs.
Bioregionalists examine how we treat each other, approach others with respect and compassion, work to make every interaction a positive one, learn about the history and context of how we came to be to where we are, create spaces to address past injustices, and work in equitable and a just manner together in mutual aid, solidarity and support.
We work within existing systems where our principles overlap towards our solutions, while also creating new systems that are radical, utopian and demand the change we need. Magnify the solutions already existing.
We build models, tools, culture and identities that at are positive, healthy, inclusive and authentic, rooted in place, and create accessible pathways for people to hook in, get involved, and shift our impact as a region.
