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Bioregionalism is a philosophy and worldview that encourages us to reevaluate the way humans organize ourselves in the world. It challenges the notion that political boundaries should be drawn solely along lines that ignore the intricate ecological tapestry of our planet. Instead, bioregionalism calls for the recognition of natural boundaries and ecosystems as the foundation for governance and economy.

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Bioregions are geographical areas defined not by political boundaries but by the confluence of ecological systems and human inhabitation.

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Ecoregions are the building blocks that make up each bioregion. Ecoregions describe areas where ecosystems are generally similar, providing a spatial framework for the research, assessment, and monitoring of ecosystem functionality.

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Ecological disruptions know no political boundaries, and are beyond any one city, region, state or country to address alone. Further, the current coordination problem is exacerbated by a crisis of governance rooted in political boundaries out of sync with natural systems. In contrast, bioregionalism is a philosophy that empowers improved coordination to address these threats in ways that are hopeful, sustainable, democratic, and grounded in place and ecology.

Today, experiments in bioregional coordination and governance are exploring how we can again live on planet Earth in community with each other and in connection with the land, water and biosphere upon which humanity depends for our survival. Critically, bioregionalism is grounded in a deep reverence and respect for the Indigenous communities who stewarded bioregions for millennia, and seeks to lift up and learn from the voices of Indigenous leadership.

The concept of bioregionalism emerged from the Deep Ecology movement of the 1970s, carrying the hopes and dreams of fostering ecological awareness, sustainable living, and a profound connection between communities and their unique natural environments. In the closing decades of the 20th century, a small, passionate group of ecologists, community organizers and “back to the land” proponents organized nearly a dozen Continental Bioregional Congresses across the United States, as well as a series of five Shasta Bioregion Congresses in Northern California. Unfortunately, few if any, institutional artifacts remain from these efforts.

However, a new crop of new bioregional efforts have emerged. Some examples include:

• Salmon Nation is an effort gestated by EcoTrust intended to organize a nature state – a big, diverse, powerful and holistic integration of people and place, with thriving local communities living in deep relationship with the lands and waters that nourish all of us.
• Regenerate Cascadia is a social movement organization developing a long-term bioregional vision and framework for the regeneration and health of the Cascadia bioregion along the northeast Pacific rim of North America and beyond.
• The Collaborative for Bioregional Action Learning & Transformation (COBALT) is a learning network that gathers a diverse set of fellows from across North America, South America and Europe. Based out of the Casco Bay bioregion in Maine, this group is also affiliated with Team Zostera, an muti-disciplinary eelgrass restoration effort.

Bioregionalism Resources

The following list is an ongoing compilation of resources and inspirations regarding bioregionalism. Feel free to peruse!

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