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Revision as of 01:19, 1 December 2022
Regenerative science is an emerging field of research that studies how living systems can be stewarded, cultured, and grown to restore and regenerate the health of Earthbound ecosystems, including Pacha Mama and human communities.
Purpose
The goals of regenerative science are to:
1. Understand how living systems work;
2. Develop new technologies and approaches that can be used for regeneration;
3. Enhance the resilience of living systems to ecocide;
4. Reverse the feedback loops accelerating climate collapse and the Sixth Mass Extinction;
5. Solidify the sustainable foundations of a just, decolonized, and enduring future.
The overall purpose informing regenerative science is regeneration itself - defined in this context as restoring balance in a living system which has been harmed or disrupted due to anthropogenic (human-caused) disturbance. This can include anything from individual organisms and ecosystems, up through social institutions and cultural patterns, to global processes like climate collapse.
Principles
Of Living Systems
1. Living systems are complex and dynamic.
2. Living systems are self-organizing and self-regulating.
3. Living systems are interdependent and connected.
4. Living systems are able to regenerate and repair themselves.
5. Living systems are resilient and adaptable.
6. Living systems are resourceful and efficient.
7. Living systems are diverse and seek balance.
8. Living systems are complex and ever-changing.
Of Human Communities
1. Human communities are living systems:
Biologically, ecologically, and spiritually, we are part of the Earth community. Pacha Mama is self-regulating, and all life on Earth forms a single community of which we are an integral part.
2. Human communities impact living systems:
Geochronology has shown that we have entered a new geological era called (in Greek derivation) the Anthropocene, because human pollution is having global impacts at an unprecedented ecocidal rate.
Regenerative science thus necessarily concerns itself with the whole range of human sciences or social studies which pertain to the nature of human systems in order to understand why this is happening, and how to stop it. The broad study of human history and geography shows that our actions, and different kinds of human communities, can either harm or help other beings and ecosystems to greater and lesser degrees.
A wide range of scientific disciplines can be further used to study the numerous dimensions of human systems, how they shape and are shaped by human communities and other planetary ecosystems, and how their modes of production, distribution, and consumption fuel the regeneration or destruction of ecosocial and planetary health.
Practice
Regenerative science is not 'value neutral.' It is rather based on the premise that science is a collective enterprise, and shared ecological values must inform scientific practice. Further, science is understood to be a process which is both ecologically mediated and communally defined. The methods of regenerative science necessarily stem from the communities of practice which actively seek to an maximize regeneration.
This means that the application of regenerative science must be informed by ecological values such as interdependence, symbiosis, balance, and biodiversity - which are also (translated) core human values across cultures around the world.
Regenerative science is therefore not only the 'science of regeneration' but also the practice of science, done regeneratively.
Where the study of living systems leads to an appreciation for the sacred nature of life, its ability to grow and protect life is enhanced. For this reason, regenerative science is a spiritual practice as well as scientific.
Applications
Key applications of regenerative science include:
Ecological Design
As an application of Regenerative Science, ecological design manifests its principles in the following key ways:
1. Complexity: Ecological design must take into account the complex web of relationships between different elements in an ecosystem, as well as how these relationships change over time. This includes understanding both the physical and biological processes that drive ecosystem function, as well as the social factors that influence human behavior.
2. Diversity: Ecological design relies on biodiversity to maintain a healthy balance within ecosystems. A diversity of species ensures that there are many different functions being performed, which helps to buffer against disturbance and promotes resilience. In addition, a more diverse range of species is generally more productive than a less diverse one.
3. Connection: Ecological designs seek to create or restore connections between different parts of an ecosystem (for example, through habitat corridors). These connections allow for the flow of energy, matter, and information between different areas and help promote resiliency in the face of disturbance.
4. Functionality: An ecologically designed system should be able to perform all the functions necessary for its continued existence. For example, a forested wetland will typically have higher water infiltration rates and greater plant productivity than nearby upland areas. However, in order for it to continue functioning like this, the wetland needs to be protected from activities like agriculture or development that could degrade its quality. Ecological design calls for integrating this resilience into regeneration through intrinsic elements wherever possible.