What if every human action could contribute to the renewal of our planet? What if our journey towards a regenerative future demanded a radical departure from conventional paradigms? What would that future look like and whose voices (human and non-human) should be taken into account while thinking about, enacting and governing that future?
These are some of the questions that Unearthodox is exploring to understand the transformative potential of regeneration — a concept that challenges all of us to reimagine our relationship with the natural world and with each other.
Unearthodox is launching a new initiative, Regenerative Futures, which will explore the concept of regeneration - it’s origins and various contours, what it is and what it could be. In shaping this initiative we are guided by our dedication to bridging the gap between visionary ideas and actionable innovations, fostering a world where nature and society thrive in harmony. We believe that transformative change requires moving away from surface-level solutions to focus on the deep-rooted causes of conservation problems.
Our approach to this new theme has been informed by the insights we gained from our previous work on the Future of Conservation, which highlighted the need to move beyond sustainability towards regeneration as a set of practices actively enhancing the resilience and vitality of our social and environmental systems. We hope to spark a shift towards a society that values and regenerates nature, embracing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
While regeneration may hold the key to unlocking a more vibrant and abundant future for all, to date there has been little synthesis of the many disparate ideas about regenerative systems, limited clarity around regenerative outcomes and dynamics, and a lack of concrete tools on how best to build regenerative systems in diverse contexts. Furthermore, with the increasing uptake of the concept across different sectors, there is a risk of replicating past issues, such as historical injustices. For instance, as continued custodians of traditional regenerative knowledge, Indigenous and local communities risk being marginalised if their wisdom is appropriated or mimicked without due respect for cultural and historical context and the holistic depth of this knowledge. Furthermore, there might also be the risk of unintended negative consequences whereby some regenerative efforts could exacerbate existing inequalities, benefiting some communities or groups more than others.
Acknowledging this concept's multiple dimensions and challenges, Unearthodox seeks to chart a course towards regeneration in ways that foster genuine transformative change. We will be guided by principles of systems thinking, collaboration, and pluralism, and we invite you to share your journey, case studies, and understanding of regeneration with us. Stay tuned to learn more about our exploration of Regenerative Futures. If you are already working in this space, we would like to hear from you, please get in touch with us by writing to info@unearthodox.org.
