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Regeneration is more than restoration. You can restore a radio to its original condition because it's not alive. Ecological processes are alive and therefore are dynamic. Land regeneration seeks to reestablish ecosystem health and make the land more productive over time.
The human's role in the ecosystem must be modified to work with natural processes so that the land doesn't return to its previous state of degradation. |
Regenerative Agriculture |
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Regenerative agriculture integrates human needs. Regenerative ranching "is a mindset — a way of looking at things, even when looking at something seemingly as simple as cows grazing in a field. Yes, we see cows on grass, but we’re also looking at multiple, dynamic ecosystem processes, all competing for balance. And we want these processes — the water, energy and nutrient cycles as well as community dynamics — to be healthy and in balance on our land.” -Jeff Goodwin, TAMU Natural Resources Institute, Noble Research Institute
"Regenerative agriculture is a holistic land-management practice that uses the power of photosynthesis in plants to sequester carbon in the soil while improving soil health, crop yields, water resilience, and nutrient density." -Tracy Fernandez Rysavy, Green America |
photo: Noble Research Institute
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Regenerative Development
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The regenerative process can even be applied to new developments and to manage existing ones.
A special project called Eco-Karst has gained recognition in the Danube karst country of Europe. Their mission is to increase awareness of karst and promote development based on valued ecosystem services. |
source: Eco-Karst website
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Rewilding
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Also called natural regeneration, rewilding takes regeneration one step further by proactively embracing the return of keystone wildlife to our ecosystems. In an urban context, this could mean pollinators and raptors; in rural settings, this could also mean bison, pronghorns, and black bears. Historically Texas karst country abounded with larger wildlife. Our lands will never truly be sustainable without them, or at the very least, without using biomimicry to duplicate their effects.
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photo: Romey Swanson
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