Could organizing society around natural watersheds instead of political borders create a fairer world?

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Bioregionalism suggests that our economic and cultural systems are more sustainable when aligned with the natural boundaries of the earth rather than arbitrary national lines. By prioritizing local ecology, native plants, and watershed-based geography, this philosophy seeks to transform how we inhabit our planet and relate to our home environments.

The concept of bioregionalism emerged in the 1970s, primarily along the west coast of North America, as a proactive alternative to the protest-based environmentalism of the era. Coined by poet Allen Van Newkirk in 1975 and popularized by figures like Peter Berg and Raymond F. Dasmann, the movement argues that humans are not separate from nature but are integral components of a 'life-place.' Unlike scientific ecoregions defined solely by ecology, a bioregion is a cultural idea that integrates geology, topography, and climate with human elements like history, language, and agriculture.

At the heart of this philosophy is the practice of 'reinhabitation'—developing a deep identity with one's local environment. Proponents like David Haenke and Murray Bookchin advocated for decentralized, regional models of society where communities act as citizens of their specific ecosystem. This approach encourages the use of local materials and foods, aiming to move beyond a homogeneous consumer culture. By mapping these areas through participatory cartography, communities can document traditional pathways and indigenous knowledge, often using these maps to defend sovereignty and promote decolonization.

The movement gained significant momentum through the Planet Drum Foundation, founded by Peter Berg and Judy Goldhaft in 1973. By 1990, the foundation served as a node for over 250 bioregionally oriented groups worldwide. These organizations held congresses to refine the boundaries of their regions, often using watersheds as the ultimate definers. While there is no single map of the world’s bioregions, the philosophy continues to influence modern sustainability efforts, emphasizing that the most effective way to solve problems is to empower local cultures to live in harmony with the specific limits and requirements of their unique natural surroundings.

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