Why bioregions ?
Shifting how we look for the place.
Shifting how we look for the place.
In the ‘Activation Program for the Regenerative Development of the bioregions in Portugal’ we choose to work with the ‘bioregion’ construct. This article explores ‘why’.
Bioregion (landscape units)
In Portugal the term ‘bioregion’ (‘bio-região) is also used to describe a region that adopts organic farming (‘bio’ from ‘biológico’). This is not what we mean with bioregion. And there are links between the two meanings. For this use you can explore the following link.
We are following the definition of World Wide Fund for Nature for ‘bioregion’ that says it is “an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a biogeographical realm, but larger than an ecoregion or an ecosystem. Portugal is part of the bioregion Iberian Peninsula, Europe, Palearctic realm (for more details please see wikipedia) And we adapt for the Portuguese context from the ‘landscape units’ (‘unidades de paisagem’) the ‘Landscape in Mainland Portugal’ through the identification of 128 landscape units, associated in 22 landscape groups. The ‘landscape units’ consider physical factors such as geology, geomorphology, soils and climate. In this context, bioregions are the groups of landscape units, meaning that we are considering the 22 bioregions.
Territorial units
The main organization element in Portugal is the territorial unit: ‘Regiões Autónomas’ (Autonomous Regions) and ‘Distritos’ (Districts), ‘Municípios’ (Municipalities) e ‘Juntas de Freguesia’ (Parishes). In the territorial unit there is an element of landscape and is not the main criteria. Political, social, economic and historic criteria are the key ones that condition the emergence of these units. Landscape units are not a key criteria used on the definition of territorial units. During the centuries these criteria shaped the organizations managing the territory and the natural elements and characteristics were not a priority.
Political choice
To define Bioregions we choose as primary criteria the landscape. And the second, the territorial, the administrative. Why ? Because we live in a historic moment that we need to change the criteria to give the landscape and the Earth the main voice. Our survival (and our evolution) depends on that. We need to address climate change and all sustainability related issues, and they are always place-based, with a strong component of the nature of the landscape. We need to address the soil, water and air, and these are landscape based. We need to address biodiversity, forest, food and ecosystems and these are all landscape based. To change the perspective we need to change the way we see, comprehend and act on our territory. Changing the perspective will help us to see the blind spots, consider the uniqueness, potential, essence and vocation of each place and optimize its’ and our’s resources.
With this choice we are not saying that political, economic, social and historic criteria are not important. We are saying that the landscape for now needs our attention and that we need to use this criteria as the first to organize ecosystems, and flows of information, individuals and energy.
When we change from the flat map of the Earth to the planetary map of the Earth, the Earth was the same, but our perception of the Earth changed, and what was possible for all of us changed — and now we have the internet. We need to change the perspective of how we manage and organize the territory giving priority to Landscape and ecosystems — and we, humans, are part of landscapes and ecosystems, with our culture and activities!
A completely different set of potentials (and challenges) will emerge. A complete new set of questions. Do you feel the enthusiasm? The fear of not knowing how to start navigating these news questions and the joy of changing the perspective and giving Life the priority?
The transition for ‘responsible and regenerative cultures’ needs the shift in perspectives, in our maps, in our “thoughware”. We don’t relate with reality, we relate with the maps that we have from reality (This is a distinction from Possibility Management). This is our proposal when choosing using Landscape unit groups as the basis of our bioregions’ mapping.
Units
First the Landscape group Unit. The ecological and geographical dimensions.
Secondly the Territorial Unit. The political, social, economic and historic dimensions.
Implicate yourself
All our articles are draft versions that invite co-creation. You might have something to add and/or suggest changes to the article, or you have questions you would like to reflect upon with us. It is important for us that you ground your sharings on your own reflected lived experiences. Thank you for joining us on this responsible and regenerative cultures pathfinder adventure.