As the winter solstice draws near, the Regen Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the second cohort of the Community Staking DAO (csDAO). We express our gratitude for the formative work this international community of regenerators has practiced to date. The second csDAO cohort comes from India, Kenya, Tanzania, Brazil, Turkey, and the US. Every organization integrates local ecosystem restoration practices with a commitment to developing grassroots regenerative economies in their context. The focus of the second cohort is to innovate high integrity ecocredits on Regen Network’s stack. We look forward to prototyping the next generation of community owned and governed ecocredits with them.
Stay updated on project development with Regen’s Community Calls. If you would like to learn more about the community staking DAOs, please consult our FAQ. If you would like to be considered for participation in subsequent cohorts, please get in touch with us here. In what follows, we’ll introduce each organization.
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The regenerative revolution will be community owned and governed!
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Canopy Collective
Deep in Northeast India’s lush landscapes, the Canopy Collective flourishes under the leadership of Dr. Nandini Velho. Her work bridges wildlife research, community collaborations, and creative storytelling to drive tangible conservation outcomes. Through her decade-long commitment at the Pakke Tiger Reserve and Eaglenest Sanctuary, Dr. Velho has masterfully convened a rich tapestry of stakeholders—ranging from forest personnel, indigenous communities, to researchers and filmmakers. The fruits of their collaboration include the establishment of three nature interpretation centres, innovative educational tools such as forest songs and virtual reality videos, and the remarkable creation of a community reserve, sheltering the critically endangered Bugun Liocichla. The Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve stands as a testament to the synergy of the collective, showcasing a village youth-led forest patrolling team and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Furthermore, the Collective’s digital and physical spaces echo the vibrant ethos of the Northeast, emphasizing a holistic understanding of the intertwining of nature and culture. Their commitment to fostering a deep-rooted community bond is evident in their approach to membership, ensuring an intimate alignment of core values. Projects like the Eaglenest Memory Project spotlight the emotional narratives of the region, while their culturally-relevant nature education programs strive to bridge communities and their environment through a lens of respect, appreciation, and empowerment.
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Chatafisha
Set against the biodiverse backdrop of Tanzania, Chatafisha is a social enterprise that harnesses a myriad of skills from waste management to Blockchain. It is rooted in the vibrant bioregions of Dar es Salaam and Pwani they collaborate with over 10 waste picker communities in that area.
Chatafisha’s ethos encompass all three: environmental, social, and technological facets. They actively redirect plastic waste away from detrimental endpoints, foster the creation of sustainable eco-products, and initiate carbon offset through unique NFT sales. Socially, the organization underscores the empowerment of marginalized waste pickers, amplifying their roles in the community while embarking on projects to uplift local living standards. Their commitment to transparency is evident in its utilization of blockchain technology, ensuring every step in waste management remains traceable. Advocating for a circular economy, Chatafisha ensures plastic waste finds renewed purpose, symbolizing their unwavering dedication to revitalizing both the environment and the communities they ardently serve.
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Earthist Network
Originating from Turkey, the Earthist Network embodies a shared commitment to safeguarding seed sovereignty as a cornerstone for global food security and conservation of biodiversity. Their journey, which began in 2017 with the discovery of an heirloom seed. They quickly gained momentum, expanding to over 72 members who have collaboratively spearheaded seven diverse initiatives, all aimed at the dual pillars of regeneration and education.
The community aims to envision a broader framework that entails decentralizing seed preservation and rejuvenating regional economies. Their endeavors, rooted in the philosophy “Together is greater than me,” emphasize collective progression and collaboration. As they look ahead, their aspiration is clear: to foster innovation that respects ecological norms, working with industries and other entities to move from mere sustainability to true ecological regeneration. Their belief is that in unity, they can drive meaningful change, shaping a more regenerative and prosperous future for all.
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Ekonavi
From Brazil’s rich bioregions, Ekonavi rises as a testament to community-led ecological renaissance. Boasting over 600 projects, including farms, urban gardens, indigenous communities, and green businesses, their footprint extends not only throughout Brazil but also increasingly across Latin America, with noteworthy initiatives in Colombia. At the core of Ekonavi’s mission is to foster ecosystem regeneration, primarily through biodiverse reforestation and agroforestry. With a system that emphasizes daily documentation of regenerative actions, Ekonavi’s platform is more than just a map—it’s a dynamic testament to ecological progress. Their revenue model, anchored in token sales and validator revenues, directly fuels on-ground initiatives undertaken by their projects. Ekonavi’s community-driven leadership provides the essential framework and tools, ensuring that the tireless efforts of these field projects are verified, revered, and celebrated.
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Foundation for Regeneration
The Foundation for Regeneration, with its roots in the American Midwest, synergizes philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and impact investing to drive socio-economic and ecological renewal.
Since its inception in February 2021, FFR has raised an impressive $875k. Its initial phase saw an insightful partnership with the Industrial Development Authority and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, delving deep into the Blue River Valley’s century-long history. Phase II’s centerpiece was a series of 10 innovative pilots based on the “urban acupuncture” methodology, a brainchild of Berkebile and the late Jaime Lerner. These pilots, mapped intricately, sought to intertwine economic upliftment, community resurgence, and ecological restoration within the Blue River Valley.
The Foundation’s philosophy is deeply anchored in the teachings of eight forms of capital. With a place-centric approach, FFR aspires to be a tangible demonstration of commitment towards adopting frameworks for stimulating potential-rich dialogues and building regenerative economies, ensuring holistic health and wellness across communities, animals, and the environment.
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Shamba Network
Shamba Network, firmly anchored in Kenya’s agricultural landscapes and poised to expand across East Africa, is committed to unlocking the vast potential of ecological markets for smallholder farmers. Their primary objective is to bridge the gap for these farmers, helping them gain access to carbon and other ecological markets. Shamba’s mission transcends traditional agricultural assistance; they envision a sustainable funding mechanism dedicated to regeneration in these landscapes. At its core, their strategy aims to not only ecologically rejuvenate farming communities but also uplift them socio-economically.
This community-driven endeavor boasts a diverse coalition of technology builders, grassroots NGOs, and the very farmers they aim to support. Adopting a holistic lens, Shamba’s approach is to consider the entirety of an ecosystem’s health. While they recognize the importance of carbon credits, they advocate for these to be intrinsically linked to other indicators of ecological vitality, including biodiversity, soil integrity, and water health.
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Over the next months these organizations will receive token grants to support community governance in Regen Network and to bootstrap novel community-led EcoCredit development!