What is the Regenerative Commons Manifesto?

The regenerative commons manifesto is OASA's foundational document, From Commons to Commodities and Back, which explains the historical shift from commons to private property and outlines a path back to perpetual commons through regeneration.

This manifesto provides the philosophical foundation for OASA's model of regenerative commons economics and land as commons not commodities.

From Commons to Commodities

Historical Commons

For most of human history, land was held in commons:

• Collective management and use
• Shared resources and benefits
• Community governance
• Long-term stewardship

The Enclosure Movement

The enclosure movement privatized commons:

• Common lands were enclosed and privatized
• People lost access to shared resources
• Land became private property
• Extraction replaced stewardship

Land as Commodity

Land became a commodity:

• Bought and sold for profit
• Extracted from for short-term gain
• Owned individually rather than collectively
• Degraded for immediate returns

From Commodities Back to Commons

The Path Back

OASA's manifesto outlines how to restore land to commons:

• Place land in perpetual commons through perpetual land trust
• Practice commons-based land stewardship
• Follow regenerative principles that actively restore ecosystems
• Create regenerative commons economics where returns compound in ecosystem health

Regenerative Commons

Regenerative commons differ from historical commons:

• Active regeneration rather than just maintenance
• Legal structures ensuring permanent protection
• Integration with modern governance through DAO governance
• Innovative financing through token sales
• Long-term thinking with 1000-year horizons

Core Principles of the Manifesto

Land as Commons Not Commodities

The manifesto's core principle: land as commons not commodities. Land should be held in common for the benefit of communities and future generations, not treated as property to be bought, sold, and extracted from.

Regenerative Stewardship

Land must be actively restored through regenerative practices that improve ecosystems over time, not just maintained at current levels.

Perpetual Protection

Land must be held in perpetual commons with legal structures ensuring it can never be sold or privatized, creating permanent protection for future generations.

Community Governance

Land must be managed through community governance where decisions are made transparently and participatorily, ensuring communities have autonomy within ecological boundaries.

The Manifesto's Vision

The regenerative commons manifesto envisions:

• Land restored to perpetual commons across bioregions
• Ecosystems actively regenerating through regenerative practices
• Communities thriving through commons-based stewardship
• Economic systems aligned with ecological health
• Future generations inheriting healthier ecosystems

Implementation Through OASA

OASA implements the manifesto's vision through:

• Regenerative commons economics that align returns with ecosystem health
• Perpetual land trust structures ensuring permanent protection
• Regenerative principles that all projects must follow
• DAO governance enabling community autonomy
• Projects like Traditional Dream Factory demonstrating the model

Philosophical Foundation

The manifesto provides the philosophical foundation for:

• Land as commons not commodities
• Commons-based land stewardship
• Regenerative commons economics
• 1000-year investment horizons
• Land stewardship vs. ownership

Related Terms

• Land as Commons Not Commodities - Core principle
• Regenerative Commons Economics - Economic model
• Perpetual Commons - Land tenure model
• Commons-Based Land Stewardship - Stewardship model