Bioregion refers both to geographical terrain and a terrain of consciousness – to a place and the ideas that have developed about how to live in that place. — Peter Berg
Welcome to the Bioregional Directory
More and more people are beginning to consider the well-being of the places they live as central to their own well-being. Ecology-related social transformers recognize that humans have the task of discovering or rediscovering what a realistic relationship to their life-place entails.
Bioregions (life-places) are usually identified and named by the people who live in them. They have “soft borders” which depend on climate, physiography, geology, climate, animal and plant geography, natural and human history, etc. Boundaries from one bioregion may include or overlap with another.
Exploring and understanding local bioregions is the natural place to begin to develop a planet-based consciousness. Bioregional groups address issues concerning community, economics, energy, agriculture, interdependence, etc. from the perspective that human beings are an interactive species in the biosphere. A group’s primary activities may include research and study, place-related publishing, educational outreach, celebrations of place, hands-on restoration, political action, spiritual community, actions for change, etc.
There is a great variety of ideas about bioregionalism and perceptions of bioregions. Some represented bioregions are very large and others quite small. Some are clearly defined and others roughly generalized.
Generally, bioregionally oriented individuals and groups work to:
- Discover, understand and maintain local natural systems.
- Develop and maintain practical, sustainable ways to satisfy basic human needs.
- Support proactive projects, employment and education, as well as engaging in protests against the destruction of the natural elements in a life-place.
This Directory is a resource to connect with and exchange ideas and methods with those who share a similar outlook. It will continue to be updated.
Please contact Planet Drum Foundation with updates, additions or corrections. To have your bioregional organization, project, program or publication added, please fill out this form.
North America
Pacific Coast
- Acterra
- Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters
- CascadiaNow!
- David D. Schmidt
- Fibershed
- Forest Forever
- Friends of the Urban Forest
- Friends of the Van Duzen River
- Greater Farallones Association
- Mid Klamath Watershed Council
- Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center
- New Society Publishers
- O Cascadia
- Salmon River Restoration Council
- San Bruno Mountain Watch
- Shaping San Francisco
- Trees Foundation
Rocky Mountains
Great Plains
Ozark Plateau
Mississippi River Valley
Ohio River Basin
Great Lakes
- 7-Generation Greater Tkaronto Bioregion
- Possible Planet
- Regenerate the Great Lakes
- Society for the Preservation of Wild Culture
Atlantic Mountains
Atlantic Coast
- Earth Group Global
- LowerEsopus.org
- Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley
- “Toward Fostering Bioregionalism”