The Osa is a transformational place. A sanctuary, a place of healing and one of those places on Earth where we know its importance on a cellular level, beyond what is scientifically provided for us. And it, like everywhere else, is under extreme pressure from external forces. Extractive pressures such as commodity farming of palm oil, rice, wood, etc. Large acreage cattle ranches and gold mining still exist for much of the campesino (local land based culture). Practices that damage the local environment and the buen vivir (good life) of its inhabitants. The community that steward the protection of the bioregion rarely obtain the resources or revenue generated by the tourism and conservation industries that have developed over the last 50 years. This reality is demonstrated  by the fact that the area is home to some of the most economically disenfranchised communities in the whole country who have very few economic options beyond those mentioned. While these new industry profits (tourism and conservation) are realized primarily by external actors.

The local communities are those best equipped to assume the leadership role in driving a regenerative future.  Up until about 50 years ago, the inhabitants of this bioregion existed in relative isolation with land-based lifestyles. So its people still know what it’s like to live in a community with one another, and co-exist with all the species that make up this amazing place.  These are also communities that understand and experience the failures from institutions, national governments and international funds to do the work that really needs to be done for the people in order to conserve their place. 

In collaboration with The Commons Fund, the community seeks to strengthen its civic infrastructure to work alongside the governmental, economic, and external influences to collaboratively shape its future.  We seek to continue to activate and strengthen a local Network Commons.  A community-based collaborative initiative where non-profits, religious organizations, civic entities, mutual aid and gifting groups, cooperatives, private enterprises, and public resources are intentionally interconnected, shared, and governed by an engaged community of citizen-stakeholders.  Rather than being a new project, we see this as being a new context, provided with an infrastructure to bring forth the worthy work already being done throughout the community. We hope to create a delivery system for “connecting and weaving the good” rather than a project competing with other well intentioned projects.

Through this new local network we recognize the fertile grounds for rebuilding a local economy that is driven by connection, accompaniment, and community. In this retooled local economy we seek to honor, celebrate and support all capitals which enrich this beautiful place, however still invite financial wealth in order to fuel them. We aim to support increased resilience of the people and place from within, and honor and preserve this wealth.

Through this lens, we are prototyping new ways of being with one another.  In all our actions we aim to include many regenerative elements,  including accessibility, inclusivity and working from a bioregional approach that connects communities. We are offering various forms of accompaniment to locals, as well as initiatives that are already committed to the  enrichment of the Osa from the ground up. Paving ways for a thriving local regenerative economy that is in service to the place and its specialness. 

Recognizing that this undertaking will require more resources and expertise than what its ~15,000 inhabitants can provide. We seek to build a cross-digital-analog community of Osa stewards that pledge to care, celebrate and expand the biodiversity the Osa is enriched with. With stewards supporting one another directly in ways that are needed for all beings to move from surviving to thriving. We aim to answer questions such as “What does it mean to be a bioregional community?” and “What could a regenerative economy that celebrates, honors and supports all life look like?” We operate in a way that honors, celebrates and supports all backgrounds, stories, knowledge, skills, and contributions of stakeholders involved. 

The Commons Fund resources will help us to provide financial capital to support the place-based weavers and stewards undertaking this collaboration. Collectively working towards a new equilibrium in which all life is able to not just survive but thrive.  With The Commons Fund resources we will bring on a team of 12 community stewards and weavers to become the Bioregional organizing team.  The Bioregional organizing team is one of 3 key components of a successful bioregional strategy as outlined in the recently released book on Bioregional Financing Facilities.  With the other two being a bioregional hub.  And a bioregional fund both of which currently exist.   These funds will provide the necessary resources to fuel the continued evolution and strengthening of these 3 nested entities.