Community Inclusion Currencies (CICs)

Empowering Bioregional Sovereignty through Healthy Value Flows

Introduction

[CICs are a subset of

The Valueflow Strategy⁠

, which describes how we create valueflow from cities into rural bioregions.]

Community Inclusion Currencies play a crucial role in supporting bioregional sovereignty by strengthening local economies, fostering community connections, and incentivizing regenerative practices. These alternative currencies, designed for specific bioregions, serve as powerful tools to promote economic resilience, social cohesion, and ecological stewardship. This section explores the significance of Community Inclusion Currencies and their contribution to advancing bioregional sovereignty.

Strengthening Local Economies

Community Inclusion Currencies provide a means to circulate and retain wealth within a bioregion, strengthening local economies. By encouraging transactions among local businesses and individuals, CICs create a multiplier effect, stimulating economic activity and reducing leakage to external markets. The use of CICs incentivizes consumers to prioritize local products and services, supporting local businesses and contributing to the growth and vitality of the bioregional economy. This strengthens the economic self-reliance of the community, a fundamental aspect of bioregional sovereignty.

Fostering Community Connections

CICs foster community connections by encouraging interpersonal interactions and collaboration. The localized nature of these currencies promotes face-to-face transactions, enabling community members to build relationships and trust. Through the use of CICs, individuals develop a sense of belonging and ownership in their bioregion, strengthening social cohesion, community resilience and natural resource stewardship. The circulation of CICs creates a web of economic and social relationships, facilitating cooperation and mutual support among community members.

Incentivizing Regenerative Practices

One of the key roles of Community Inclusion Currencies is to incentivize regenerative practices that promote ecological sustainability. Bioregional sovereignty recognizes the importance of harmonizing human activities with the natural environment. CICs can be designed to reward businesses and individuals engaged in regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, waste reduction, and other environmentally friendly practices. By offering financial incentives through CICs, bioregions can encourage the adoption of sustainable practices, leading to ecological regeneration and the preservation of natural resources.

Empowering Local Decision-Making

Community Inclusion Currencies empower local communities to make decisions about their economic priorities and resource allocation. The use of CICs enables community members to collectively determine the value and purpose of their currency, aligning it with the principles of bioregional sovereignty. As communities engage in economic activities using CICs, they have greater control over the allocation of resources, ensuring that economic decisions are made in the best interest of the bioregion and its inhabitants. This enhances local agency and self-determination, fundamental aspects of bioregional sovereignty.

⁠

DEEP DIVE INTO CICs

⁠

LEARN MORE ABOUT CIC ADOPTION

⁠

Introduction

Strengthening Local Economies

Fostering Community Connections

Incentivizing Regenerative Practices

Empowering Local Decision-Making

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.