Bioregionalism as a Pathway to Transformation: A Genesee Finger Lakes Perspective
Bioregionalism may offer the most integrative and generative framework for imagining and building a better future, but it is not a simplistic or one-size-fits-all solution. Rooted in the recognition that every place has its own ecological, cultural, and historical identity, bioregionalism calls for deep engagement with the land and people of a particular place, attending to the interwoven systems that support both life and community.
In the Genesee Finger Lakes bioregion—a diverse landscape encompassing urban centers like Rochester, agricultural valleys, post-industrial towns, glacial lakes, and ancestral Haudenosaunee territories—this means understanding and working with the complex bio-social subsystems that define this place.
I. Mapping Forces in the Bioregion
Understanding a bioregion requires asking:
- What are the specific forces at work here?
- What systems currently maintain the status quo, and where are the levers of transformation?
A. Systemic Forces That Maintain the Status Quo
- Economic Disparities & Structural Racism – Legacies of redlining in Rochester and concentrated rural poverty in the Southern Tier.
- Industrial Agriculture & Environmental Degradation – Monocultures and fertilizer runoff impacting lakes and soil health.
- Fragmented Governance & Planning – Disconnected municipal governments across 9 counties with limited regional cooperation.
- Disconnection from Place – Erosion of local ecological knowledge and community disempowerment.
B. Transformative Forces in the Bioregion
- Ecological Features – Watersheds (e.g., Genesee River, Finger Lakes), forests, wetlands, and soils as natural foundations.
- Cultural-Ecological Memory – Indigenous land practices, settler histories, and community traditions.
- Anchor Institutions – Universities (U of Rochester, RIT), health systems, and regional planning organizations (e.g., Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council).
- Local Initiatives & Mutual Aid – Urban farming, land trusts, climate action networks, cooperatives, and interfaith environmental coalitions.
II. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) in a Bioregional Frame
ABCD starts from a different premise than most needs-based models: communities already possess what they need to thrive. The challenge is uncovering, connecting, and mobilizing these assets.
Six Asset Types in the Bioregion
| Asset Category | Example in Genesee-Finger Lakes |
| Individual Capacities | Local leaders, educators, craftspeople, youth, elders |
| Associational Life | Mutual aid groups, permaculture guilds, food co-ops |
| Institutions | Cornell Cooperative Extension, local libraries, community colleges |
| Natural Capital | Genesee River watershed, forested hills, Lake Ontario shoreline |
| Built Environment | Historic downtowns, rail corridors, public parks |
| Economic Assets | Local credit unions, green businesses, community foundations |
By cataloging and connecting these assets, communities can build resilience from within, amplifying what’s already working rather than waiting for external interventions.
III. A Systemic Schema for Evaluating Bioregional Health
A coherent bioregional transformation requires a multi-dimensional framework that reflects both ecological and human systems. The following schema can help communities assess where they are—and where they might go.
Systemic Evaluation Framework
| Dimension | Indicators of Health & Vitality | Key Questions |
| Ecological Integrity | Biodiversity, watershed health, soil quality, native species | Are ecosystems regenerating or degrading? |
| Cultural Vitality | Presence of arts, local traditions, storytelling, food heritage | Are cultural identities honored and evolving? |
| Social Well-being & Equity | Health outcomes, housing access, racial equity, social capital | Who is thriving? Who is being left out? |
| Local Economic Resilience | Living wage jobs, cooperative enterprises, circular economy | Is the economy serving the community and the land? |
| Governance & Participation | Civic engagement, subsidiarity, collaborative planning | Are decisions made locally and inclusively? |
| Knowledge & Education | Ecological literacy, youth leadership, place-based learning | Are we educating for interdependence and care? |
| Resilience & Adaptation | Climate readiness, disaster preparedness, mental health | Can we adapt to change together, not just survive? |
IV. Catalyzing Coherence Across the Bioregion
To “bring awareness and coherence” to a bioregion means cultivating shared identity, mutual trust, and a sense of interconnection across diverse communities and landscapes. This involves:
- Hosting Bioregional Assemblies to convene cross-sector stakeholders.
- Creating Storymaps and Ecological Atlases that reflect the richness of the region.
- Supporting Bioregional Networks (e.g., for regenerative agriculture, watershed care, mutual aid).
- Building Youth and Intergenerational Leadership for continuity and innovation.
- Reconnecting with Indigenous Knowledge as part of truth-telling and stewardship.
Conclusion: Bioregionalism as a Living Practice
The Genesee Finger Lakes bioregion holds immense promise—not just as a beautiful and fertile land, but as a place of possibility. Bioregionalism invites us to live as if the region matters, to build new social and ecological contracts that honor interdependence, and to engage transformation from the inside out.
By weaving together bioregional insight with tools like Asset-Based Community Development and a systems health framework, we can co-create places that are resilient, just, and alive. Not through abstract ideology, but through deeply grounded action in the watersheds, soils, and communities that sustain us.
Absolutely! Here are three stakeholder engagement templates tailored to bioregional work in the Genesee Finger Lakes region, designed to build awareness, cooperation, and action grounded in the systemic framework we discussed:
1.
Bioregional Stakeholder Mapping & Asset Inventory Template
Purpose: Identify and map key stakeholders, their assets, and potential roles in bioregional initiatives.
| Stakeholder Name | Sector/Role | Key Assets (Knowledge, Resources, Networks) | Current Level of Engagement | Potential Contribution to Bioregional Goals | Contact Info/Notes |
| e.g., Rochester Urban Farmers | Community Org | Urban agriculture knowledge, volunteer base | Low | Lead urban food justice and soil regeneration efforts | info@urbfarm.org |
Use: Can be done in workshops or interviews, feeding into an ABCD asset map.
2.
Bioregional Visioning Workshop Agenda Template
Purpose: Facilitate participatory dialogue to build shared understanding and vision for the bioregion.
| Time | Activity | Objective | Materials Needed |
| 10 min | Welcome & Introductions | Build connection and set tone | Name tags, icebreaker question cards |
| 20 min | Presentation: Bioregional Context & Challenges | Shared understanding of the region’s forces | Map visuals, slides |
| 30 min | Asset-Based Community Development Exercise | Identify community strengths | Sticky notes, flipcharts |
| 40 min | Small Group Discussions: What is a Thriving Bioregion? | Elicit diverse visions & values | Guiding questions handout |
| 20 min | Plenary Share-out & Synthesis | Build collective vision | Whiteboard/virtual board |
| 10 min | Next Steps & Closing | Build momentum for collaboration | Signup sheets |
Tip: Tailor the discussion prompts to your specific systemic schema dimensions (ecological, social, economic, cultural).
3.
Collaborative Action Planning Template
Purpose: Co-design practical, phased actions toward bioregional health, linking stakeholders to tasks and resources.
| Goal | Action Step | Responsible Parties | Timeline | Resources Needed | Indicators of Success |
| Improve water quality in Genesee River watershed | Launch community water monitoring program | Local watershed groups, universities | 6 months | Testing kits, volunteer training | Number of samples collected, pollution data trends |
| Strengthen cultural vitality | Create bioregional storytelling project with Haudenosaunee elders | Cultural centers, schools | 12 months | Recording equipment, facilitators | Number of stories collected, public events held |
Use: Suitable for use in follow-up meetings, fostering accountability and clarity.