What is a Stewardship Economy?
Over the past year I have been attending Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition’s (RVCC) “Stewardship Economy monthly call.” It is comprised of folks across the country discussing different aspects of what a stewardship economy is and how we can foster them in rural communities.
This past week, we revisited what a stewardship economy actually is. As we all know, often times terminology like this can become a buzz word, and the meaning gets watered down. It is important to remember the definition and establish a shared language and shared narrative. In order to “foster understanding, we clearly define a Stewardship Economy, focusing on community engagement and collaboration.”
Why does this matter? “Understanding the difference between stewardship activities and stewardship economy is crucial for effective community advancement and resource management.”
The importance of a shared narrative is not about uniformity, rather it is about coherence. If we can’t communicate, we can’t build. Without a shared narrative a concept often becomes diluted as it travels from region to region and thus the concept gets lost. That is one reason these calls are so valuable.
Who is RVCC and what do they do?
RVCC envisions healthy landscapes and vibrant rural communities throughout the American West. They are committed to finding and promoting solutions through collaborative, place-based work that recognizes the inextricable link between the long term health of the land and the well-being of rural communities.
RVCC’s Vision:
Interdependence – The health of our rural communities and landscapes are interdependent. Policy solutions must not sacrifice one to advance the other.
Resilience and Diversity – Resilience and diversity are the key components that provide for both ecosystem productivity, social equity and economic well-being.
Sustainability – Long-term resource, food and energy security is dependent on re investment in the sustainability of ecosystems and rural economies.
Collaborative Solutions – Collaboration relies on an inclusive process that is respectful of diverse interests, and creates durable solutions based on mutual benefit and positive action
The Definition of Stewardship Economy:
“A stewardship economy is a place-based, community-led approach to creating resilient, long term prosperity by taking care of land, water, people, and local livelihoods. It links ecological stewardship with durable economic opportunity and strengthens the community’s ability to thrive over generations.”
A more simplified definition:
“An economy shaped by the need and responsibility to manage for the sustainability of both land and communities.”
Five Shared Values
– Local governance and community-led decision-making
– Long-term land stewardship and continuous regeneration
– Keeping value local
– Cross-sector collaboration and shared responsibility
– Multi-benefit outcomes
Five Core Pillars
– Land and water restoration
– Value-added business and local enterprise
– Access to capital
– Education, training and R&D
– Legislative and Policy Framework
Interested to learn more?
Wallowa Resources: Stewardship Economy Community Guide
Interested in participating in these calls?
RVCC Stewardship Economy Call: Held 2nd Thursday of every month (1-2 pm PT) Questions about the network or call series? info@stewardshipeconomy.org
Register for the call here