Nature Positive

Our very being as homo sapiens is deeply intertwined with the totality of the environment — included but not limited to the land, animals, plant life, the observable cosmos, and the spiritual and ecological aspects of the world around us. Through our mutual relationship with this environmental totality, our lifeways — including our metaphysics and paradigms, social and normative values, customs, language and holistic health — have developed in concert with other beings and spirits in that totality in such a way that it shapes and manifests our understanding of what being human is all about.

Nature Positive is a hopeful vision and a global goal to halt nature loss by 2030, relative to a 2020 baseline, on a pathway to full recovery by 2050.

Nature Positive is a lifeway. It is based on the much needed conceptual shift on how we view ourselves on this planet. Modern societies have viewed the environment as a competing interest with society and the economy, not recognizing it as the context for all human activity. We need to move away from the search for the “sweet spot” of overlap between the environment, society, and the economy (left side) to a hierarchical relationship in which the environment is recognized as the context for all aspects of human existence and the economy is understood as a subset of society, existing solely to serve human interests (right side).

Nature Positive governance innovations that embed nature in all aspects of decision-making, such as the Buffalo Treaty and the Māori people initiating personhood for rivers in New Zealand/Aotearoaare, are leading examples of being Nature Positive. This is why the International Buffalo Relations Institute has also given personhood to the Buffalo, naming it their CEO.

The Buffalo Treaty represents a powerful agent of change for communities both locally and globally, based on deep listening and an understanding of relationships for the collective holistic health of the peoples and the planet. Being nature positive means actively protecting, restoring and enhancing natural ecosystems from kinship-based relationships, rather than simply minimizing harm — an approach that corresponds with the Buffalo Treaty. 

A Nature Positive Lifeways to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity with Buffalo must be pursued alongside climate action, because nature loss and climate change reinforce each other and increase the risk of irreversible tipping points.

This proactive mindset is not only achievable, but essential and exciting, offering hope and purpose for all. 

The Buffalo Treaty represents a powerful agent of change for communities both locally and globally, based on deep listening and an understanding of relationships for the collective holistic health of the peoples and the planet. Being nature positive means actively protecting, restoring and enhancing natural ecosystems from kinship-based relationships, rather than simply minimizing harm — an approach that corresponds with the Buffalo Treaty. 

Let’s be Nature Positive with Buffalo!