reading reflection

Begin by briefly explaining, in your own words, how John T. Lyle defines regenerative resource management.

You might consider:

• How regenerative management differs from extractive or paleotechnic approaches
• Why watersheds, ecosystems, and natural cycles matter more than political boundaries
• What Lyle means by letting nature do the work

Keep this section concise, but accurate. Refer directly to the reading.

2. Examine a Real-World Example (Application + Analysis)

Next, choose one real-world example of a regenerative (or regenerative-adjacent) resource management practice.

Your example might focus on:

• Water systems (wetland restoration, watershed management, rainwater harvesting)
• Forest or grassland stewardship
• Indigenous land management or land return
• Community-led conservation or environmental justice efforts

You may draw inspiration from:

• The assigned videos
• Drawdown.org
• Indigenous-led initiatives
• Community or regional projects anywhere in the world

Briefly describe:

• Where it takes place
• Who is involved or leading the effort
• What resource(s) are being managed
• How the system works in practice

Avoid copying promotional language. Try to understand how the system actually functions over time.

3. Evaluate & Reimagine (Evaluation + Early Synthesis)

This is the key step up Blooms Taxonomy.

Using John T. Lyles 12 Strategies of Regenerative Design as a lens, evaluate your example:

• In what ways is it genuinely regenerative?
• Where does it fall short?
• What tradeoffs or constraints are visible (political, economic, cultural)?

Then push one step further:

If you were asked to improve this system, what changes would you suggest to make it more regenerative?

This might involve:

• Shifting scale (larger or smaller?)
• Increasing community involvement
• Better alignment with natural cycles
• Reducing reliance on industrial inputs
• Addressing equity or access

There is no single right answerwhat matters is your reasoning.

4. Reflect Forward (Personal Meaning + Transfer)

Finally, reflect on what this example changes (or complicates) for you.

You might consider:

• How this reshapes your understanding of environmental responsibility
• What it reveals about power, land, or community
• How it might influence your future work, relationships, or civic engagement

Regenerative design ultimately asks not just what works, but what kind of future we are participating in.