Preserving is not enough, we need to regenerate the environment and society – Corriere.it

Not only conservation and sustainability but also regeneration, both environmental and social. And for 17 projects that in various fields and in various areas of the world (14 different countries) are pursuing this objective, the contribution of the Spring Prize by Lush, the English company that since its foundation has combined the production of natural cosmetics with ethical and social battles and campaigns. Amounts to 236 thousand pounds the total of prizes awarded leading to over a million pounds the total amount donated in the five editions held between 2017 and today. The Spring Prize joins the Lush Prize which, in the autumn, rewards medical research projects that do without animal experimentation.

The Lush Spring Prize – explain the organizers, who also involved the consultancy firm Ethical Consumer in the evaluation of the projects – celebrates the work of those who are committed to helping communities and society thrive in harmonyboth with nature and among people, through the creation of livelihoods ed healthy and resilient ecosystems. Regeneration is a key concept that aims to take livelihoods and economies beyond sustainability, to revive damaged environments and communities. In short, not only to conserve or use existing structures more carefully, but also to restore the good health of soil, water, plants, air, animals and people in areas of the planet where the good health has been lost. With a holistic approachwhich considers how all the components of the earth are interconnected to try to solve environmental, social and economic problems.

The awarded projects went precisely in this direction, finding a meeting point between global challenges, starting from the climate or the chain consequences caused by major conflicts such as the one in Ukraine, and the effects that occur at the local level. Many of the projects selected by the jury arise from and respond to the needs of the reference community, as in the case of organizations run by indigenous people, refugees and farmers. The nominations were more than 350 from over 40 countrieswith all continents represented, except Antarctica.

The shortlist of finalists led to a selection of 73 projects including the Italian one Livingrockan association born in Matera in 2016 from the idea of ​​a small group of friends who, after years of experience in Europe and around the world, have chosen to return to Basilicata to spread the permaculture and with it the protection of the environment, starting with the reforestation of the degraded areas in the region. The objective is also an involvement of the population and a development of agriculture that is more attentive to the territory as a cultural code, which can also generate forms of tourism. To date, Rocciaviva has already planted about 12,000 plants, restored a lake used as a water storage system and organized meetings and seminars to introduce a different vision of agricultural activity.

Among the winners of the Lush Spring Prize 2023 are projects from Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestine, Madagascar. They represent communities from all parts of the planet and each of them works to bring degraded landscapes back to life, increase access to resources, information and skills to build alternatives to the dominant culture of degeneration, restoring ecosystems, generating resources and increasing solidarity , health and resilience.