In a nutshell the project “Wilderness and Human Flourishing” a study of healthy limitations. As humans we have wrestled with limits from time immemorial too often treating them as barriers to overcome. Yet far from being barriers to overcome, limits can save us from disaster, and even steer us towards prosperity.
Wilderness is the perfect masterpiece of balanced limitations. These limitations allow for the whole to thrive. In our travels we documented regions that use the model of wilderness—which is firmly grounded in the concept of limitations—to dignify and restore communities from despair into flourishing resilience. We experienced first-hand how stewardship of the land creates positive feedback loops rewarded by communal well being.
The Watson Project “Wilderness and Human Flourishing”
Limitations provide roadmaps to true flourishing. Dispersed tourism, regenerative agriculture, and ecological preservation all work together to restore local resilience by operating in the realm of limits that honor, rather than hinder, the integrity of people and place.
To hear some of the “bright spots” and lessons from our travels stay tunned on the inspiration page as they are released.
To read more about the background of the project read the personal statement that fueled the trip.