Convivial Ecological Institutions
Source
* Article: Ecological Institutions → Protocols to Grow Autonomous and Convivial Ecological Actors. Austin Wade Smith. Regen Foundation, 2024.
URL = https://mirror.xyz/austinwadesmith.eth/tv9z1XXrtqQxDIxE8FygZ_W39NpkQJkVfrtjCtdbzA8
Discussion
Austin Wade Smith:
"Convivial ecological institutions describe the myriad of ways human beings might participate in the expanded legibility of the living world. Convivial in this sense, is to be “alive with”. While the potential is truly vast, a simple starting point would be to explore the relationship of social oracles with data oracles. Could data oracle inputs prompt community governance processes, the outcome of which decides how the inventory of an ecological institution is used? People are part of ecosystems, not separate from them. Significant decisions on behalf of a forest should include governance by its guardians, because in one sense, people are part of the forest. In this manner, what is deemed an appropriate or meaningful action for an ecological institution is formed through social consensus. This consensus informs the contracts which drive the behavior of a convivial ecological institution.
On the opposite end of the spectrum from autonomous control systems, convivial ecological institutions might be an evolution of community governed resource management. Their impact is multiplied by the expanded legibility enabled by progressive formalism. Ecological institutions are durable containers which legitimize and bolster emerging patterns of socio-ecological governance across different systems, with the potential to “plug in”, and interface with existing social systems by occupying different roles. Decentralized protocols offer many opportunities to design governance frameworks in a modular and composable way. These social oracles, in collaboration with data oracles, create an enormous space of possibility which might integrate approaches from autonomous control systems, community resource management, and traditional ecological knowledge."
(https://mirror.xyz/austinwadesmith.eth/tv9z1XXrtqQxDIxE8FygZ_W39NpkQJkVfrtjCtdbzA8)
Directory
Legal Recognition of Non-Human Agency
Austin Wade Smith:
"Relevant Precedents in non-Human Agency:
Rights of Nature
Brings legal standing to non-human organisms and ecosystems, so that theoretically their rights can be protected in a court of law.
Typically operates a local level, however Rights of Nature have been enshrined at a federal level in Ecuador and New Zealand, and India.
Redefines the legal entity assigned to organisms and ecosystems in courts of law, and in the process makes them recognized as actors within the legal system.
The legal entity used in Rights of Nature law, depends on the legal system. In the United States 3 potential entities are:
Environmental Personhood / Juridic Personhood
Unincorporated Association
Zero-Member LLC
Typically a committee of guardians / trustees acts on behalf of the non-human.
(https://mirror.xyz/austinwadesmith.eth/tv9z1XXrtqQxDIxE8FygZ_W39NpkQJkVfrtjCtdbzA8)
Pet Trusts
Trust is established to care for a pet after owner dies or is not capable of caring for an animal.
Trusts set up in animals name, which are maintained by trustees for the benefit of the pet.
Relies on trustees to govern and maintain the fund in a manner commensurate with the original intent of the fund.
Nature on the Board
Pioneered by the work of the Earth Law Center
Non-humans have a seat on corporate boards with equal standing as other board members.
Proxies or trustees speak and vote on behalf of nature in the boardroom.
(https://mirror.xyz/austinwadesmith.eth/tv9z1XXrtqQxDIxE8FygZ_W39NpkQJkVfrtjCtdbzA8)
Pioneered by work of Patagonia Purpose Trust
Uses Perpetual Purpose Trusts as a more permanent legal entity to enshrine wellbeing of nature as the permanent purpose of a trust.
Purpose trust can own voting stock in a company, where trustees vote in alignment with the purpose of the trust.
(https://mirror.xyz/austinwadesmith.eth/tv9z1XXrtqQxDIxE8FygZ_W39NpkQJkVfrtjCtdbzA8)
Self Owning Land
Pioneered by the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights
Non-Humans do not simple have standing, but also have the power of ownership of deeds, and contracts within limited terms.
Land ownership contract is owned by the ecosystem
To date, primarily implemented in the US and Canada through a legal designation known as an Unincorporated Association.
Typically a committee of trustees determines behavior of an Unincorporated Association.
(https://mirror.xyz/austinwadesmith.eth/tv9z1XXrtqQxDIxE8FygZ_W39NpkQJkVfrtjCtdbzA8)
Autonomous Organizations
Pioneered in the literature of Shawn Bayern.
Autonomous Organizations refers to legal and corporate actors which do not have human referents.
They may pertain to autonomous algorithms, machines, and robots.
Typically Autonomous Organizations begin as human-anchored corporate entities which have the option to exit the entity.
LLC’s in Vermont and Wyoming make it possible to have an LLC with no human members.
This is referred to as a a zero member LLC.
Algorithms can define the operating agreement of zero-member LLCs, making the legal entity under the control of software.
Algorithmically controlled operating agreements may dictate any number of actions."
(https://mirror.xyz/austinwadesmith.eth/tv9z1XXrtqQxDIxE8FygZ_W39NpkQJkVfrtjCtdbzA8)