Sensing place-based ecological knowledge for regenerative development and design

Regenerative paradigms seek to realign the built environment with living systems by activating the capacity of communities and ecosystems to coevolve in mutually beneficial ways. Supporting regenerative outcomes, this study introduces a Community Nature (Re)Connection Workshop as a place-based approach to engaging communities through the ecology of place. Informed by experiential and social collective learning theories, and inspired by biomimicry, the pilot workshop was iteratively refined through participant feedback. Quantitative analysis of pre- and post-workshop surveys demonstrated its potential to significantly strengthen participants’ sense of connection to nature, heighten interest in continued learning, and deepen appreciation of local ecology. The workshop’s experiential approach supports ecoliteracy as a foundation for place-based community engagement, ecologically informed regenerative outcomes, and community capacity-building for stewardship. • Introduces a novel place-based method to elicit local ecological knowledge. • Positions ecoliteracy as a foundation for regenerative community engagement. • Engages communities through ecology of place to support regenerative outcomes. • Workshop cultivates collective experiential learning through nature (re)connection. • Integrates biomimicry and biophilia in place-based regenerative design.