As the challenge of capital allocation becomes more acute, and the allure of regional DAOs as as an organising mechanism becomes more concrete, there is an opportunity to develop and deploy bioregional scale financing facilities that intelligently and holistically channels funding and resources to where it is needed on the ground, while circulating back up in a sustainable self reinforcing loop.
Here at Rifai Sicilia we are working hard to turn this design into a reality by embedding our work into a larger nested planetary structure, going up to ReFi Italia, ReFi Mediterranean, and ReFi DAO global.
Below is a diagram along with an accompanying summary that describes both the digital tools we are integrating and how we structure ourselves as Bioregional Cultural Association.
Rifai Sicilia DAO - The bioregional cultural association receives and stewards grants, donations, and revenues from both gitcoin campaigns and tree adoptions for example in a member managed multi-sig treasury.
Rifai Sicilia is nested within the ReFi DAO ecosystem, receiving support and resources from the national, bioregional and global entities to coordinate planetary regeneration.
The goal is to financially and material support the portfolio of projects and their initiatives in
service to holistic management and regeneration of the natural capital commons aka the territory.
For example, the different member projects can be Butterfly Hill, Bosco Angimbe Association, Fenice Verde, Oasi Maker, etc. Each project communicates with each other project their needs to determine how to best allocate resources to holistically manage the natural capital commons. This is one example of flow funding.
These inititatives can be reforestation, rehydration, anti-wildfire protection, beach cleanups, agroforestry, holistic grazing, food forests, and other regenerative actions and enterprises. The treasury is managed through member participation, including submitting proposals for management and funding, which are voted on in the DAO.
For example, a project needs 500 euros to run a tree-planting initiative. The proposal is
submitted, and members can vote on whether to pass the proposal. If the proposal is passed
the money is automatically distributed to the project using smart contracts. Once the trees have been planted, members can then use dMRV or “digital monitoring, reporting and verification”. In this case, Silvi App is used to upload the proof of tree planting. This action then creates an impact certification which can then be used as proof to apply for more grant funding.
Other dMRV solutions include taking photos of a beach cleanup, air quality sensors, or satellite data showing reforestation. Members can also access the commitment pool to offer credits for physical goods and services in exchange for other credits or cash.
For example if someone needs 100 euros to purchase a tool they can offer their credits into the pool. Bioregional Hubs act as centers for in person action and activities to onboard new members through mutual aid and other educational events.
These impact actions are reported and recorded onchain using Karma GAP so that funding can be tracked transparently and embedded within a larger AI x Impact analysis framework that’s being developed by Regen Coordination.
Future revenue streams can also be set up that include self hosted validator nodes “see Octant V2” that utilize pooled capital to reinvest rewards back into bioregional regenerative initiatives and enterprises.
The goal here is to direct capital and investment into the cultural and natural capital of the bioregion so that it is able to sustain itself through regenerative revenues from different value added enterprises. This is where the fun really begins.
