The work of the Global ARC is guided by the core principle of bioregionalism: 

“Human beings are social animals; if we are to flourish as a species we need healthy relationships and secure attachments in our living arrangements with one another and with the land, waters, habitat, plants and animals upon which we depend.”

Natural ways to improve fruit production

Our goal is to contribute to the creation of what the World Health Organization considers ‘the fundamental conditions and resources for health . . . peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice, and equity. Improvement in health requires a secure foundation in these basic prerequisites.”   At the heart of bioregionalism is this concept of “secure attachments;” attachments to both each other and to the living, breathing environment within which we live. 

Rooted in bioregional thinking, Green Infrastructure & Progressive Planning refer to a way of thinking about how we create our living spaces.  We know that where one lives is the best predictor of health, education and upward mobility.  We also know that one's zip code is a better predictor of one's longevity than one's DNA.  Healthy places tend to produce healthy people an unhealthy places tend to produce unhealthy people.

Reclaiming - Recycling Water for Healthy Growing

The Global ARC's work in this area focuses on creating healthy communities by creating healthy places.  Operating a living laboratory, the Ocean View Growing Grounds, and working with partners such as the University of California-San Diego's Bioregional Center for Sustainability Science, Planning and Design, the Global ARC is developing new and innovative ways to create healthy places by linking the research, science and technology within universities to the organized lived-experience, knowledge and creativity of community  residents in order to unleash untapped innovation necessary to address threats to the environment such as climate change.