Communities around the world have proven that ecological and social restoration is possible (even under the toughest conditions) by tackling root causes and leveraging small but powerful changes.
This tool teaches you how EcoTipping Points work and the systemic factors needed to create conditions for an EcoTipping Point. We illustrate through the experience of communities who faced collapse, but reversed it through well chosen ecological interventions they were capable of pulling off. It is the shared patterns of these case studies that shapes our understanding of what an EcoTipping Point is and how to make it happen. Just as they were successful in setting off a chain of events that created systemic change, turning vicious cycles into virtuous cycles, each of their stories have set off a chain of changes for other communities who borrowed their choices, modifying them to their own conditions, to bring back their fish, farms, and healthy forests and water.
Tipping points are when changes reach a threshold that sets in motion systemic change.
When changes leverage enough force to begin a vicious or virtuous cycle.
They reinforce, amplify and trigger change across a system.
Community members develop a shared understanding of the problem, then brainstorm targeted, high-impact actions capable of reversing those cycles.
Success spreads to other locations when people elsewhere learn about the success and decide to try it for themselves.
The success of tipping point levers at a local level show that it's not necessary to wait for action from national governments or international accords to solve global problems.