New Books Network Charles G. Curtin, "Place-Based Solutions: The Power of Regenerative Thinking in the Face of Crisis" (JHU Press, 2026)
Mar 19, 2026
Charles G. Curtin, conservation scientist and author focused on place-based, regenerative ecology and climate adaptation. He discusses prosilience as thriving through crises. Short takes cover adaptive cycles versus succession, reworking carbon markets with biochar, power and cultural dynamics in long-term place-based work, and practical regenerative experiments that scale.
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Resilience Must Move Beyond Return
- Resilience as commonly framed assumes return to a prior state, which is increasingly unrealistic under rapid change.
- Charles G. Curtin reframes resilience as proactive forward movement—'prosilience'—designing for novel futures rather than restoration.
Polycrisis Requires Fluid Adaptive Thinking
- The term polycrisis describes multiple interacting crises—climate, biodiversity, cultural and technological shifts—that produce unpredictable dynamics.
- Curtin argues these converging shocks demand fluid, adaptive approaches rather than fixed, brittle systems.
Turning Wildfire Damage Into Community Opportunity
- Wildfire in the Western US is now a recurring reality, and Curtin's projects convert post-fire conditions into opportunities.
- He uses burnt timber to produce biochar, create carbon payments, and revive grazing and water systems to rebuild local economies.
