For those who hunt, fish, farm and own land, there lies a responsibility to uphold and pass on traditional land and hunting practices. The customs, traditional use and knowledge passed down through generations are not mere habits but are imbued with wisdom for both sustainability and respect for the land, including both its flora and fauna. These ancestral practices provide instruction and proven methods for land use that balance human flourishing, ecological sustainability and aesthetic suitability. Harkening to these time-tested traditions and ways of living, we aspire to a stewardship that prioritizes human needs with ecological health, understanding that we have a compact with current and future generations.

Undergirded by the principles of self-determination and self-governance, we believe decision making in land management should be undertaken at the most local competent level: land owners and immediate participants in the land’s activities. This approach recognizes that those closest to the land and its resources possess the most nuanced and meaningful understanding of its needs and capacities. Local communities should have the autonomy to coordinate and manage their environments in ways that reflect their unique ecological conditions and cultural values, supported but not supplanted by higher levels of governance.

Conservation policies must hold to human welfare as the first priority. This does not mean exploitation of land and natural resources, but rather a stewardship that finds harmony between human needs and natural processes when possible. Humans cannot not be secondary to any environmental or conservation policy; rather, policies should be crafted to enhance human life within the constraints and opportunities provided by nature. This involves fostering environments where both human communities and natural systems can thrive symbiotically.

As much as feasible, we should seek the return of flora and fauna across the United States. States like Kentucky have proven how to reintroduce native species with remarkable success. Kentucky’s thriving Elk population, started just decades ago from herds in western states, now exceeds ten thousand. Wild Turkeys were once on the brink of disappearing from Kentucky. Just 45 years ago, it's estimated Kentucky had less than 2,500 wild turkeys. Today, they are found in all 120 counties. There are possibly as many as 400,000 of them in the state.

We encourage partnering with organizations like The American Chestnut Foundation as well, which seeks to pioneer a new blight resistant version of the “redwood of the east,” the American Chestnut, that once dominated Appalachia’s landscape. Put another way, conservation policies should not just be focused on tending to existing resources to the best of our abilities–no doubt important. They should also take into account ways to reintroduce the animals, trees and plants generations of Appalachians once took for granted.

Distributed ownership of land and the goods that flow from land are the bedrocks of America’s deep heritage of civic republicanism. Our revitalization efforts aim to result in widely distributed local ownership of land, businesses and civic/cultural institutions, which will empower local self governance. This depends upon maintaining a culture of high-agency, where residents are not passive recipients of change but active participants in shaping their environment, culture and politics. We aim to support self-determinative communities that are committed to preserving the region's unique heritage and its long-term vitality, fortifying a sense of belonging and shared mission among its people.

As a necessary predicate for this self-governance, we intend for our communities to conduce to a renewed sense of civic republicanism, in which our patrimonial civic rights, chiefly those of property, free political speech and civilian armament, can be maintained and perpetuated.

Authenticity to regional particularities is at the heart of our revitalization efforts. We seek to integrate modern solutions with traditional practices, respecting the vernacular architecture, local crafts, and the established lifestyle that have long characterized this region. This approach not only honors historical and cultural roots but also, we believe, can enrich the local economy by promoting desirable, genuine regional products and experiences. We want to ensure that all revitalization is organic, sustainable, deeply respectful of the past and aiming toward a vibrant future. This vision encourages the people of Appalachia to take pride in their heritage and define their community's future (rather than having it defined for them).

Trust between neighbors, and between citizens and their institutions, has been a crowning achievement of American life. But all too often, revitalization efforts bring social disruption that displaces civic and cultural functions with consumer functions. This predominant approach destroys social and institutional trust, resulting in dislocation and atomization. In contrast, our approach prioritizes trust as a matter of primary concern. As much as possible, our development and revitalization efforts are designed to contribute to cultural and civic participation, by strengthening existing institutions or building new ones. 

We view technology as a tool, and its goodness depends upon how it conduces to the end of enabling human flourishing in our regions. While Luddites decry most technological innovation and techno-optimists fail to grapple with how technological design and use is imbued with value judgements, we aim for mastery over technology, embracing innovations that give people tools to live well in our region, to be connected to broader economic vitality, and to project cultural and political power. At the same, we eschew technology that enslaves people to vices or destroys regional particularities.

We seek to weave the threads of rural living with that of technological advancement, ensuring that every innovation we introduce respects and enriches the natural and communal life of Appalachia. By leveraging technology, we aim to enhance agricultural practices, making them more economically viable, thus supporting local farmers and preserving the region's established land use traditions. We also encourage the  development of  smart technologies that blend seamlessly with the landscape. Technology and nature can work hand in hand, fostering a lifestyle that is not only technologically advanced but also deeply in tune with the rhythms of the natural world.

We prefer technology that economically empowers human-scale communities. By encouraging innovative digital platforms for the local and distributed provision of goods and services, we welcome access to broader markets while, as much as possible, keeping the wealth generated within local communities. We welcome and encourage the adoption of Bitcoin and other disruptive technologies that can - at their best - promote economic sovereignty. This approach is rooted in the belief that technology should serve human life in its most natural state, enhancing our quality of life while preserving the cultural integrity and natural beauty of our homes.