DAY 6: Regenerative Bioregions
Diwa / Jiwa: Activating the Spirit of Bioregional Regeneration in South East Asia at Bangkok Climate Action Week
Across Southeast Asia, languages and cultures describe the essence of life and place in subtly different ways:
Bahasa Indonesia & Bahasa Melayu: jiwa — soul, essence
Tagalog: diwa — spirit, consciousness
Thai: diwa/tiwa — daylight
Together, these terms evoke the spirit of Southeast Asia’s megadiversity and interconnectedness, emphasizing that regeneration is both ecological and cultural—a living, mindful approach to thriving futures.
Morning Session
Diwa / Jiwa: Nurturing the Spirit of Bioregional Regeneration in South East Asia
Date and Time: Friday 3rd October 2025, 9am-11.30am Bangkok time
Venue: Online
Hosts: Re:Source Regeneration Ecosystems, United in Diversity, Global Citizens Assembly and LOKAL Re:Generative.
Part 1: Bioregional Regeneration in South East Asia
Launching at Bangkok Climate Action Week as part of Lokal: Regenerative, we are hosting an interactive webinar - a gathering sharing stories of communities across Southeast Asia are already innovating ways to restore bioregional ecosystems while strengthening resilience:
Design – integrating ecological, cultural, and economic needs into living systems
Governance – co-creating new forms of community stewardship
Finance – pioneering regenerative capital and bioregional financing models
These efforts illustrate how entire bioregions can shift from extraction to regeneration.
In this interactive session, participants will:
Explore real-world case studies of bioregional regeneration across Southeast Asia
Reflect on how local cultures and languages express relationships between people and place
Learn how systemic, regenerative approaches can guide design, governance, and finance in the region
Keynote – Alfredo Matugas Coro II (Philippines)
Mayor of Del Carmen, Siargao, Alfredo Coro II has led the island’s transformation through effective governance, ecotourism, and mangrove conservation, turning Del Carmen into a UN Ramsar Site of international importance. A global advocate for local leadership, he serves on ICLEI’s Executive Committee, co-convened the Earthshot Prize–shortlisted Coastal500, and was named the 2022 Most Impactful Island Innovation Ambassador.
Storyteller – Gita Syahrani (Indonesia)
Gita Syahrani, founder of the Earth-Centered Economic Coalition and Climate Breakthrough Awardee, is a leading voice for collective climate action in Indonesia. With a background in law and policy, she has held senior roles at LTKL and WRI and was central to designing Indonesia’s REDD+ framework. She brings deep expertise in systemic, sustainable alternatives rooted in her lifelong passion for nature.
Framing and Moderation
Sarah Queblatin (Re:Source Regeneration Labs)
Sarah Queblatin is a regenerative design specialist and artist with 15+ years in peacebuilding, cultural heritage, and ecosystem restoration. Founder of Green Releaf Initiative and Living Story Landscapes, she weaves indigenous wisdom, arts, and science to design for resilience, while contributing globally through roles with the LUSH Spring Prize, Permaculture for Refugees, and the UNDP Conscious Food System Alliance..
Cokorda Istri Dewi (United in Diversity Foundation)
Cokorda Dewi is Senior Advisor and Chief Executive Lead at the United in Diversity Foundation, with 15+ years of experience facilitating multi-stakeholder transformation. Formerly Advisor to Indonesia’s Ministers of Trade and Tourism, she helped establish the Creative Economy Agency and continues to champion collaboration across government, business, and civil society for sustainable development.