Redes de ecorregiones y promoción

Our evolving approach to creation care ministry recognizes that geographic regions share common ecological concerns—and that by connecting dioceses within a region we can have a greater impact, environmentally, communally, and spiritually. The church’s 81st General Convention called for a “robust resource hub” to connect Episcopalians as we work toward carbon neutrality, as well as the creation of five pilot eco-region networks to “link people, projects, and properties dedicated to nature-based solutions to slow climate change.” In 2026, this number grew to 12 networks worldwide, with more anticipated.

The Center for Religion and Environment at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, is partnering with the church in the formation of these eco-region networks which are designed to support local environmental ministries. These networks connect people and projects focused on sustainability of land and waterways; transformative agriculture and food systems; and climate advocacy and clean energy efforts.

Our team includes:
The Rt. Rev. Cathleen Bascom: Eco-region network consultant

Andrew Thompson: Eco-region network advisor and associate professor of theological ethics and director of the Center for Religion and Environment at Sewanee

Hampton Randall: Eco-region network facilitator

In addition to eco-region networks, our churchwide commitment to ecojustice also takes the form of education and advocacy by our Office of Government Relations. Learn more below.

Eco-region networks

An Episcopal eco-region network can be created when bishops of at least three dioceses describe to the presiding bishop their intention to form a network, with one diocese designated as the administrative center. Once a network is established, other regional dioceses may join. Funding options are available for networks, which also name an eco-region fellow to partner with church staff in supporting the network. Read below about our existing eco-regions, which involve dioceses in the U.S., Caribbean, Latin America, and Taiwan.

Appalachia eco-region network

This network—which includes the Episcopal dioceses of East Tennessee, Lexington (Kentucky), Southwest Virginia, West Virginia, and Western North Carolina—prioritizes the preservation and restoration of native plants; transformative agriculture and food systems; and natural disaster preparedness.

Carolinas and Georgia eco-region network

This network—comprising the Episcopal dioceses of South Carolina, North Carolina, Eastern North Carolina, and Georgia—prioritizes the waterways and agricultural systems that link these dioceses, focusing on the crises of factory farming and animal suffering in the region’s food industry and the disproportionate burden on the area’s rural and historically marginalized communities.

Chesapeake Watershed eco-region network

This network—which includes the Episcopal dioceses of Delaware, Maryland, Southern Virginia, Virginia, and Washington—focuses on care, advocacy, and protection of the Chesapeake watershed and on building spiritual communities and practices to guide these efforts.

Clean Air and Water Conservation eco-region network

Despite their geographic distance within the church’s Province 8, the Episcopal dioceses of Oregon, San Joaquin, Taiwan, and, Utah, and Oregon face similar environmental challenges they are seeking to address as a network, including air quality; water scarcity; public health; global industrial pressures; and climate patterns.

Ecuador Central and Ecuador Literal eco-region network

This Province 9 network—comprising the Episcopal dioceses of Ecuador Central and Ecuador Literal—focuses on waste sorting; reforestation; and community involvement in creation care, including gardens, rainwater collection, and cleanup days.

Grasslands eco-region network

As The Episcopal Church’s first designated eco-region, this network includes the dioceses of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Navajoland, Nebraska, North Dakota, Northwest Texas, Rio Grande, South Dakota, Texas, Western Kansas, and Wyoming. This network seeks to address grasslands preservation and restoration; biodiversity; regenerative ranching and farming; and water quality, depletion, and rehydration. Find information from our first Grasslands Gathering here.

Honduras and Dominican Republic eco-region network

This Province 9 network—comprising the Episcopal dioceses of Honduras and the Dominican Republic—seeks to address carbon neutrality and sustainability.

New York and Northern Freshwater eco-region network

This network—which includes the Episcopal dioceses of Albany, Central New York, Rochester, and Western New York—prioritizes climate justice; sustainability; and the right use of natural resources, with focus on the care and protection of Lake Ontario, the Erie Canal, the Finger Lakes, the Hudson River, Lake George, and the St. Lawrence River.

Pacific Coastal eco-region network

This Province 8 network includes the Episcopal dioceses of California, El Camino Real, and Northern California. In addition to building relationship-based information networks and resiliency hubs, the network prioritizes climate justice; carbon-emission reduction; environmentally friendly land use; water management; and wildfire mitigation.

Province 1/New England eco-region network

This network comprises the Episcopal dioceses of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. It prioritizes the issues of historic flooding, sea-level rise; crop failures; human migration patterns; and forest fires—all of which disproportionately affect marginalized and poor communities.

Venezuela and Colombia eco-region network

This Province 9 network—which includes the Episcopal dioceses of Venezuela and Colombia—seeks to share best practices in nature restoration and regenerative food production in the move toward carbon neutrality.

Watersheds of the Gulf Coast eco-region network

This network—which includes the Episcopal dioceses of the Central Gulf Coast, Louisiana, and Mississippi—prioritizes wetland and biodiversity loss; industrial incursion; sea-level rise; warming waters; and waterway pollution.

Advocacy

Believing we are called by God to care for creation, The Episcopal Church advocates for and supports public policies that protect natural resources, address climate change, and support biodiversity. Our Office of Government Relations offers multiple resources and action steps on these topics.

Learn More