The Lush Spring Prize was set up to support “regenerative” projects—those that go beyond sustainability by taking holistic approaches to building the health of ecology, economy and social systems. It seeks to support those who are actively involved in restoring all the systems they are part of.

By supporting regenerative projects, the Spring Prize hopes to raise the profile of the movement as a whole to inspire more individuals, groups, communities, funders and businesses to start engaging with regenerative processes.

Part of the 2021 Prizes is the category called Young Projects—at least three awards of up to £20,000. For young community groups, organizations, businesses or networks that are 1-5 years old, to help them to expand or develop their work in improving ecological and social systems.

Shortlisted under Young Projects is the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, which is dedicated to the restoration of some 3,000 hectares of limestone formations and to supporting the threatened biodiversity in the mountains of Baras, Rizal.

Its Masungi Geopark Project is one of the largest collaborative reforestation efforts in the country, in an area which is heavily threatened by large-scale mining, land speculation, and timber-poaching, including illegal activities.

The team faces multiple threats, such as harassment from quarrying entities. Despite this, the project has increased measures to protect the area from activities like quarrying and land grabbing. Their efforts include community development: park rangers are locals from the community, including some of those previously involved in illegal activities within the watershed.

The project engages continuously with the indigenous community within the area to develop nontimber forest products to help boost their livelihood.

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