Kin-Value: A Nature-Based Methodology for Regenerative Forest Livelihoods

Abstract

The prevailing commodity-based agricultural trading system was designed for extraction, not for the realities of native forest farming. This paper introduces Kin-Value—a nature-based methodology rooted in Kinship, Nature, and Abundance. Bridging ancient Norse philosophy with modern ecological economics, this framework operates on three principles: Symbiotic Relationships, Multifunctional Forest Use and Premium Value Creation. Its operational tool, the Kin-Value Impact (KVI) trading protocol, biomimicks the logic of mycorrhizal networks to replace extractive supply chains with a living, bio-circular trading architecture. By linking financial returns directly to verifiable ecological and social health through a dynamic provenance royalty, KVI transforms forest farmers from commodity price-takers into value-share partners. Ultimately, this paper provides a structural blueprint for regenerative forest livelihoods where the forest, the farmer, and the local ecosystem thrive together.

Keywords: KIN, Kin-Value, Kin-Value Impact (KVI), Native Forest Farming, Agroforestry, regenerative livelihoods, biomimicry, nature-based solutions (NbS), mycorrhizal networks, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), supply chain transparency, bio-circular economy, TNFD, Indigenous Practice, GastroGeography

JEL Classification: Q57, O13, Z10

Suggested Citation:

Velskov, Mamakan, Kin-Value: A Nature-Based Methodology for Regenerative Forest Livelihoods (April 12, 2026). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=6565719 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6565719