The “Special Purpose” of the GST DAO is:
(i) to hold and use DAO Assets for the benefit of nature, making nature the world’s largest landowner (effectively, functionally or legally); and
(ii) to protect our natural world for future generations, with a commitment to fostering sustainable human and economic development that is in harmony with ecological health.
The Special Purpose may include undertaking activities such as regenerating ecosystems, rewilding nature, supporting regenerative agriculture, and sequestering atmospheric carbon, while taking a community-driven approach to land stewardship.
GST DAO will function so that all actions taken by its administrators, executors and members must serve the “Special Purpose”.
When applying the Special Purpose the GST DAO shall have regard to the following principles:
1. Natural ecosystems have the right to:
1.1. Live free from torture, destruction or death.
1.2. Liberty and security to evolve and regenerate.
1.3. Live without harmful human interference.
2. DAO Land should be used to seek to:
2.1. Secure biological and habitat diversity.
2.2. Protect threatened and specialised habitats and ecosystems.
2.3. Ensure the benefits of biological diversity are fairly shared with future generations.
2.4. Enable regenerative agricultural practices.
3. Community Equity:
3.1. Local communities must be equitably rewarded for protecting ecosystems wherever and whenever reasonably possible, whether said individuals are directly involved in GST DAO operations or not.
3.2. Special attention and considerations must be afforded to indigenous communities and groups.
3.3. Wherever reasonably possible the intention is to support voluntary landback movements for indigenous groups throughout the world.
4. Sustainable economic development
4.1. All economic activity on DAO Land must first serve and enhance ecosystem health.
4.2. Economic activities will prioritise regenerative practices that actively restore and improve ecological systems (e.g., carbon sequestration, water cycle regeneration, soil building).
4.3. Economic activities should equitably empower and benefit local and indigenous communities.
5. Prohibited actions:
5.1. Unnecessary damage to nature.
5.2. Subject to 4.3, use of harmful chemicals on wild or agricultural land.
5.3. The use of pesticides – unless reasonably considered to be both essential and environmentally harmless.
Section 2 – Voting Protocols
GST DAO will use four voting protocols in respect of membership governance. Only GST Holders may participate in any voting protocol.
Various majority requirements are applicable depending on the subject of a vote, ranging from 33.3% to 75% using either a 1-person-1-vote (where possible), or a 1-token-1-vote method. The different voting ranges include; a vote of more than 33.3%; a simple majority vote of more than 50%; a qualified majority vote of more than 66.6%, and a super qualified majority vote of more than 75%.
The first voting protocol is the “Positive Majority Protocol”. Requirements are that either a set percentage of the total GST Holders must vote for a specific outcome or a set percentage of those GST Holders who voted selected a specific outcome. Positive majority voting shall be implemented utilising a 1-person-1-vote protocol whenever possible, this will initially follow a 1-wallet-1-vote protocol.
The second voting type is the “Token Voting Protocol” which shall be enacted in instances where the voting outcome is weighted in favour of how many tokens make a specific decision. Token voting utilises the 1-token-1-vote approach.
The third voting type is the “Veto Protocol”. The purpose of this protocol is to enable the administrators of off-chain DAO operations to function without requiring express permission from GST Holders. This protocol ensures GST Holders retain their governance rights without unduly impacting the efficiency of the GST DAO Group Entities. GST Holders must be given sufficient time and notice to veto certain specific actions. The Veto Protocol shall be implemented using either a 1-person-1-vote or 1-token-1-vote protocol depending on the subject of such a vote.
The fourth voting type is the “Project Raise Protocol” which is specific to acquiring land via a crowdfunding project raise, as related to specific parcels of land. This voting protocol simply requires sufficient funds to be pledged towards the acquisition of a particular parcel of land. This shall be considered as DAO permission for the GST DAO Foundation to acquire the land.
Upon writing of this Constitution the available technology may not suffice to implement these protocols, though they shall be implemented by the DAO Administrators when reasonably possible to do so.
Section 3 – Constitutional Amendments
Both GST Holders and the DAO Administrators may propose amendments to this Constitution and are subject to the following process.
In order to amend any part of this Constitution the “Positive Majority Protocol” must be implemented. Constitutional amendments must receive both a simple majority of more than 50% of all GST Holders; and a super qualified majority of more than 75% of those GST Holders who voted in for any amendment. Once the vote has been passed there will be a “cooling off period” of 180 days when the GST Holders can change their votes. If during this cooling off period the voting requirements are not met, then the vote shall be void.
During the “cooling off period” the Foundation Council Members can challenge any proposed amendments as being unconstitutional. However, the Foundation Council Members are only obliged to ratify any amendments providing the Foundation Council Members do not reasonably consider, acting in good faith, that the implementation of the amendment is detrimental to or in contradiction to the Special Purpose. If the Foundation Council Members do consider that the amendment will be detrimental to or in contradiction to the Special Purpose, the Foundation Council Members shall share their reasoning with the GST Holders providing a reasonable level of detail to allow the GST Holders to consider the objection.
Until the conditions of the Constitution Lock are met the Operating Company CEO may unilaterally amend the Constitution. However, any amendments made to this Constitution by the GST DAO Operating Company CEO under this section shall only be made if the GST Operating Company CEO does not reasonably consider, acting in good faith, that the implementation of the amendment is detrimental to or in contradiction of the Special Purpose.
An exception to this protocol is that, following the Constitution Lock, the Special Purpose of the GST DAO Foundation can never be changed.
However, if the Operating Company determines, acting reasonably and in good faith, that any amendment to the Constitution is required in order to comply with any applicable legal or regulatory requirements, the amendment shall be subject to the Veto Protocol, requiring more than 33.3% of GST Holders veto such a proposal, the Operating Company shall provide 60 days notice of the amendment to the GST Holders and a reasonable level of detail in relation to why the amendment is required.
Section 4 – Constitution Lock
The conditions of the Constitution Lock shall be met immediately following the occurrence of one of the following:
(i) there are more than 10,000,000,000 GST in circulation;
(ii) over any rolling 90 period, GST DAO has more than 10,000,000 GST Holders; or
(iii) Earth Day (April, 22nd) 2035.