Nature Rights: Should Nature Have the Same Rights as a Human?
Lake Louise, Canada | Photo by Ronniechua
Okay, so hear me out, this is not a new idea, but it’s one gaining traction fast: what if nature—rivers, forests, animals, entire ecosystems—had legal rights, just like human beings? Could a coral reef sue for pollution? Could a river be considered a legal person with a voice in court?
Welcome to the world of the rights of nature movement, where the concept that nature deserves intrinsic legal protection is no longer fringe, it’s a growing global legal and ethical shift. From Ecuador to New Zealand, laws are being rewritten, philosophies reframed, and communities are standing up not only for future generations of humans but for nature itself.
In this post, we’ll unpack the meaning behind nature rights, how they work in practice, where they’re being recognized, and whether this movement is a distraction from more immediate human concerns—or, perhaps, the key to solving them.
Understanding the Nature Movement
The nature movement, also known as the rights of nature movement, is a burgeoning global initiative that seeks to recognize and protect the inherent rights of the natural world. This movement is grounded in the belief that nature possesses intrinsic value and should be treated as a living entity with its own rights, rather than merely a collection of resources for human exploitation. Advocates argue that by acknowledging the rights of nature, we can better preserve the natural world for present and future generations.
Central to the nature movement is the concept of earth jurisprudence, a legal theory that views the natural world as a living being with its own rights and interests. This theory posits that the natural world operates according to its own laws and principles, which should be respected and protected. Earth jurisprudence challenges the traditional anthropocentric legal frameworks, advocating for a more holistic approach to environmental protection.
The movement also emphasizes the importance of environmental protection, aiming to safeguard the natural world from harm and degradation. By recognizing the rights of nature, proponents believe we can create a more sustainable and equitable relationship with the environment, ensuring that the vital cycles of ecosystems are maintained and respected. This shift in perspective encourages us to see ourselves not as dominators of nature, but as stewards responsible for its care and preservation.
What Are Nature Rights?
The rights of nature are a legal and philosophical concept that asserts nature—trees, animals, rivers, mountains, ecosystems—possesses fundamental rights, just like humans. These include the right to exist, regenerate, and evolve without being harmed by human activity.
It’s a major shift from our traditional environmental laws, which are largely anthropocentric. Most laws treat nature as property—something that can be owned, managed, or exploited. The rights of nature approach instead sees nature as a legal subject with its own voice and protections.
Commonly Proposed Rights of Nature:
The right to exist and flourish
The right to regenerate life cycles
The right to be restored after environmental harm
The right to maintain biodiversity
The goal? To move from managing nature for short-term human gain to recognizing nature as a partner in planetary health.
Where Are Nature Rights Recognized?
Several countries have taken major steps to enshrine rights of nature laws into their legal systems. Here are a few examples:
Ecuador – A Global First
Ecuador became the first country to recognize the rights of nature in its Constitution in 2008. These constitutional provisions empower communities and individuals to demand enforcement of nature's rights, establishing a precedent for ecological protection. Article 71 states: “Nature, or Pacha Mama… has the right to integral respect for its existence and for the maintenance and regeneration of its life cycles.” This means any citizen can sue on behalf of nature.
Galapagos, Ecuador | Photo by FotoCruz
Bolivia – Mother Earth Law
Bolivia followed in 2010 with the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, giving nature the right to life, biodiversity, water, clean air, and restoration. It positions humans as stewards, not owners.
Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia | Photo by Rosana Oliveira
New Zealand – Legal Personhood for Rivers
In 2017, the Whanganui River was granted legal personhood under Maori law. The river has its own legal guardians, one appointed by the government and one by the Maori iwi (tribe).
Whanganui River, New Zealand | Getty Images
Colombia – Rights of the Amazon
Colombia’s Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that the Amazon rainforest is a rights-bearing entity, holding the government accountable for deforestation.
Interior of the Amazon Rainforest | Photo by San Anotonio San Millan
India – Rivers with Rights
In 2017, India’s High Court gave the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers legal person status. However, the ruling was later challenged, highlighting the complexity of enforcement.
Ganges River | Photo by Ropp Dey
Do Nature Rights Exist in the US?
Yes…sort of. While there is no federal recognition of nature law in the U.S., several local communities and cities have adopted rights of nature ordinances.
Examples:
Toledo, Ohio passed the Lake Erie Bill of Rights in 2019, although it was struck down by a federal court.
Santa Monica, California adopted sustainability rights that include the rights of ecosystems to exist.
Colorado’s Boulder County recognizes the rights of nature in its environmental policies.
In the U.S., the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) has been instrumental in helping communities adopt local nature rights ordinances, even when challenged by state laws.
What Are the Rights of Nature in Peru?
Peru recognizes nature within Indigenous frameworks, and indigenous communities play a major role in defending ecosystems through ancestral rights and stewardship. While national legislation hasn’t formally recognized nature rights like Ecuador, Indigenous-led conservation initiatives often embody the same principles.
What Country Respects Nature the Most?
It’s hard to quantify, but several countries stand out for integrating nature rights into legal or policy frameworks:
Ecuador and Bolivia for constitutional rights of nature
New Zealand for legal personhood of ecosystems
Costa Rica for environmental education, biodiversity protection and conservation tourism.
Bhutan for enshrining environmental care into national happiness policies
Colombia for judicial rulings that protect ecosystems
These nations prioritize not only conservation but an ethical relationship with nature.
Manuel Antonio Beach in Costa Rica | Photo by Jake Marsee
Why Give Nature Rights When Humans Still Suffer?
It’s a fair question: with poverty, inequality, and conflict still pressing global concerns, why devote energy to the rights of rivers or forests?
Here’s the philosophical counterpoint:
Environmental harm disproportionately affects the poor. Clean air, fertile land, and safe water are essential for human dignity. Protecting nature is often the most direct way to protect people.
Nature rights can prevent harm before it starts. Unlike reactive laws that punish polluters after damage is done, rights of nature can stop destruction proactively.
They reconnect us with our place in the web of life. Viewing nature as property fuels extraction. Seeing it as a living entity encourages stewardship.
It’s not either/or. Social justice and environmental justice are deeply linked. Fighting for one strengthens the other.
As philosopher Thomas Berry said, “The universe is not a collection of objects, but a communion of subjects.”
The Rights of Nature Movement: A Growing Force
The rights of nature movement is expanding worldwide, fueled by climate change, biodiversity loss, and a growing recognition that traditional environmental protections are failing to protect nature.
Key Organizations:
Earth Law Center
Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN)
Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER)
Wild Law UK
These groups support legal reform, grassroots organizing, and Indigenous leadership to advance the legal recognition of protected natural areas as legal persons.
Additionally, the Rights of Nature Law Library provides access to laws, resolutions, and court decisions related to the legal rights of nature, supporting communities and governments in their efforts.
Legal Challenges and Philosophical Questions
Granting rights to nature comes with complex questions:
Who speaks for nature in court? Often, guardians or “legal representatives” are appointed.
What happens when rights conflict? For example, nature’s rights vs. a development project?
Is personhood the best model? Some argue for new legal categories that better reflect nature’s uniqueness.
Still, these questions echo earlier human rights struggles: enslaved people, women, and children were once denied rights until law evolved. Nature may be the next frontier.
Can You Visit a Place with Legal Nature Rights?
Absolutely. Here are a few places where you can experience this shift firsthand:
Whanganui River, New Zealand – Take a canoe journey and learn from Maori guides.
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador – Protected under Ecuador’s constitutional rights of nature. One of the best places to see very unique animals in Ecuador.
Madidi National Park, Bolivia – Home to Indigenous eco-tourism initiatives tied to Mother Earth laws.
A Radical Idea That’s Not So Radical
So, should nature have the same rights as a human? Maybe not exactly the same—but it absolutely deserves legal recognition that reflects its intrinsic value, its life-sustaining role, and our profound interdependence with it.
The rights of nature movement is not about elevating trees over people. It’s about creating a legal and ethical framework where humans, including tribal nations, are no longer the only voices that matter. It asks us to expand our moral circle—not reduce it.
Because in protecting nature, we’re ultimately protecting ourselves.
