LEGAL RIGHTS OF NATURE
Why Does Nature Need Legal Rights?
A call for justice, not just conservation
Why are corporations granted sweeping legal protections and able to sue for damage to their reputation or profits, while rivers, forests, and the living Earth have none?
Forests are razed to build data centres. Rivers are poisoned with sewage and chemicals. Entire ecosystems and species are sacrificed for shareholder returns. And still, the law does not recognise a crime.
Our legal systems treat Nature as a commodity: to be owned, sold, or sacrificed for short-term gain for the few. In the eyes of the law, there is no victim. Nature is silent. Voiceless. Defenceless.
Something is deeply broken. It’s time to change that.
What Are the 'Rights of Nature'?
The Rights of Nature movement calls for ecosystems and natural communities to be recognised as legal entities—able to exist, flourish, and be restored when harmed.
These rights include:
The right to exist and thrive
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The right to regenerate natural systems
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The right to be free from pollution and degradation
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The right to be represented in court by legal guardians
It’s a powerful shift—from exploitation to respect, from ownership to relationship.
What Is Legal Personhood?
Legal personhood means an entity, like a company, a river, or a forest, can be recognised by law as having rights and responsibilities.
This doesn’t mean a river is literally a human being, but it does mean they can have legal guardians advocate on their behalf, to:
✅ Be represented in court
✅ Defend their rights
✅ Demand protection and restoration
✅ Hold others accountable for damage
Nature’s Legal Rights in Action
Taranaki Maunga (Mount Taranaki),
Aotearoa/New Zealand (2025)
Granted legal personhood as part of a treaty settlement, recognising the mountain as a living ancestor to local Māori iwi. A governing entity now oversees its wellbeing, blending Indigenous and governmental stewardship.
What about Ecocide?
While the Rights of Nature give ecosystems a voice in court, the movement to criminalise ecocide demands accountability for those who cause mass harm to the Earth.
Ecocide—literally, "killing the environment"—refers to the large-scale destruction of Nature: deforestation, oil spills, toxic waste dumping, or pollution that displaces communities and wipes out species.
Campaigns are now underway to make ecocide the fifth crime under international law, alongside genocide and crimes against humanity. It’s a vital step in protecting the living world and holding powerful actors to account.
Together, ecocide and the Rights of Nature offer two halves of the same shift: from exploiting Earth to defending her.
Why this matters now
We’re not just facing climate change and biodiversity loss. We’re facing a breakdown in relationship. Our laws are built on a story of domination and extraction.
Recognising Nature’s rights helps us write a new story—one of kinship, care, and balance.
It’s not about romanticising Nature. It’s about survival, dignity, and the future of all life.
What you can do
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Learn: Follow Rights of Nature organisations, Indigenous-led movements, and legal changemakers. Share what you learn widely.
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Speak up: Advocate for local laws that recognise Nature’s rights. Join global campaigns and grassroots initiatives.
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Reconnect: Build your personal relationship with the living world. Restoration begins with reconnection.
We’ve built legal systems that defend profits, not life.
We must recognise the natural world as more than a commodity to exploit before it is too late.
We must remember, we ARE Nature.
When we act to protect her, we are protecting all life.
Business Case Study: Faith In Nature – A Vote for Nature
In 2022, TreeSisters Business Partner Faith In Nature made history by becoming the first company in the world to legally appoint Nature to its board of directors.
This groundbreaking move means Nature now has both a voice and a vote in board decisions — a powerful and practical step towards centring ecological wellbeing in business. A dedicated legal guardian advocates for Nature’s interests, ensuring the living world is represented at the highest level of corporate governance.
Even more inspiring? Faith In Nature isn’t keeping this to themselves. They’re actively encouraging other companies to follow suit, generously sharing the legal framework so others can bring Nature into the boardroom too.
It’s a bold invitation to reimagine leadership, and we are so proud and grateful to partner with such a value-led business.
