Session Description
Historically, legal systems have treated Nature as “property”. Laws and contracts protect the property rights of individuals, corporations, and other legal entities. As such, environmental ‘protections’ legalize harm by regulating how much pollution or destruction of Nature can occur within the law. Herein, Nature and all of its non-human elements have no standing.
In contrast, Rights of Nature (RoN) is the recognition that ecosystems – including rivers, oceans, mountains and species – have rights just as human beings have rights. RoN acknowledges that Nature in all its forms has the right to exist, thrive and regenerate undisturbed. Nature, in the form of an ecosystem, can be named as an I&AP, or the injured party, with its own legal standing rights.
For most Indigenous cultures, recognizing RoN is consistent with traditions of living in harmony with Nature, where all life, including human life, is deeply interconnected and respected. Decisions are based on what is good for the whole. Worldwide, communities are basing environmental protection systems on this premise that Nature has inalienable rights, just as humans do. And humans have the legal authority and responsibility to enforce these rights on behalf of ecosystems.
This workshop will ‘look back for the future of IA’ - how best to bring RoN into IA practice - what might giving Nature legal representation as an I&AP look like? Who would ‘represent’ Nature? And how could we promote rapid regulatory changes to bring this into effect rather than the individualised granting of RoN underway?
Session Summary
The Rights of Nature - giving Nature in various forms standing as a legal persona, is a rapidly growing movement worldwide. Join us in determining how to incorporate RoN – enabling Nature’s participation as an I&AP in development decisions which affect it – within IA practice, catalysing a radical change in approach
Additional Information
Depending on workshop outcomes, a FastTips guideline could be developed for IAIA.
Please also note this workshop complements the Fit for Future Initiative and related IAIA discussions on Global Commons Alliance partner initiatives. 3F is proposing a stream called “Systems and strategic thinking for planetary recovery.” To maximize cross-participation and avoid duplication, please schedule it so it does not overlap with other sessions proposed for this stream.
Session Chair
Nicholas King
Wilderness Foundation Africa
South Africa