Fiduciary Duty

Quick definition

A fiduciary duty is a high legal duty to act loyally and in the best interests of the person or entity you represent.

What it means in practice
For nature guardians, a fiduciary framing can help answer: “Are guardians allowed to compromise nature’s interests?” and “What happens if they do?”

Why it matters for rights of nature
It creates an accountability standard for representation.

See also
Guardian; Trustee; Conflict of interest

Related Terms

Balancing of Interests

Balancing of interests means nature’s interests are included and weighed as legally cognizable interests – without assuming nature automatically wins every conflict.

Beneficial Use

Beneficial use is a water-law principle that ties water rights to recognized uses, rather than allowing water to be hoarded.

Cause of Action

A cause of action is the specific legal claim that lets a court hear your case, what law was violated and what the plaintiff is entitled to ask for.

Declaratory Judgment

A declaratory judgment is a court decision that clarifies legal rights and duties, declaring what the law means and how it applies, without necessarily ordering immediate action.

Due Process

Due process is the legal requirement that government actions affecting rights follow fair procedures, and in some contexts, be substantively fair.

Duty of Care

A duty of care is a legal obligation to act reasonably to avoid causing foreseeable harm.

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