Rights of Nature

Quick definition

Rights of nature is a legal framework that recognizes elements of the natural world as having enforceable rights, such as the right to exist, flourish, regenerate, and be restored after harm.

What it means in practice
Instead of treating nature only as property or a resource, rights of nature treats nature as a rights-holder. People or appointed guardians can bring claims to enforce those rights.

Why it matters for rights of nature
Many environmental laws regulate how much harm is allowed. Rights of nature shifts the question to whether an action violates nature’s rights and what restoration is required.

See also
Legal personhood; Guardian; Standing; Restoration; Watershed

Primary sources and further reading

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.

Related updates

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Whanganui River and National Park, North Island of New Zealand

Rivers Have Rights: What a New UK Parliamentary Briefing Means for the Global Movement

April 4, 2026

Study sites. (a–c) Nanika catchment in Western British Columbia, Canada. (d–f) Krycklan catchment in the boreal region of northern Sweden. (a, d) Satellite images and boundaries of Nanika and Krycklan. The red circle and yellow square show the locations of the catchment outlet and streamflow measurement station, respectively. (b, e) Topographic map showing the elevational pattern of both catchments. Note the distinct elevational ranges in the two catchments. (c, f) The distribution of slopes in the two catchments, reflecting a larger portion of very steep locations (∼100% or 45°) in the Nanika vs. Krycklan. Slope and elevation maps were generated at 90-m and 30-m resolution for Nanika and Krycklan, respectively. Credit: Water Resources Research (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025wr040679

What Lies Beneath: The Underground Life of Watersheds

January 27, 2026

One of the World’s Highest Courts Has Declared That Nature Has Rights

December 4, 2025

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