An essential step to achieve recognition of Rights of Nature is to introduce a system of jurisprudence that gives natural communities standing in the court of law. A Rights of Nature system treats Nature as a fundamental, rights bearing entity, with intrinsic rights to exist and flourish, irrespective of its use and value to humans.

In 2008, Ecuador became the first country to officially recognize the rights of nature in its constitution. In April 2010 the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth was proclaimed in Cochabamba, Bolivia at the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and The Rights of Mother Earth by a diverse gathering of 35,000 people from 140 nations. In 2011 Bolivia introduced Rights of Nature through its Law of Mother Earth. In the United States, over two dozen towns and cities have implemented rights of nature ordinances. In Columbia over 700,000 people have signed a petition calling for the adoption of Righs of Nature as of July 2014. In January 2014 the first permanent Rights of Nature Ethics Tribunal was held in Quito, Ecuador.

We are inviting you to sign this petition for the acceptance of Rights of Nature in solidarity with all of life and the people who are defending her directly.

For more information visit http://therightsofnature.org and Universal Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth

World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/apr/10/bolivia-enshrines-natural-worlds-rights