Rights of Nature

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Rights of Nature is a legal movement focused on enshrining specific rights for non-human entities in local, state, or federal law. This builds on the concept that corporations (which are entities made of humans) have distinct rights. Under a rights of nature scenario, humans may assume guardianship or trusteeship and sue for the purpose of Protection, Regulation or make a claim of damages and demand Restoration,. Because ecosystems cannot advocate for themselves, the body and interests of natural entities are largely to-be-defined.

Washington RON Laws[edit]

Watershed Rights[edit]

  • Snohomish River Watershed
    • Everett, WA, Citizen's Initiative 24-03
    • Nov 5, 2024 I24-03 Passes in General Election with 57%
    • Standing for the Snoho Campaign Website
  • Deschutes River Watershed
    • Olympia, WA, 2024 - Campaign started but put on hold till 2025

Southern Resident Orca Rights[edit]

Note: Proclamation's are non-binding

Campaign by Earth Law Center and Legal Rights for the Salish Sea

  • December 7, 2022 - Port Townsend, WA (Proclamation by City Council)
  • December 19, 2022 - Langley, WA (Proclamation by City Council)
  • January 17, 2023 - Jefferson County, WA (Proclamation by Board of Commissioners)
  • March 9, 2023 - Des Moines, WA (Proclamation by City Council)
  • December 12, 2023 - Gig Harbor, WA (Proclamation by City Council)
  • February 7, 2023 - San Juan County, WA (Proclamation)
  • February 14, 2023 - Bainbridge Island (Proclamation by City Council)

Efforts in the Salish Sea[edit]

Earth Law Center[edit]

  • The Earth Law Center as started an initiative to call for a state law recognizing rights of orca to certain conditions that support their communities. It is proposed then that private entities could then pursue legal action to contest violations of those rights on behalf of the Southern Resident Killer Whale

Community Rights of San Juan Islands[edit]

Snohomish County Community Rights[edit]

Oregon Efforts[edit]

Protect Lane County Watersheds is pursuing a rights of nature approach in the Upper Willamette Watershed.

Questions[edit]

  • How do these efforts define the interests of a river? What defines existance, thriving, or wellbeing which can be harmed?
  • How do these efforts define the body of the river--that which can be harmed? Does it have physical or biological boundaries?
  • How do these efforts define a legal standard for proof of harm?
  • How does this related to trustee-based damage claims under NRDA?

facts or skills acquired by a person through experience or education.

Retrieved from "https://salishsearestoration.org/w/index.php?title=Rights_of_Nature&oldid=28672"
This page was last edited on 14 April 2025, at 18:36.
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