Can rivers and forests have legal rights?

There are laws which are supposed to protect our environment, but they haven’t stopped pollution and the destruction of the natural world. So, some rivers and forests gave been granted enforceable legal rights to stop this habitat destruction. Alma-Constance and Lucinda discussed this with one of the co-founders of the Lawyers for Nature organisation: Paul Powlesland a barrister at Garden Court Chambers; and he told us:

· Why Lawyers for Nature was founded

· How having legal rights gives nature a voice in the legal system

· About the cases he has been involved with to help local communities protect their trees

· The examples from other countries where rivers and nature have been given legal rights

· About being the self – appointed guardian of the river Roding in East London

· Several ways that we can become involved in protecting nature in our communities.

References and Resources

https://www.lawyersfornature.com/about/

Brontie Ansell

David Hunter

Paul Powlesland

Nature in Court – as Jury OathFaith In Nature

Universal Declaration of River Rights

EcoJurisprudence World wide examples

Webinar Strategic litigation: how charities can use the law as a force for good Client Earth

River Roding Trust

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