- Talk Show
- Informative
Following the theme of Mechanisms of Protection, this episode deepens the exploration of how we can safeguard nature’s inherent rights to exist and flourish. It places particular emphasis on the legal framework of Rights of Nature (RoN) and its complementary approaches that aim to protect ecosystems from exploitation and destruction.
At its core, the RoN movement raises our attention through its attempt to redefine the legal arena by recognizing ecosystems as stakeholders in decision-making—entities that, until now, had no voice in determining what serves their best interests. By granting legal personhood to rivers, forests, or entire landscapes, nature becomes a subject that can defend itself through legal procedures. This legal standing creates enforceable obligations for governments and corporations, opening the possibility to halt extractive projects through the courts.The RoN movement has gained significant traction outside Europe, in countries such as Colombia, New Zealand, and Ecuador. In Europe, however, it is still in its early stages.
In 2022, Mar Menor, a coastal saltwater lagoon in Spain, became the first European ecosystem to be granted legal rights.Often, initiatives for the rights of nature are driven by civic groups—artists included. In Germany, for example, our colleagues at Spreepark Artspace recently organized a conference on granting legal personhood to the River Spree. Meanwhile, our friends at Het Nieuwe Instituut are developing the ZOONOMIC operation, helping organizations transition toward regenerative economies by including the interests of more-then-human stakeholders. In Amsterdam, a member of our collective is working on the concept of multispecies urbanism, inspired by Fletcher and Büscher’s convivial conservation. This approach challenges rigid, colonial models of conservation and instead emphasizes relational practices and community governance of ecosystems—extending the principles of RoN into public life.
We welcome two special guests to this episode: Marjetica Potrč—an internationally acclaimed artist and architect who has worked closely with local and Indigenous communities across the world—and Sabina Rodríguez Van der Hammen, an environmental activist and a lawyer, a PhD researcher, and defender of the Thomas Van der Hammen Reserve in Bogotá. Both are passionate advocates for land rights, bringing together art, law, civil disobedience, community action and creativity to shift mindsets and protect ecosystems along with the communities that care for them.
