Rights of Nature Advancements

The Time #ForNature is Now!

The Rights of Nature is a powerful movement...

that calls for the legal recognition of ecosystems as living entities with inherent rights. At its core, it signifies acknowledging that Nature has the right to exist, flourish, and regenerate, free from human-driven harm. This shift challenges the view of the natural world as merely a resource and instead recognizes natural habitats, such as rivers, forests, mountains, and the ocean, as legal subjects deserving protection, respect, and a voice within our legal systems.

At The Leatherback Project, we embed the Rights of Nature framework at the heart of our conservation strategy, advocating for marine ecosystems, with a critical focus on leatherback sea turtle habitats, to be legally recognized as rights-bearing entities. This means treating these oceanic environments not as resources to exploit, but as living systems with the right to exist, thrive, and regenerate.

Our commitment to this paradigm has not only advanced protections for endangered species and their habitats, but also helped inspire the creation of the National Geographic Society’s For Nature program, a direct outcome of our collaborative efforts and pioneering work in reimagining conservation through the lens of ecological justice.

“Recognizing the Rights of Nature is vitally important because it directly changes the way in which society considers Nature in decision making. By utilizing science, community empowerment, and inspiring ethical arguments to be a voice for Nature, we can help combat extinction and contribute to high-impact conservation initiatives that protect endangered species, preserve threatened habitats, and advocate for the Rights of Nature around the world. I hope to catalyze Rights of Nature advancements with other passionate individuals who can lead in their own spheres of influence,” said our founder Callie Veelenturf.

Reimagining Law and Conservation for Marine Habitats

The Rights of Nature deeply shapes how we design our conservation projects and communicate our mission to the world. It challenges us and our communities to see Nature not as something separate from us, but as a living partner with rights of its own.

At The Leatherback Project, we use this powerful framework to inspire people to recognize their impact on the natural world and to take meaningful action. By shifting the narrative from control to coexistence, we invite individuals and communities to become active stewards in a growing global movement, one that redefines how we live, work, and thrive with Nature.

Recognizing the Ocean as a Legal Entity

We align with the Rights of Nature movement to encourage legal frameworks that recognize the ocean’s right to exist, thrive, and regenerate, independent of its utility to humans.

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Legal Protection for Sea Turtle Habitats

Through the Rights of Nature lens, we campaign for the recognition of nesting beaches, migration corridors, and feeding grounds as protected, rights-bearing ecosystems. This approach strengthens legal arguments against destructive activities like offshore drilling, plastic pollution, and coastal development that threaten these vital areas.

Community-Driven Legal Advocacy

We collaborate with local and Indigenous communities, supporting their leadership in recognizing and enforcing Nature’s rights. These partnerships help create governance models where communities are guardiansof ecosystems, working in alignment with ocean health.

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Science-Backed Legal Personhood

Backed by cutting-edge marine science, the Project provides the data and ecological evidence needed to support legal cases or policy efforts that grant ecosystems legal standing. This allows habitats essential to leatherback survival to be defended in court as injured parties when harmed.

Education and Policy Change

Beyond legal action, we use the Rights of Nature framework to educate policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public about the urgent need to redefine our relationship with the ocean, not as a commodity, but as a living relative with rights.