For centuries, our laws, policies and economies have treated nature as property. The common belief has been that land is to be owned, rivers are to be harnessed, forests are to be harvested and resources are to be extracted. This worldview, deeply rooted in extractivism, industrial development and infinite economic growth, assumes that humans stand apart from nature and can control it without consequence. Yet the climate crisis, biodiversity collapse and increasing environmental disasters suggest that this human-centred understanding of the natural world is failing us.

The rights of nature movement seeks to recognize ecosystems such as rivers, forests, mountains and watersheds as living entities with legal rights. It’s a perspective that reflects a profound shift in how societies understand the relationship between people and the natural systems that sustain life. After all, if we did it for corporations — which are not even real and yet have in many instances more rights than a person — we can do it for nature. 

At its core, granting rights to nature recognizes a simple truth: humans are not separate from ecosystems. We are entirely dependent on them.

Moving beyond a human-centric view of nature

For generations, environmental protection laws have largely focused on regulating how much damage humans are allowed to cause. Pollution limits, conservation zones and environmental assessments are all important tools. But they often treat nature as something that exists primarily to serve human needs in the present moment, disregarding the needs of future generations.

Recognizing the rights of nature allows ecosystems to be recognized as legal entities with rights — to exist, to regenerate and to maintain natural function. Guardians, often including Indigenous communities, governments or civil society organizations, can represent these ecosystems in legal and governance decisions.

Gaining momentum in Canada and around the globe

In November 2025, “the Alderville First Nation Council unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the legal status of Lake Rice” in southern Ontario. This marks the first case of a body of water being granted legal personhood in Ontario. However, precedent was set in Canada four years prior.

In Quebec, a historic step was taken in 2021 when the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit and the Minganie Regional County Municipality jointly recognized the Magpie River (Muteshekau Shipu) as a legal person. The declaration grants the river rights to exist, flow naturally, maintain biodiversity, be free from pollution and pursue legal action through appointed guardians. 

New Zealand has become a global pioneer in recognizing nature’s legal standing. In 2014, the country granted legal personhood to Te Urewera, a former national park. In 2017, the Whanganui River received similar recognition following decades of advocacy by Māori communities who consider the river an ancestor. More recently, Mount Taranaki Maunga was also granted legal rights, reinforcing a governance model grounded in partnership between Indigenous and state legal systems.

In Peru, another milestone occurred in 2024 when a court recognized the Marañón River, one of the main sources of the Amazon River, as a rights-bearing entity. The ruling acknowledged Indigenous worldviews that regard the river as a living being and required government authorities to develop protective measures following repeated oil spills that harmed ecosystems and local communities.

Elsewhere, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has declared all rivers in the country to have legal rights.

Together, these examples demonstrate a growing recognition that environmental protection must evolve from managing damage to protecting the integrity of entire ecosystems.

Why the rights of nature matter to Canada

Granting rights to nature does not mean halting development or economic activity. Instead, it encourages balanced decision-making that considers long-term sustainability alongside economic benefits. Healthy ecosystems support stable industries, resilient communities and stronger economies.

Recognizing the rights of nature offers an innovative legal and governance tool that could help Canada protect its natural heritage while supporting sustainable development and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

By recognizing that rivers can have rights, forests can have legal standing and ecosystems can be protected as living systems, we move closer to aligning human law with ecological science and Indigenous wisdom. We acknowledge that human wellbeing depends on healthy ecosystems and that protecting nature ultimately means protecting ourselves.

As we celebrate Earth Day we are called on to stand together in defense of the planet we all call home. Protecting nature in law is good for everyone and everything. It is the next best step in securing a safe and liveable future for generations to come.

The Honourable Rosa Galvez is a civil-environmental engineer and an independent senator for the province of Quebec.

© National Observer