WEBINAR: First Rights of Nature Enforcement Case Filed in the U.S. – Wilde Cypress Branch v. Beachline

Join us on Thursday, January 27, at 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific, for an in-depth look at the first case in the United States brought by nature to enforce its legal rights. Register here!

Presenters:

Chuck O’Neal, Plaintiff serving as guardian of the waterways

Steve Meyers, Florida attorney representing the Plaintiffs

Thomas Linzey, Senior Counsel, Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER), which is helping litigate the case

The first Rights of Nature Law in Florida: In November 2020, the people of Orange County, Florida, adopted the first rights of nature law in the state. The law recognizes legally enforceable rights of waterways, including their legal rights to "exist, flow…and maintain a healthy ecosystem."

The first Rights of Nature enforcement case: Facing threats from development, in May 2021, waterways in Orange County filed a lawsuit to defend their rights, in a first-of-its-kind court case.

The case was brought to stop a proposed commercial development that would destroy over a hundred acres of wetlands, while also impacting lakes, streams, and marshes. The Plaintiffs include Wilde Cypress Branch, Boggy Branch, Crosby Island Marsh, Lake Hart, and Lake Mary Jane.

The case was brought against the development company Beachline South Residential, LLC, and the State of Florida which is considering Beachline’s permit application to build the development.

The webinar will cover the Orange County rights of nature law, the history of the lawsuit, and the arguments being advanced by the Plaintiff-waterways.

Register here!

Virtual Event: Thursday, January 27, at 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific. Free to attend.

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