First in Massachusetts: Rights of Nature Initiative Qualifies for Town Meeting, in Sheffield

Contact: Sarah Natan, Berkshire Rights of Nature
berkshirerightsofnature@gmail.com
914.330.9073

Thomas Linzey, Senior Counsel, CDER
tal@pa.net
509.474.9761

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheffield (4/7/2020) – The first rights of nature initiative in Massachusetts has qualified for a town-wide vote in Sheffield, in western Massachusetts.

The initiative, advanced to the annual Town Meeting by community members of Sheffield concerned about the health and well-being of the Housatonic River, would recognize the rights of the Housatonic River to “exist, flourish, regenerate, evolve, and be restored.” Following in the footsteps of over three dozen municipalities in the United States that have adopted local laws recognizing legally enforceable rights of ecosystems and nature, the proposed Sheffield law would elevate the River’s protections above those currently provided by state and federal law. The law would provide residents of Sheffield the authority to enforce the rights of the Housatonic, and that recoverable monetary damages would be measured by the amount of harm that had been caused to the River by projects or activities that violate the rights of the River.

Sarah Natan, one of the organizers of the effort in Sheffield, explained, “We feel that it is time to raise the level of protections for the River for our children, local economies, and the communities that rely on it. Recognizing the rights of the Housatonic River would put our community on the forefront of emerging environmental law, preventing further damage, and setting an example for the rest of the state.”

Mari Margil, Executive Director of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER), applauded the Sheffield effort, stating, “We are proud to partner with the residents of Sheffield to help advance this initiative. As governments around the globe recognize the rights of nature, the time has come for ecosystems and nature to take their rightful place in the highest protections that can be afforded under law. Sheffield is now leading the way in New England in securing these protections for a critical ecosystem.”

Currently scheduled for May 4, 2020, the Sheffield Town Meeting will likely be rescheduled to a future date, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Those interested in learning more about or supporting the initiative may contact berkshirerightsofnature@gmail.com.

The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights partners with communities, tribal nations, governments, and others around the world to secure democratic rights and the rights of nature in law.

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