We are building a global movement to advance the rights of nature into law.

Democratic and environmental rights go hand-in-hand.

As we face overlapping environmental crises — from climate change, to accelerating species extinction rates, to ecosystem collapse — it is clear that we need to make a fundamental shift in how we govern ourselves toward nature. This is essential to protect human communities and the natural communities upon which we all depend.

We work with governments, tribal nations, indigenous communities, civil society, and grassroots activists to protect the human right to a healthy environment and establish the rights of the environment itself – the rights of nature. This means securing the highest level of legal protection for humans and nature through the recognition of legal rights.

Yet too often the efforts of people and communities to protect nature are blocked or preempted by governmental and corporate entities seeking to protect their power and profits over people and the natural world. Thus, it is critical to strengthen our democratic rights in order to expand and strengthen our authority to protect nature.

This is building a powerful movement to protect our planet. Join us in this movement. We partner with and assist people and organizations like yours, and we invite you to contact us about how we can work together to make change.

What We Do

Workshops

Training for grassroots leaders, activists, and lawyers, tribal nations and indigenous communities, as well as governments and elected officials, working to secure the rights of nature.

Legal and Legislative Support

Drafting of legislation, conducting legal research, and providing legal support for tribal, local, state, and national governments, and organizations and individuals seeking to advance, enforce, and implement rights of nature laws.

Library

We maintain a library of model legislation and enacted Rights of Nature laws and constitutional provisions.

On-the-Ground Support

Providing our partners with strategic planning and guidance, organizing, outreach, education, community and governmental engagement, and more.

Partner with Us

Where We Work

Featured

The United States

Ecuador

In 2008, we met with delegates to Ecuador’s Constituent Assembly which was drafting the country’s new constitution. The focus of the discussions was on the rights of nature – or Pacha Mama - and the need to do something different to protect the fragile, remarkable ecosystems of Ecuador. In September 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature in a national constitution.

The Moon

Today, there are plans for human exploration and exploitation on the Moon and Mars, raising significant concerns for the potential impacts on the lunar and Martian environment. Human activity has already had significant impacts off-Earth. CDER has joined with partners to develop the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon, and explore how to protect the Rights of the Moon.

Switzerland

Five members of the Swiss Parliament presented formally an initiative to recognize the rights of nature, as well as the right to a healthy environment as a human right. This initiative would be entered into the Switzerland Federal Constitution ((Die Bundesverfassung). The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights collaborated alongside Swiss activist Doris Ragettli of the organization Rights of Mother Earth, and Swiss author and activist Linard Bardill and others with the World Ethic Forum, on this project over the course of a year.

Philippines

We have been working with the Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) on national legislation and local legislation to secure the rights of nature in law. PMPI is a coalition of faith-based and civil society organization seeking to protect people and nature. The national legislation was introduced into the Filipino Senate in 2019, where it is advancing.

Australia

With our partner organization — the Australian Earth Laws Alliance — we are helping advance the rights of nature in Australia. This includes working on legislation introduced by Member of Parliament Diane Evers in the Western Australia legislature in November 2019.