Where We Work
The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER) is working around the world to advance the rights of nature and democratic rights.
We assist and partner with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, grassroots groups, civil society organizations, communities, and local, state, and national governments in the U.S., Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Philippines, Ecuador, and other countries. We’ve also begun to look at application of the rights of nature off-Earth.
Below we highlight some of the places we are working:
Ecuador
In 2008, CDER’s founders 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 – Pacha Mama – and the need to make a significant shift in the country’s legal framework to protect its fragile and remarkable ecosystems, biodiversity, and species.
Our founders consulted with delegates in the constitutional drafting process on the rights of nature. In September 2008, the new constitution was ratified in a nationwide vote. With that vote, Ecuador became the first country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature in a national constitution.
Today, CDER is a leading organization in protecting the rights of nature in Ecuador. CDER’s Hugo Echeverria, a Quito-based Attorney at Law and Doctor of Jurisprudence, leads our work in Ecuador. This includes engaging with the National Assembly on advancing and guaranteeing the rights of nature in environmental laws, monitoring legislative, judicial, and governmental actions, filing amicus briefs with Ecuador’s Constitutional Court, and conducting ongoing education and outreach on the rights of nature and key cases. Learn more here.
Ireland and Northern Ireland
CDER has been working in Northern Ireland and in Ireland for a number of years to advance the rights of nature.
In both Northern Ireland and Ireland, growing environmental crises – including climate change, ecosystem collapse, and biodiversity loss – are being recognized as matters of “all island” concern. Central to the response to these crises are growing calls to recognize the legal rights of nature in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Learn more here.
Tribal Nations
CDER’s Tribal Rights of Nature Program sits at the intersection of Indigenous rights and environmental protection. Tribal attorney Frank Bibeau, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, is our program director.
Through our Tribal Rights of Nature Program, with our partners we are developing and advancing laws and constitutional frameworks that strengthen and protect the rights of tribes and the rights of nature. And, we are working with them to uphold, implement, and enforce these frameworks. Further, we are conducting education, trainings, and knowledge sharing, engaging with Indigenous organizations, tribal lawyers, tribal officials, and tribal members.
We have partnered with many Tribal Nations and Indigenous organizations – including Menīkānaehkem, the Rappahannock Tribe, the White Earth Band of Chippewa, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, and others – to protect the rights of nature – including the rights of wild rice, the rights of rivers, and the rights of salmon. Learn more here.
United States
The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights has partnered with and assisted community and state level groups across the U.S., as well as Tribal Nations and Indigenous organizations, to advance democratic rights and the rights of nature.
This includes in North Carolina, where CDER assisted the Native American Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party to draft and introduce legislation to recognize rights of the Haw River. Introduced in 2023, this is the first state-level legislation in the U.S. which would recognize legal rights of an ecosystem. Parallel legislation to protect the rights of the Dan River has also been introduced.
In California, where CDER assisted officials in Ojai on a rights of nature law. The ordinance was adopted in 2024, protecting the rights of waterways and mountains. As Ojai City Councilor, Leslie Rule, who introduced the law, explained, “With the many environmental crises we face, we recognize in Ojai that harm done to nature is harm done to ourselves. It is time for a fundamental shift, to protect people and nature together, through the rights of nature.”
In Wisconsin, CDER is supporting the work of group Rights of Nature Wisconsin to advance the rights of nature in the state. A resolution developed with the group was adopted in Milwaukee County in 2023.
Philippines
We have been working with the Partnership Mission for People’s Initiatives (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 organizations. National legislation on the rights of nature has been introduced several times in the Filipino Congress. Local legislation is also advancing.
The proposed national legislation recognizes the rights of nature to exist; to the maintenance of nature’s vital cycles and functions, and to the conditions necessary for nature’s renewal and restoration. Further, it ensures that the Government of Philippines will take all necessary action to protect and enforce the rights of nature, and empowers the Filipino people to act on behalf of nature and protects their individual right to defend nature.
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, including heating of the Earth’s atmosphere with devastating climate change impacts here on-Earth, growing orbital debris in Earth’s orbit, and impacts on the Moon’s atmosphere and surface.
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. Learn more here.
Australia
CDER Associate Dr. Michelle Maloney is a lawyer and advocate for Earth-centered law and governance. CDER’s founders have helped advance the rights of nature in Australia with the Australian Earth Laws Alliance — our partner organization led by Michelle.
This includes working together on legislation introduced by Member of Parliament Diane Evers in the Western Australia legislature. This is the first rights of nature legislation introduced at the state level in Australia. It would recognize rights of nature to exist, flourish, regenerate, evolve, and restoration, as well as a healthy and stable climate system; recognize the rights of present and future generations to a healthy environment; and recognize the rights of First Nations.
Sweden
CDER Executive Director Mari Margil has presented at the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) on what the rights of nature could look like in Swedish law. Margil also worked with Member of Parliament Rebecka Le Moine on a rights of nature amendment to Sweden’s Constitution that was introduced into Parliament. As M.P. Le Moine explains, “Even when we follow all the rules, it’s not enough” to protect nature. CDER partners with Lodyn and Rights of Nature Sweden to advance the rights of nature.
Nepal
The Himalayas are the fastest-warming mountain range on Earth. We are engaging with Members of Parliament and political leaders, as well mountaineers, trekkers, and other key stakeholders, as part of a growing effort in Nepal to address climate change.
CDER Associate Shrawan Sharma, long-time director of our partner organization, the Kathmandu-based Center for Economic and Social Development. He is leading our work in Nepal. This includes developing legislation to recognize the right of the Himalayan mountain range to a healthy climate free from human-caused global warming pollution. Learn more here.
Switzerland
Five members of the Swiss Parliament formally presented 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.