CELDF recently updated their timeline of important moments in the movement for Rights of Nature.

Advancing Legal Rights of Nature: Timeline

From the first entry:

  • In 1972, the Southern California Law Review published law professor Christopher Stone’s seminal article, “Should trees have standing – toward legal rights for natural objects.” Stone described how under the existing structure of law, nature was considered right-less, having no legally recognized rights to defend and enforce.

…

To the last entry:

 

  • In 2020 the Tŝilhqot’in Nation enacted a “ʔEsdilagh Sturgeon River Law.” It states: “The Aboriginal title and rights of the Tŝilhqot’in people includes the tu [waters] in our territory, including ʔElhdaqox [the Sturgeon River]. Nen [lands] and tu cannot be separated but are interconnected.” It recognizes that “People, animals, fish, plants, the nen, and the tu have rights in the decisions about their care and use that must be considered and respected.”

Read about many of the important moments along the way HERE.