In our time of ecological crisis, the law may provide some new and much- needed perspective. Worldwide, an increasing number of natural entities – forests, rivers, mountains, even Mother Earth herself – are being recognized as so-called legal persons. In this legal revolution, nature is no longer seen as an object to be used and discarded, but rather as a subject with intrinsic value and, importantly, legally enforceable rights.

The Embassy of the North Sea commissioned Laura Burgers and Jessica den Outer to author this Compendium, which focuses on one or two case-studies per continent. Each case-study offers a sketch of the different ways in which the rights of nature have been recognized, with the authors detailing the context and world view underpinning those rights, as well as their current implementation and enforcement.

In our time of ecological crisis, the law may provide some new and much- needed perspective. Worldwide, an increasing number of natural entities – forests, rivers, mountains, even Mother Earth herself – are being recognized as so-called legal persons. In this legal revolution, nature is no longer seen as an object to be used and discarded, but rather as a subject with intrinsic value and, importantly, legally enforceable rights.

The Embassy of the North Sea commissioned Laura Burgers and Jessica den Outer to author this Compendium, which focuses on one or two case-studies per continent. Each case-study offers a sketch of the different ways in which the rights of nature have been recognized, with the authors detailing the context and world view underpinning those rights, as well as their current implementation and enforcement.