Stichting Rechten van de Natuur
This foundation works to give nature a place in the legal system and a voice in governance, and to include it in the choices we make together.
Stichting Rechten van de Natuur advocates an idea that’s quite new in the Netherlands: recognition of the rights of nature in law, for its voice to be heard in governance and for decisions that take its interests into consideration. “Setting up the movement required pioneering spirit”, director Jessica den Outer explains. “It means not only changes to the legislation, but also a different way of looking at nature. At first, people kept asking is this possible?’ Now they ask ‘how can we put it into practice?’ This evidences a gradual shift from making decisions about nature to making them with nature.”
An example: Gooise Meren municipality
“By now, proposals to take the voice of nature into consideration in decision-making have been submitted in sixteen municipalities. In some cases, they’ve been adopted with an overwhelming majority. A good example is Gooise Meren municipality, which intends to make structural changes to incorporate the rights of nature in municipal policy. They’re considering appointing an urban ecologist, who will contribute nature’s perspective in discussions about policy development.”