I am a legal assistant at the Law Commission of England and Wales and a future pupil barrister with an interest in property and environmental law. I discovered Rights of Nature as a legal instrument for protecting ecosystems when studying environmental law at university. This theory sees environmental entities (such as rivers or forests) granted legal personhood to ensure they have independent, enforceable rights to exist and thrive. Such rights are not currently recognised in the UK Ð instead entities are considered property whose owners are largely responsible for their protection.

I have been awarded a Fellowship to analyse four Rights of Nature models found in New Zealand, Ecuador, Colombia and the USA to assess their viability in protecting UK ecosystems. I will explore whether Rights of Nature work generally; whether they are needed, viable and desirable for the UK; and if so, what lessons can be learned from abroad.

My findings will feed into the wider discourse of using the law to protect our natural environment. Additionally, I hope decision makers, at a local or national level, will consider my findings when deciding issues relating to UK ecosystem degradation.