Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Across the world, local to national governments are experimenting with recognizing the rights of the non-human environment. This is called the ‘rights of nature’. Euro-American law treats nature as property to be used and managed by humans. Rights of nature recognizes the rights of the environment to grow, thrive and be healthy, independent of humans. Indigenous Peoples often take the lead in these initiatives, as in the Maori-led rights of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s Whanganui River and Ojibwe-led rights of manoomin (wild rice). In the transboundary Salish Sea, there are growing efforts to implement this innovative rights framework. One such effort is being led by Community Rights San Juan Islands (CRSJI), a non-profit based in the San Juan Islands, Washington, at the center of the Salish Sea. This group is pursuing legal recognition of the Rights of the Salish Sea (RoSS), which means the Salish Sea and its natural communities have the right to exist, thrive, regenerate and evolve. Here, we present the results from community-based research exploring perceptions of this concept from a wide range of community members in San Juan County. Community members often support this concept, but have concerns about how the law will be applied to private property owners and the fact that it may increase litigation. Because of these concerns, RoSS now focuses primarily and initially on environmental injury caused by corporate or governmental action, not by private property owners. It also delays/avoids litigation by working through mediation before litigation. Interviewees all concluded that this concept requires a deep understanding of rights and a major shift in how we treat the Salish Sea. To implement this framework across the entire ecosystem, we see the need for deep education and consultation, indigenous leadership and strong coalition building.
Session Title
Salish Sea Conservation Strategies
Conference Track
SSE2: How We Protect the Salish Sea
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-315
Start Date
26-4-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 3:00 PM
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Rights of nature--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
San Juan County (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
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Type
Text
Language
English
Format
vnd.ms-powerpoint
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
Rights of the Salish Sea: A major paradigm shift and an innovative legal framework
Across the world, local to national governments are experimenting with recognizing the rights of the non-human environment. This is called the ‘rights of nature’. Euro-American law treats nature as property to be used and managed by humans. Rights of nature recognizes the rights of the environment to grow, thrive and be healthy, independent of humans. Indigenous Peoples often take the lead in these initiatives, as in the Maori-led rights of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s Whanganui River and Ojibwe-led rights of manoomin (wild rice). In the transboundary Salish Sea, there are growing efforts to implement this innovative rights framework. One such effort is being led by Community Rights San Juan Islands (CRSJI), a non-profit based in the San Juan Islands, Washington, at the center of the Salish Sea. This group is pursuing legal recognition of the Rights of the Salish Sea (RoSS), which means the Salish Sea and its natural communities have the right to exist, thrive, regenerate and evolve. Here, we present the results from community-based research exploring perceptions of this concept from a wide range of community members in San Juan County. Community members often support this concept, but have concerns about how the law will be applied to private property owners and the fact that it may increase litigation. Because of these concerns, RoSS now focuses primarily and initially on environmental injury caused by corporate or governmental action, not by private property owners. It also delays/avoids litigation by working through mediation before litigation. Interviewees all concluded that this concept requires a deep understanding of rights and a major shift in how we treat the Salish Sea. To implement this framework across the entire ecosystem, we see the need for deep education and consultation, indigenous leadership and strong coalition building.
