Earth Law Map
This map highlights initiatives which are reviving and practising Earth Jurisprudence/Earth Law, including organisations and alliances, legal precedents and community governance systems. This is an evolving map so please do share additional initiatives to: info@gaianet.org.
The African Biodiversity Network (ABN) is a regional network of individuals and organisations seeking African solutions to the injustices and destruction arising from the current industrial development model. The ABN strives to ignite and nurture a growing network of agents of change and enable resilient local communitites to govern their lives and livelihoods rooted in their own social,...
The Australian Wild Law Alliance (AWLA) is a national network which aims to carry out research, education, promotional and activist work that enables the understanding and practical application of Earth Jurisprudence and Wild Law in Australia.
Website is currently under development.
Contact: Michelle Maloney, AWLA Convenor
Inspired by the Wild Law conferences in the UK, the seeds of Earth Jurisprudence have cross- pollinated and taken root in Australia. Dr Peter Burdon (Adelaide University) initiated and organised the first Australian Earth Jurisprudence Conference in September 2009, with support of Dr. Alessandro Pelizzon (Earth Laws), Friends of the Earth Australia and UK Environmental Law Association. This...
The Earth Laws Research Network, created by the Southern Cross University, aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary education and research in Earth Jurisprudence, Wild Law and related areas.
Website
Contact: Dr Alessandro Pelizzon
Damien Curtis and Sinem Saban are working with the Yolngu aboriginal tribe in North East Arnhem Land, Australia to call for respect of the Yolngu's rights to their ancestral land and territory and recognition of their customary laws.
In 2010 the Chief Justice of the Court ruled that the Reef is not property but a Living Being which is part of Belize's national patrimony and cannot be sacrificed to commercial interests.
See Earth Law Precedents for more information.
In 2010 Bolivia endorsed a new law which recognises the Rights of Mother Nature to life, diversity and balance.
See Earth Law Precedents for more information.
The Ngwenyama Lodge in Botswana is a traditional lodge which provides training for traditional healers and people in African Earth-centred customary law and practices.
Learn more about Ngwenyama Lodge.
In 2010, the Colombian Ministry of Culture approved an application by the Association of Traditional Authorities of the Pira Para (ACAIPI), with support of Gaia Amazonas, to include the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities of the Pirá Paraná River, in the Amazon, as part of the nation's Intangible Cultural Heritage.
For more information see Earth Law Precedent.
In 2001 an Ecuadorian Court fined U.S. oil giant Chevron $8.6 billion for dumping 18.5 billion gallons of toxic materials into the Amazon rainforest and rivers.
See Earth Precedents for more information
Media coverage
In 2008, Ecuador was the first country in the world to recognise the Rights of Nature, or 'Pachamama', in its Constitution.
See Earth Law Precedents for more information.
On 26th November 2010 an international alliance of environmental activists filed a case against British Petroleum (BP) in the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court, defending the Rights of Nature which are recognised under the 2008 Ecuadorian Constitution.
See Earth Law Precedents for more information.
On 30 March 2011 the Provincial Court of Loja granted an injunction against the Provincial Government of Loja to stop violating the Constitutional rights of the Vilcabama River to exist and maintain its vital cycles, structure, functions, and evolutionary processes.
See Earth Law Precedents for more information.
MELCA ((Movement for Ecological Learning and Community Action) is working with indigenous communities to revive their traditional knowledge and community governance systems based on Earth-centred customs. Learn more about the work of MELCA for Community Ecological Governance.
The World Future Council aims to be 'an ethical voice for the needs and rights of future life.'
They 'envision a sustainable, just and peaceful future, where the dignity and rights of every living being and the connectedness of human beings to all life are universally respected.'
Website
Polly Higgins, barrister and activist, is calling for the United Nations to recognise mass destruction of ecosystems as 'Ecocide' and a 5th crime against peace.
See Earth Law Precedents for more information.
Website
Peter Roderick, a public interest lawyer in the UK, has proposed a declaration which would recognise and respect the necessary Earth-system processes which sustain all life, and promote responsibility for safeguarding these processes from serious or irreversible damage.
For more information see Earth Law Precedents.
Website
A campaign for the adoption and implementation of the Universal Declaration of Mother Earth Rights at the Rio Summit in 2012.
Website
The Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth, adopted in 2010 at the World Peoples Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in Bolivia, recognizes Mother Earth as a Living Being with rights to life, to exist and to continue her vital cycles and processes free from human disruptions.
See Pioneering Precedents for more information.
Website
The Global Alliance for Rights of Nature is 'a worldwide movement creating human communities that respect and defend the rights of Nature'. The Global Alliance for Rights of Nature is campaigning for the endorsement of the Universal Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth by the United Nations, and supporting a letter-writing campaign for Governments to implement the Declaration.
In 2007 Hungary appointed a Parliamentary Commission for Future Generations to uphold the peoples' Constitutional right to a healthy environment.
For more information see Earth Law Precedents.
Navdanya, meaning nine seeds, is a network of seed keepers and organic producers in India, working to revive traditional sacred seed and promote Earth Democracy. Learn more about the work of Navdanya.
Website
Small island community in Donegal are negotiating with the Irish Government for recognition of their traditional fishing livelihoods and culture. The communities are also calling for reform of the European Union Common Fisheries Policy to recognise the unique contribution of small island communities.
In 2009, the community invited Gaia and a member from the fishing community in Kalix, Sweden to...
The Institute for Culture and Ecology is working with communities in Kenya to revive indigenous knowledge to build the resilience of communities and ecosystems. Learn more about ICE's work to protect sacred sites along the Kathita River.
Kenyan partners of the African Biodiversity Network played an important role in the drafting of the Kenyan Constitution, advocating for recognition of community rights to govern their land and territory according to Earth Jurisprudence principles.
Those involved included Professor Wangari Maathai (Greenbelt Movement), Ng'ang'a Thiong'o, Kariuki Thuku and Tetu Maingi (Porini Association),...
The Porini Association is working with communities in Karima to reclaim their traditional custodial rights and responsibilities to govern their Sacred Forest according to Earth-centred customary laws. Learn more about Porini Association's work to regenerate the Karima Sacred Forest and accompany the community to set a legal precedent.
Gurdial Singh is teaching an Earth Jurisprudence syllabus in Kuala Lumpur University.
Ande Somby, an indigenous Sami, is reviving Sami traditions based on Earth Law principles, and the 'yoik' - the traditional song of the Swedish Sami. Ande has also been developing an Earth Law syllabus in the University of Tromso.
There is growing support for the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth and a letter writing campaign in Romania calling for respect of Nature.
Watch this space for more information.
The Foundation for Sustainable Development of Altai (FSDA) works for the protection of sacred mountain sites and territories and has established a series of Ethno-Nature Parks governed by indigenous local leaders.
Website
