WHO REPRESENTS NATURE? A COMPARATIVE REFLECTION ON THE RIGHTS AND LEGAL PERSONALITY OF ECOSYSTEMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14210/nej.v30n3.p316-333Keywords:
Legal personality of nature, Ecological guardianship, Environmen-tal democracy, Rights of nature, Participatory democracyAbstract
Contextualization: The article examines the emerging trend of recognizing legal personality for nature, highlighting the implications of two ecosystem guardianship models: "public" or "diffuse" guardianship, and guardianship exercised by specific councils, whether elected or appointed.
Objectives: To examine the extent to which guardianship models promote a transition from an anthropocentric paradigm toward ecocentric considerations. It also aims to reflect on the role of social conflicts in shaping these models and their implications for designing protection instruments.
Method: The study is based on a comparative analysis of relevant legislation and ju-risprudence in water governance (e.g., Río Atrato, Whanganui, Mar Menor, Laguna Francia).
Results: The recognition of nature's rights constitutes both a response to the failure of traditional protections and a powerful democratic innovation capable of restructuring the public sphere by overcoming the vertical dynamic typical of the Westphalian state and classical international law.
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