Lewes (UK) District Council Charter: Rights of the River Oues

Summary

In September 2022, the concept of the rights of the River Ouse was proposed at the River Festival in Lewes, England where locals took part in a workshop, led by Love our Ouse, to draft charter of rights for the river that was based on the Universal Declaration of River Rights. The river festival declaration led to the proposal (by Councillor Matthew Bird) and passage of a Motion on the Rights of River by the Lewes District Council on February 20, 2023, which recognizes both the rights of nature and the rights of rivers.

The motion mandated the Council to explore the implementation of Rights of Nature as a way of improving the health of the River Ouse and other local rivers, and will worked towards the production of a Rights of the River Ouse Charter, which they committed to draft and consider for endorsement by 2025. The Council fulfilled their obligation, and in 2025, they endorsed a Charter, paving the way for the Ouse to become the first river in England with rights.

The Charter is based on the Universal Declaration of River Rights, which mandates that rivers’ have the right to flow, be free from pollution, feed and be fed by sustainable aquifers, have native biodiversity, and the right to regeneration and restoration. Lewes is the first council in England to pass a motion of this kind, and the subsequent Charter that was adopted.

Involved Organizations