Summary
In 2020, Panamanian legislator Juan Diego Vasquez presented a bill to recognize rights of nature and the State’s obligation to protect these rights. The draft recognizes the intrinsic value of Nature, its legal personhood, as well as the possibility for any natural or legal person to have legal standing for its defense. On the other hand, it establishes state obligations towards Nature. Panama passed the law in February 2022. With rights of nature now incorporated into national law, Panama requires all people to respect and protect Nature’s rights, including the right to exist, persist, and regenerate its lifecycles; the right to timely and effective restoration; and the right to the preservation of its water cycles. The law also includes a set of ecocentric principles, such as “in dubio pro natura,” which means that when scientific uncertainty exists about the consequences of an activity on an ecosystem, the State must prioritize protecting nature. Anyone is allowed to speak on behalf of nature.