Latin America

This page identifies ecological jurisprudence initiatives that exist in Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes Mexico as well as the countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Yucatan Mexico case lawsuit seeking recognition of the Ring of Cenotes as subjects of law with rights

Country:Mexico

Status:Submitted in 2023

In 2023 the Mayan community of Homún, Yucatán, Mexico filed a lawsuit in federal court for recognition of the Ring of Cenotes as subjects of law with rightsRead More →

Ecuador case on the rights of the Monjas River

Country:Ecuador

Status:Approved in 2022

Ecuador's Constitutional Court rules that urban expansion into a fragile watershed by Quito's municipal government violated the rights of the Monjas River.Read More →

Oaxaca Mexico Bill recognizing the Rights of Rivers and other Water Sources

Country:Mexico

Status:Submitted in 2020

Bill presented to the Congress of Oaxaca (Mexico) seeking to establish all rivers and other water sources in the state of Oaxaca as subjects with rightsRead More →

Argentina case Rights of Jaguars in the Gran Chaco Reserve

Country:Argentina

Status:Submitted in 2019

In 2019 Greenpeace brought a case before the Supreme Court of Justice in Argentina arguing for recognition of the rights of the entire Jaguar speciesRead More →

Ecuador Organic Law for Justice and Integral Protection for the Páramos

Country:Ecuador

Status:Submitted in 2022

In 2022 a legislator from Carchi Province submitted to Ecuador's National Assembly a bill to guarantee the protection of páramo [moorland] ecosystems Read More →

U’wa Nation Statement to protect ancestral territory and sacred site Zizuma (El Cocuy National Park)

Country:Colombia

Status:Approved in 2016

the U’wa people ratify their position of territorial defense of ancestral sacred site Mt. Zizuma in Colombia’s El Cocuy National ParkRead More →

Chile habeas corpus petition seeking recognition of legal personhood of the orangutan Sandai

Country:Chile

Status:Stayed in 2022

The first habeas corpus petition filed in Chile seeking the recognition of legal personhood for 28 year old orangutan named SandaiRead More →

Brazil Amendment Organic Law of the Municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás

Country:Brazil

Status:Approved in 2022

On August 17, 2022, the municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil, amended its organic law to recognize rights of nature.Read More →