Florencia (Colombia) Municipal Law: rights of the Hacha river
On 1 December 2025, the Municipal Council of Florencia in Colombia passed a law recognizing the Hacha River as a subject of rights.Read More →
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.
Ecuador National Law: rights of non-human animals
In 2022, a draft national law in Ecuador on the rights of non-human animals was formally presented to the National Assembly by Ecuador’s Defensoría del Pueblo.Read More →
Santa Ana (Ecuador) Court Case: rights of the Portoviejo River
In January 2026, a Santa Ana judge declared the Portoviejo River a rights‑bearing entity and ordered contamination remediation and ongoing protections.Read More →
Ecuador Constitutional Court Case: property rights, environmental rights, and rights of nature
On 11 December 2025, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador allowed forced land access to remediate oil spill, prioritizing Nature’s rights over property rights.Read More →
Martinique Citizen Declaration: rights of the salt marshes
In 2023, a coalition of Martinican associations launched the Declaration of the Rights of the Salines to support the recognition of it's ecosystem rights.Read More →
Mexico City (CDMX) Environmental Law of 2024: provisions on the constitutional rights of nature
In July 2024, Mexico City enacted a new Environmental Law that recognizes the rights of nature and centers ecological balance and public health in urban policy.Read More →
Santo Antônio do Itambé (Brazil) Municipal Organic Law: rights of Serra do Itambé
In March 2024, the municipality of Santo Antônio do Itambé in Minas Gerais, Brazil adopted an amendment to its Organic Law to recognize rights to nature.Read More →
Argentina Ecocide Law: special forms of environmental crimes
In June 2025, Argentina advanced an additional ecocide legislation with a new Senate Bill "Law on Special Forms of Environmental Crimes"Read More →