Did you know that countries like Ecuador or New Zealand have recognised the “rights of nature” in their laws, including rivers, forests, and other ecosystems? The concept of legal personality for elements of nature is also found in New Caledonia's legislation. The SPC Fisheries legal team has launched a benchmark study on the rights of nature worldwide to identify trends and lessons learnt for Pacific Island countries and territories.
The unitary principle of life - according to which humans belong to the natural environment that surrounds them and identify themselves in the elements of that natural environment - is the founding principle of the Kanak society in New Caledonia. To reflect this worldview and the Kanak social system, certain elements of nature may be recognised as legal persons with rights of their own, subject to applicable laws and regulations. (Unofficial translation of Article 110-3 of the Environment Code of the Loyalty Islands Province, New Caledonia).
