At COP16 in Cali, Colombia, we were honored to host a unique series of workshops, “The Rights for Nature,” in partnership with Savimbo. This gathering was more than just a lineup of presentations; it was a lively, hybrid exchange of ideas and knowledge. Indigenous leaders from our Portuguese and Spanish-speaking network joined virtually, connecting with peers on-site in Colombia. Together, they brought essential Indigenous perspectives from across Latin America, diving into conversations about the future of our planet and humanity’s place within it.

Author: Laura Soto

Leia em Português

For three days, we explored the eight foundational rights of nature, challenging participants to rethink our role as caretakers rather than dominators of the earth. Each session emphasized that nature deserves respect, health, resilience, and protection, treating it as a living entity rather than a resource. These workshops drew on principles that have been at the core of Indigenous cultures for centuries, offering a roadmap for sustainable practices worldwide.

We were fortunate to have members of our impact network join virtually to share their experiences, traditions, and insights with a diverse global audience of policymakers, academics, students, and community leaders. These Indigenous voices underscored a powerful perspective shift: seeing humans as part of the natural world, not separate from it, and fostering a vision where coexistence replaces exploitation.

Exploring the Eight Rights of Nature

Each workshop focused on discussing the eight core rights for nature, bringing Indigenous wisdom into each discussion

1. Right to Respect – Nature has its own laws and rhythms, independent of human control. This right calls us to align human laws with nature’s limits, instead of trying to override them. Violating natural laws has consequences beyond our control, emphasizing the need for policies that respect the natural world’s boundaries.

2. Right to Exist – Every part of nature has an intrinsic right to exist and maintain its cycles. This principle reminds us that nature’s entities hold value beyond human use, advocating for conservation for its own sake, not merely for human benefit.

3. Right to Health – Nature must be able to preserve the health of its ecosystems, including biodiversity and life-sustaining systems like air and water. This right calls for human activities that maintain balance within ecosystems, especially in regions where environmental degradation threatens stability.

4. Right to Resilience – Nature has a right to recover from human impact. Rather than just paying to offset damage, this right emphasizes the need for real restoration efforts that strengthen ecosystems’ ability to bounce back.

5. Right to Natural Evolution – Nature’s evolutionary path should be free from artificial interference, such as genetic modification and invasive species. This right allows ecosystems and species to evolve naturally, protecting biodiversity and resilience.

6. Right to Metabolize – Nature has its own recycling systems that human activities often disrupt with pollution. This right calls for reducing pollution and aligning with natural waste processes, minimizing non-biodegradable materials and toxins.

7. Right to Legal Representation – Legal protection for nature means that its rights can be defended in court. Recognizing nature as a legal entity ensures that harm to ecosystems, like ecocide, carries legal consequences.

8. Right to Human Stewardship – Protecting nature aligns with protecting human rights. This right highlights that stewardship is a shared responsibility, including Indigenous and local communities whose knowledge and practices are vital to environmental health.

Bridging Worlds: Indigenous Wisdom Meets Global Challenges

Each day of the workshops highlighted how Indigenous approaches to environmental stewardship can guide broader solutions. As the discussions unfolded, values like respect, reciprocity, and interconnectedness stood out as essential if we are to address the climate crisis effectively. For Indigenous communities, these principles aren’t new; they reflect a worldview where humans are part of the land and water, not separate from it.

Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose, recognizing that true environmental sustainability requires shifting from exploitation to stewardship. Our workshops at COP16 were a powerful reminder that tackling the climate crisis needs not only new policies and technologies but also a deeper alignment with the wisdom of communities who have protected the land for centuries. A just environmental future depends on respecting nature’s autonomy and the rights of those most connected to it.