Legal rights for water bodies

In Quebec, the Magpie River, a sacred site and vital natural resource for the Innu First Nation, was recentlygranted legal personhoodby the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit and the Minganie Regional County Municipality. The rights bestowed on the river included the right to sue, the right to flow, and the right to be free from pollution. This highlights a trend that has been building for several years, both internationally and in the U.S. In 2019, the Yurok Tribe granted personhood to theKlamath Riverin northern California. Tribes and governments in Bolivia, Mexico, and Ecuador have also exercised this form of protection of their wetlands and other waters. Most notably, the Supreme Court of Colombia granted legal rights to theAmazon River ecosystemin 2018. It should be noted, however, that these rights aren't universally recognized by governments and decision-making bodies. This could complicate the use of this protective strategy without broader international recognition and interstate agreements. Planners should continue to monitor and be aware of these efforts, especially given their potential role in protecting vital natural resources.