How better to welcome a movement defending the rights of the living than to be received by the living world itself, at its very heart, in one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions? While world leaders convened in Belém for COP30, activists from the Rights of Nature movement also gathered for several days on the outskirts of the city, three years after the Siena gathering, to celebrate 15 years of struggles, victories, Earth-centered tribunals, encounters… and to reflect on the future.At first, a moment of joy: the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) celebrated its 15th anniversary! To recall how the Alliance began, we need to go back in time… After the failure of COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, an international citizen-led counter-summit was held in Cochabamba (Bolivia) in April 2010. From this summit emerged the famous Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth [1], a foundational text carrying the ultimate legitimacy of the peoples and demonstrating the intrinsic, indivisible link between the struggles of Indigenous peoples and local communities, peasants, etc, to protect their lands, cultures, and rights. The Rights of Nature were thus conceived as a legal translation of Indigenous worldviews. A few months later, the Alliance was created by a handful of founders, lawyers, Indigenous leaders, and activists who were convinced that this journey was worth undertaking.Over the past 15 years, the Rights of Nature movement has continued to grow. In 2019, the multiplication of initiatives around the world aligned with this philosophy led to the creation of regional and thematic hubs. By 2025, these hubs are booming with projects and requests. Proof, if any were needed, that an Earth-centered perception is not solely carried by Indigenous peoples but now reunites many across the globe. A worldview in clear contrast with Western perspectives on ecosystems.
Celebrating GARN’s Anniversary
So, on Saturday, November 8, 2025, both the moment and the place were perfect to celebrate the journey of the past 15 years. Immersed in a flourishing biodiversity on Combu Island, just a few steps from Belém, the day was filled with joy and celebration: stories, songs, dances such as the Carimbo (a local dance with diverse origins), and a riverside meal nourished by the water, the source of all life. Many Indigenous leaders, united by the occasion, shared stories and ceremonies that reaffirmed the movement’s core philosophy: a philosophy of life rooted in their territories, ancestors, and traditions, respectful of the beings and species surrounding them. These cosmologies embody the vibrant source of hope and of our fight for the living world. Leaders from various regions spoke out about recent achievements around the globe as a powerful push for eco-centered justice. Mirroring the day’s emotions, the return by boat unfolded beneath one of those Amazonian sunsets that only this region can offer. Revitalized by this opening, the following “serious” days fully devoted to shaping the Alliance’s future could begin.
Strategic Discussions on the Future of the Alliance
The next day was dedicated to GARN’s strategic session. Facilitated by superskilled Maria Sarah Jijon, numerous themes were discussed: a review of GARN’s SWOT analysis, the role of the International Rights of Nature Tribunal, political vision and connection with other actors, internal governance, and more.Indeed, after 15 years of existence, the Alliance has grown, and likewise any organization, must reinvent itself to adapt to its evolving form and ambitions, particularly driven by a new generation of defenders of the living world keen to take initiatives. Governance was therefore at the heart of discussions. This is especially true for the hubs, whose current mission appears to many as difficult to sustain in the long term. Gathering in person helped shed light on needs that are harder to perceive remotely. Although not everything was finalized, an internal reorganization is now underway.Other challenges were also discussed, notably the question of scale and the way Rights of Nature is carried out by forefront communities. How can we ensure the concept does not become abstract or disconnected, but instead remains truly useful and progressive for those affected on the ground?
The Indigenous Council
The following day was led by the Indigenous Council, notably by the historic GARN leaders Casey Camp of the Ponca Nation and Tom Goldtooth of Diňé and Dakota indigenous peoples. Throughout the day, speeches from leaders across the world alternated with powerful lyrical chants and sacred communions with the living world. These accounts highlighted the many forms of violence suffered by communities: both personally and at the level of the ecosystems to which they belong. A particularly moving example came from Sydney Males, of the Kichwa community in Ecuador, who faces increasing violence from Ecuador’s far-right government. Activists from the “Yaku Mama” flotilla also shared their Amazon River journey from the Andes, demanding respect for their ancestral lands and traditional cultures.
The 6th International Rights of Nature Tribunal
The final day was devoted to the concluding session of the 6th International Rights of Nature Tribunal. After the first two hearings in New York and Toronto, addressing the end of the fossil fuel era and the impacts of the mining industry, the final one took place in Belém. These Tribunals are essential moments in the evolution of the Rights of Nature movement. They create concrete assessments of Earth-centered jurisprudence focused on the rights of ecosystems and their guardians. They both raise awareness and amplify the voices of those on the frontlines. Following an opening ceremony led by cacique Ninawa of the Huni Kui people and more than twenty Indigenous representatives, Tribunal President Francesco Martone recalled the importance of holding this event in a university rather than as a side event to COP30, given the decreasing legitimacy of these international conferences as States repeatedly fail to meet multilateral climate commitments.The Tribunal then addressed five themes with powerful testimonies from Indigenous communities affected by various human activities—one issue in particular drew the Tribunal’s attention: extractivism. Experts also introduced initiatives and alternatives closely tied to Rights of Nature: radical democracy, ecosocialism, a proposed treaty for a just fossil fuel phase-out (FFNPT), and more. By revealing the complementarity of true solutions in contrast with the false solutions promoted by the capitalist system, the Tribunal showed how the Rights of Nature form a systemic force against the destructive effects of extractive industries, financialization, and the privatization of Nature. The Tribunal concluded with a final declaration, “A New Commitment to Mother Earth”[2] addressed to the People’s Summit and COP30 leaders, demanding recognition of the Amazon as a subject of rights rather than a resource-rich territory to be exploited. The Amazon and its guardians have rights—and it is time to recognize and respect them.The Tribunal’s videos are available on GARN’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@garnorg
What should we take away from Belém’s spirit?
While the COP30 “Mutirão,” promoted for months by COP’s presidency ended in a disappointing final text far below expectations (notably omitting any reference to phasing out fossil fuels or defining a roadmap to stop deforestation), the GARN gathering in Belém proved vibrant: reunions and new encounters, joyful and colorful celebrations, powerful youth involvement, energetic discussions, and an impactful Tribunal. Among the main lessons of the gathering is the fact that grassroots connections are now the motor force of the movement. The concrete integration of Rights of Nature as a tool for local struggle, by and for the communities, has always been part of the movement but has now become a priority for many network members. The Brazilian organisation MAPAS [3], host of this gathering, perfectly leads the way on this approach, working alongside the Escola de Ancestralidade Viva da Nação Pankararu and Tecendo Floresta to support the Pankararu communities in Pernambuco State in recognizing the rights of the Opará River, also known as the São Francisco River, and its living balance as a subject of rights. Through this community- and indigenous-based mobilization, they are strengthening local efforts to resist infrastructure projects that threaten both the river and the Pankararu peopleAt the international level, growing recognition of Rights of Nature by powerful institutions such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the recent passage of five motions at the IUCN, opens promising perspectives. Yet despite these undeniable advances, Rights of Nature are still far from being emphasized at their true value. Many events held after the gathering—both in official COP30 spaces (blue zone) and in unofficial ones (green zone, People’s Summit)— are contributions to the long-term work of education and awareness-raising around a concept still too often dismissed.Progress is not linear, and it is essential to remember this at a time of rising fascism in many parts of the world, threatening Mother Earth and her inhabitants. This truth was dramatically illustrated by an external event just a few days after GARN’s gathering: the November 16 Ecuadorian referendum. Widely feared by the movement, the proposed constitutional amendment, targeting the very core of Rights of Nature articles, were a major threat. Yet despite unfavorable polls, the “NO” vote won massively (62%), bringing hope and immense pride: in Ecuador, despite strong headwinds, the paradigm shift initiated by the Rights of Nature since 2008 has taken root deeply in Mother Earth, with whom the people chose to reconnect.Defenders of the Rights of Nature carry a symbolic strength and conviction that few others possess. As Tom Goldtooth says, “Nature is not a resource but a source of life.” And us to add: all kinds of life have rights. Nature has rights. Sooner or later, we humans will fully emphasize and respect them.[1] https://www.garn.org/universal-declaration-for-the-rights-of-mother-earth/[2] https://www.rightsofnaturetribunal.org/a-new-pledge-for-mother-nature/[3] https://mapas.org.br/
