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Law

Legal Personhood for Natural Entities (Rivers and Forests)

Quick fact

In 2017, New Zealand's Whanganui River became the first river in the world to be legally recognized as a person, with two guardians appointed to represent its interests in court.

Why this is interesting

What if a river could sue a polluter? In some places, that is not a metaphor—it's law. From New Zealand to Ecuador, natural features are being given legal personhood, granting rivers and forests the right to stand in court.