6, March 2025
THIS UK RIVER JUST BECAME THE FIRST TO HAVE ITS RIGHTS RECOGNISED
An English river’s rights have just been formally recognised, bringing it a step closer to becoming the first UK river to be granted legal personhood.
Lewes District Council (LDC) has just agreed to formally support a new charter that recognises the River Ouse, which runs through West and East Sussex, as a living entity.
The River Ouse is treasured by local communities for its ecosystem and cultural heritage, but like many UK waterways, it is impacted by the adverse effects of pollution, climate change and development.
A “MOMENTOUS MOMENT”
“This is a momentous moment for the river,” said Matthew Bird, Director of the Love Our Ouse campaign. “[It] goes some way towards recognising that the river is an entity in its own right and that its voice needs to be represented in decisions which affect it,”
Rivers in countries including Ecuador, Canada and New Zealand have been granted legal rights in recent years. Rooted in the beliefs of Indigenous people, the growing Rights of Nature movement recognises that Nature has intrinsic rights and should be valued and protected. This pioneering legal framework has also seen mountains, a lagoon and even waves around the world granted legal personhood, meaning they can be represented by guardians in court. The movement was the inspiration behind our decision to appoint Nature to our Board of Directors.
THE CHARTER OF RIGHTS
Based on the Universal Declaration of River Rights, the Charter of Rights for the Sussex River Ouse gives the waterway eight rights, including the right to native biodiversity, to be pollution-free and to undergo restoration and regeneration.
The charter follows the decision, two years ago, to give the Ouse legal personhood. In February 2023, LDC passed a rights of river motion, which committed them to exploring the creation of a ‘Rights of River Declaration for the River Ouse.’ Since then, LDC have been working with lawyers, experts, members of local communities and local wildlife and environmental charities to produce the charter.
THE FIRST OF MANY?
Although not legally binding yet, the council’s endorsement of the charter sets the Ouse on track to become the first UK river to be granted legal rights – and it is hoped it won’t be the last. Since the 2023 motion, similar campaigns to give UK rivers rights have begun, and a national River Rights Network has been established.
“We hope Lewes District Council’s decision to support the Ouse Charter will encourage communities throughout the UK to pursue charters for their local rivers,” said Bird.
Next, campaigners and the council will work towards the new rights being implemented with stakeholders such as landowners, communities and statutory agencies.
LDC’s official backing of the charter is a historic development for the Rights of Nature movement in the UK. If granted legal personhood, the Ouse could lead a shift in how Nature in our country is viewed – and crucially, how it is protected.
Find out more about the Love Our Ouse campaign and read the Charter of Rights for the Sussex River Ouse here.
If you liked this, you might enjoy…
