Welcome to RONI, the Rights of Nature Initiative. We are dedicated to using direct democracy to champion the Rights of Nature movement in Washington State. Our mission is to transform the perception of nature from a mere resource to a living functioning entity deserving of legal protection. By advocating for these rights, we strive to safeguard our critical ecosystems like forests and watersheds, ensuring their resilience for future generations.
The preservation of nature benefits us all, providing clean water, fertile soil, and climate regulation crucial for our well-being and economies. Join us in honoring and conserving our planet, forging a future where nature’s rights are upheld, and both people and the environment flourish.
Through these local municipality initiative processes, citizens can protect their vital ecosystems with laws granting these ecosystems rights. This legal framework ensures these areas are best monitored and defended.
Direct Democracy for Nature
The use of initiative power is direct democracy at its most fundamental level, and this is where the nature’s rights movement is taking place in the U.S. Through the initiative process, citizens are protecting their local waterways and ecosystems.
Initiative Power in WA State
Currently, 23 states, including Washington, have an initiative process. Additionally, all ten first-class cities, 53 code cities, and several counties in Washington have adopted initiative powers at the local level.