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.

Currently 23 states including the state of Washington have an Initiative process.

But cities and counties in Washington have Initiative Powers as well.

Through local municipality initiative processes citizens can protect their local ecosystems with laws giving these ecosystems rights, and it is in this legal framework that these ecosystems are best monitored and defended.

Rights of Nature in Washington State

RON initiatives are happening at the local municipality level
across the United States, and now it’s time for WA to join in.

City Initiative Powers in WA→

Timeline of Rights of Nature Laws in the United States

In 2006, Tamaqua Borough, Schuylkill County Pennsylvania, became the first community in the world to recognize the Rights of Nature law when it banned the dumping of toxic sewage sludge. 

Two years later in 2008, Ecuador became the first country to recognize in it’s constitution the Rights of Nature.   Since then campaigns were launched and high courts recognized rights of nature laws in Bolivia, Colombia, Nepal, India, New Zealand, and many countries throughout Europe.

In the United States, in November 2010, the City of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania became the first major municipality to recognize Rights of Nature.   

In 2020, Orange County Florida became the largest jurisdiction in the nation to pass a right of nature law, and in 2021, using this new legal protection, an Orange County citizen initiated the nation’s first rights of nature enforcement case to prevent the destruction of wetlands.  This case is ongoing.

For an extensive and detailed review of all global case law and campaigns for Rights of Nature please visit

Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature:
GARN_Rights of Nature Timeline

Timeline of Rights of Nature Laws Around the World

The following is a list of waterways in the world that have won legal protection through human advocacy:

ACTION
ALWAYS
BEATS
INTENTIONS

Nooksack River, Washington