Pacha Mama vs. the State: Assessing Judicial Development and Implementation Challenges of the Rights of Nature in Ecuador

In 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to recognize the inherent Rights of Nature (RoN) in its national constitution. The change came through a constitutional referendum that recognized Pacha Mama—Mother Earth—as a legal subject, capable of being represented in court and protected by enforceable rights. Today there are over 600 initiatives around the world using RoN frameworks to advance environmental protections, and Ecuador has inspired many of these initiatives. Eighteen years on from its historic constitution, however, the country also demonstrates how challenging it can be to achieve meaningful RoN implementation.