A 2026 study published in Nature Sustainability reveals a startling statistic: only 11.7 percent of river lengths in the contiguous United States are adequately protected. Meanwhile, less than 19.3 percent  of American waterways are protected at a level deemed viable by the National Protected Rivers Assessment of the United States. This article details contemporary river protections, investigates their inadequacies, and explores how Rights of Nature frameworks could improve watershed protection in the U.S.

"Verte Volar" is a new composition that honors the sacred relationship between humanity and stingless bees through an interdisciplinary partnership bridging science, law, ecology, poetry, and Indigenous ancestral knowledge. This spoken word and musical piece emerges from an unprecedented collaboration between Indigenous wisdom keepers, scientists, legal advocates, artists, and educators, weaving together diverse ways of knowing into a unified homage to Amazonian stingless bees. It was created by Carine Gibert, founder of Grounded In Motion, composed with Jacinta Clusellas, and produced by Benjamin Furman. 

With the RoN movement gaining momentum in Ocean governance, here are five of the most exciting Ocean-related developments to keep an eye on in 2026: 

1. The entrance into force of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ)

2. International Seabed Authority negotiations about deep-sea governance

3. Coral reefs rights developments

4. Lawsuits from Ocean guardians using Advisory Opinions in different courts

5. The Republic of Panama continues leading the way in Ocean protection 

Imagined as a country, the Ocean would rank as the world’s fourth-largest economy, valued at approximately $24 trillion, and would exercise sovereignty over 70 percent of global territory. Dare we dream of an Ocean Nation—a government of representatives selected through expertise rather than nationality, a transboundary bioregion that can activate hard-fought Earth (and marine) law?

On January 8th, 2026, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council unanimously approved a Rights of Nature (RoN) resolution for the Longperson, a 790 mile long interconnected water system whose headwaters begin in the Great Smoky Mountains and whose feet stretch to the sea. The resolution was presented by the North American Indian Women Association (NAIWA) Daughters, an all-female, youth-led group of Indigenous environmental protectors and advocates. NAIWA Daughters shared a moving testimonial to the Council as the culmination of 18 months of community outreach, research, prayer, and hard work. This historic event marks the first all women-led RoN resolution passed in the United States.