The Rights of Rivers movement is gathering momentum across the UK, with councils beginning to recognise rivers such as the Medway and Ouse as entities with their own rights. Yet, there is still a significant gap in public understanding of the broader Rights of Nature movement, particularly regarding what it could practically mean for the health of our rivers and for our relationship with them. Bridging this gap requires not only explaining the concept but showing how it would transform the way we interact with rivers in our daily lives.
At its heart, the idea is simple: granting rivers rights means giving them representation - a voice - because they are valuable in and of themselves, not merely as resources for human use. Today, rivers are treated as property: owned, exploited, and often degraded, reflecting a mindset rooted in centuries of colonial and extractive thinking. A Rights of Rivers framework challenges this paradigm by recognising rivers as living members of the community. It allows rivers to be represented in legal systems, to advocate for their own health, and to have their interests considered in decision-making processes. Under such a framework, rivers could have enforceable rights to be free from pollution, to maintain natural flow, and to support biodiversity, creating protections that go beyond voluntary conservation efforts.
Building and development: Projects impacting river environments would face stricter oversight. Currently, regulators often allow developments that degrade waterways, overlooking sewage overflow or chemical run-off. Under a Rights of Rivers framework, any harm to a river could be legally challenged, ensuring that development coexists with ecological health.
Farming: Farmers would be encouraged - and possibly legally incentivised - to adopt regenerative practices that protect soils and reduce nutrient pollution. Healthy farming practices would become part of protecting the river’s rights, rather than being weighed only against short-term economic gain.
Water companies: Routine pollution and negligence would no longer be tolerated. Companies would be held to higher standards of accountability, with rivers’ legal rights offering a mechanism for enforcement and compensation for harm.
Citizenship and culture: Respecting rivers’ rights would also shift the way we speak about them. Instead of referring to a river as “it,” we might begin to say “he,” “she,” or “they” - recognising rivers as kin rather than objects. As Neil Williamson, a leading voice in the Rights of Nature movement, asks: Would we ever call our grandmother an “it”? Then why do we do so for a living river?
The beauty of river restoration is that it doesn’t always require complex interventions. When we stop poisoning rivers and allow them the conditions to thrive, they often heal themselves. The challenge lies in stepping back, respecting their agency, and allowing them to flourish within the ecosystems they support.
In partnership with the Voices of Water Foundation, we will walk in solidarity with our rivers, calling for them to be recognised and protected through legal rights. Each step is a reminder that rivers are not mere resources - they are living, breathing members of our communities, deserving freedom, care, and respect.
Join us to reconnect with the river, raise your voice, and celebrate the possibility of rivers flowing healthily once more. More information here.
