Bolivia made global headlines over a decade ago when it legally recognized the rights of nature. But how effective is this concept in the face of ongoing extractivism? A look at the opportunities, challenges, and limits of this legal paradigm shift.

In 2017, New Zealand became one of the first countries in the world to grant rights to a river: the Whanganui River. Here, we presents five ways in which the recognition of the River as a legal person could help to shape law and policy.