The Transformative Potential of Rights of Nature? (2023)

Flemmer, Riccarda (ed.): Workshop report "The Transformative Potential of Rights of Nature?" 20 and 21 January 2023, University of Tübingen, Germany (Full report).
Abstract
The workshop “The Transformative Potential of Rights of Nature (RoN)?” was held on 20 and 21 January 2023 at the University of Tübingen. The objective of this event was to engage in a critical discussion about RoN and think about potential collaborative research perspectives. The participatory format brought together indigenous and non-indigenous academic and activist actors from different parts of the world (Europe, Latin America, Australia and Aotearoa/ New Zealand) to speak about the prospects and limitations of guaranteeing nature own rights, especially to forests. More specifically, indigenous representatives from Te Urewera, Aotearoa/ New Zealand and from Sarayaku, Ecuador as well as lawyers, philosophers, political scientists, and activists from the Americas, Australia, and Europe exchanged experiences, approaches, and research interests about RoN.
The event was hosted by Junior-Professor Dr Riccarda Flemmer (Political Struggles in the Global South) at the Institute of Political Science, University of Tübingen. She and her interdisciplinary team Mariana Contreras Leal, Verena Gresz, Babette Thron, and Lina-Marie Weber welcomed the participants. The facilitators Dr Timmi Tillmann and Dr Maruja Salas (Vipp) guided the participants through the programme using different interactive and reflective methods for sharing experiences, rethinking concepts, and envisioning transformation. The visual protocols of each session were elaborated by Alessandra Zaffiro (Housatonic). Brigit Hoinle (Universität Hohenheim) supported the event as an interpreter (English-Spanish).
We are thankful for the funding provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments.

More publications/más publicaciones

  • Tittor, Anne and Riccarda Flemmer (2016): Educational material (Unterrichtsmaterial für die Sekundarstufe II), Dossier: ‘Ressourcenkonflikte im Nord-Süd Kontext und Rohstoffreichtum in Lateinamerika’; Bielefeld: kipu-Verlag.