The Rights of Nature Toolkit:
A New Era for River Protection.

Empowering communities and advocates to defend rivers and hold polluters accountable.

It all begins with a vision—a future where rivers are protected, not polluted.

With the Rights of Nature Toolkit, we’re turning that vision into action. This groundbreaking guide empowers individuals, communities, and legal advocates to defend rivers, hold polluters accountable, and create lasting change.

Your voice matters. Together, we can rewrite the story of our rivers—restoring them to health and ensuring they thrive for generations to come. Let’s make it happen.

The Rights of Nature Toolkit: Empowering River Protection in England and Wales

Developed by the Legal Clinic at King’s College London with input from London Waterkeeper, this practical guide empowers communities and advocates to protect rivers and their ecosystems. Designed for lawyers, paralegals, student legal clinics, grassroots activists, and environmental advocates, the toolkit reflects our collaborative approach and commitment to defending nature.

What the Toolkit Offers

This comprehensive guide helps you leverage existing laws to defend rivers, covering key areas like:

  • Making information requests

  • Submitting complaints and pursuing prosecutions

  • Judicial review and planning law

  • Human rights claims and public participation

The toolkit also explores emerging pathways, such as the right to a healthy environment, to strengthen legal protections for rivers and natural spaces.

Empowering Action Through Training

Our first Rights of Nature training event, hosted with King’s College London, was a resounding success. Grassroots activists learned how to use the toolkit to hold authorities accountable and advocate for change. These events are the beginning of a movement to shift the balance of power and protect our rivers.