Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Mar Menor from a non-speciesist perspective – Spanish lessons for the Netherlands This article explores the legal and ethical implications of granting legal personhood to the Mar Menor, a saltwater lagoon in southeastern Spain. The Spanish Ley 19/2022 marks a groundbreaking shift in environmental law by recognizing the lagoon and its basin as a legal subject with rights to protection, restoration, and natural development. This development is analyzed through the lens of non-speciesism, a philosophical stance that challenges the moral superiority of humans over other species and advocates for the intrinsic value of all life forms. The article considers whether a similar legal approach could be applied to Dutch ecosystems such as the Wadden Sea. The article concludes that although legal personhood for nature may not fully realize the non-speciesist ideal, it can represent a meaningful step towards a more inclusive legal framework that acknowledges the interdependence of humans and nature.
Source: PROCES
Language: English
Topic: Environmental law and policy
Subfield: Law
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7139996255