SOAS students champion rights of nature with pro bono project on River Ouse

A group of law students from SOAS University of London has successfully completed a pro bono project mapping the presence of UK-protected species along the River Ouse in Sussex. 

Their work supports the development of a river charter by the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) and the campaign group Love Our Ouse, which will be presented to the Lewes District Council for endorsement within the next year. This initiative follows a pivotal motion by Lewes District Council in February 2023, marking a significant step towards recognizing the Rights of Nature.

The River Ouse is set to become the first river in England to be granted legal rights, joining a global movement advocating for the intrinsic value of nature and its inherent rights.

"This project helped us to appreciate the role that evolving legal techniques, such as Rights of Nature, can play in protecting wild spaces in the UK and develop our skills and knowledge by identifying protected species using various online resources and databases" said Zoe Wedderburn-Day, a student who participated in the project and is specialising in Environmental Law & Sustainable Development as part of her LLM.

The students meticulously reviewed national legislation to identify UK-protected species and used records from Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre and the National Biodiversity Network Atlas to map these species along the River Ouse using Oracle Spatial Studio. The project was completed on 12 February 2024.

Their report on protected species is a valuable addition to ELF's ongoing work to support the development of a charter recognizing the Rights of the River Ouse.

"We are delighted by the research presented by the students, who have done a very thorough job," said Tom Brenan, from Environmental Law Foundation. "Their report on protected species is a valuable addition to ELF's ongoing work to support the development of a charter recognizing the Rights of the River Ouse."

This project underscores the importance of legal frameworks in environmental conservation and the potential impact of the Rights of Nature movement in the UK. It serves as a valuable resource for ELF and other environmental NGOs offering crucial insights into the legal protections of species along the River Ouse and supporting efforts to safeguard nature's rights and promote environmental well-being.

The SOAS Environmental Law & Policy Clinic provides opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, studying environmental law at SOAS, to gain practical skills and experience, working with NGOs and charities on research and advocacy projects. It is housed within the SOAS Law, Environment and Development Centre.

The project report can be downloaded here: