Should Trees Have Legal Rights?

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Most of us don’t think about trees having rights—but should they? In many places, harming a tree is only an issue if it damages someone’s property or breaks environmental regulations. But what if trees could have legal standing on their own? Some countries, like Ecuador and New Zealand, recognize the rights of nature, allowing forests and rivers to be represented in court. This means that if someone destroys a protected tree, it’s not just an environmental violation—it’s an actual legal harm to the tree itself.

But where do we draw the line? If a tree can have rights, should it also have responsibilities? Can it ‘own’ the land it grows on? And what happens if its roots damage someone’s house? In Ironland, we’re putting these questions to a vote to decide whether Todd, our local tree, should have special protections. What do you think? 🌳⚖️

@VisitAthensGA