Nederland is on the International Rights of Nature movement map with a resolution passed by the Board of Trustees on July 6, 2021. The seven sections and seven rights proclaimed in the resolution, following the reasons our community cares, offer specifics of what it means to protect the waters and the watershed of Nederland.

These rights include the rights of water to natural flow, and to be fed by glaciers. The watershed has the right to maintain native biodiversity, to exist free of pollution and practices or obstructions that infringe on its rights. There is much more as well. You can go to the SaveTheColorago.org link below to read the Resolution.

The Board of Trustees’ vote to support “Rights of Nature for the Boulder Creek Watershed” came after unanimous support from the Town’s Sustainability Advisory Board and Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board, as well as complete support from every member of the public who provided comment to the Board of Trustees.

To me, it means that Nederland has publicly acknowledged the true importance of our waters and watersheds and gives encouragement to citizens to step in and speak on behalf of the health and care of both.

We take time to learn more because the mess we have with human-engendered climate change and species extinction comes in part from a defective view and treatment of nature. It has us on the brink of creating an uninhabitable planet. Learning and acknowledging the rights of nature reorients the human psyche and mind to be in a collaborative and reciprocal relationship with the natural world and leads to the flourishing of all species into the future.

Acknowledging these rights is a departure from a resource- and extractionoriented culture which has been degrading the Earth to a dangerous point. It suggests creating ways “the Creek and Watershed may meaningfully engage in public decision-making processes, such as ...a legal guardianship body,” so that the environment’s needs are represented in meetings and projects.

Both waters and watersheds are included. “The Watershed and its living and non-living natural components and communities – including forests and wildlife – possess, at minimum, fundamental and inalienable rights to exist, maintain integral health, regenerate, evolve, and be restored.”

Finally, the resolution allows the Town Board to appoint “legal guardians” for the Creek and Watershed who can represent nature in Town decisionmaking processes. It also encourages citizens to speak up for the Creek and Watershed when they see rights violated.

How can you relate to this resolution? Get to know the lands of our watershed with an open heart and expanded sense of willingness to make them part of your life. Befriend particular areas and trees through all seasons and with repeated visits and time spent observing, listening, and sensing. Come into a caring and cherishing relationship with them as a living part of our community.

Also, spend time learning more about the global Rights of Nature movement and how we fit in as a model for other communities. Talk with others about it!

Rights of Nature Resources:

You can go to SaveTheColorado.org and see Nederland’s resolution.

Go to www.therightsofnature.org and learn what you can do everyday to make a difference for nature.

You can learn the work Rights of Nature has been doing around the globe since 1972 by going to celdf.org.

You can also go to YouTube, https:// youtu.be/5TY6kSE1nBI, to listen to the Nederland Board of Trustees meeting from July 6, 2021, when they discussed this resolution.

Further Actions:

One important issue to learn about and speak about is pesticide use, particularly RoundUp™, which may cause cancer in humans and kill beneficial insects. Do a search online for herbicides and glyphosate. Learn about alternatives! Ask stores not to carry RoundUp™.

Experiment, practice, and learn to communicate with nature. Trees and plants CAN express their intelligence and communicate with humans. Many have learned to listen and learn from and about them by practicing silent and simple thought-communications.

Bring the concepts and intentions of rights and respect for nature into your home, workplace, faith community; become a voice for the nonhuman world.