Rights of the river

Rivers are living systems, not just resources. The River Rights movement seeks to protect them by recognising their legal personhood, like how corporations can have a distinct legal status.

The Universal Declaration of River Rights outlines:

The right to flow

The right to perform essential functions within their ecosystems

The right to be free from pollution

The right to connect with sustainable aquifers

The right to native biodiversity

The right to regenerate and be restored

Granting rivers legal rights means they can be protected by law, just like a person or a company. This helps communities and decision-makers defend rivers from pollution, over-abstraction and inappropriate development.

The first River Rights motion in England was passed by Lewes District Council for the River Ouse.

As part of our Save Our Chalk Streams campaign, we are working with local authorities across our counties to raise ‘Rights of the River’ motions at Full Council. Through the river rights framework, we aim to strengthen protections for local rivers and chalk streams to support nature’s recovery.

If you are a local councillor and would like to work with the Trust on a ‘Rights of the River’ motion, please contact our Campaigns Team on campaigns@hiwwt.org.uk

You can write to your local councillor using our downloadable template: Rights of River letter template