ABSTRACT
The Rights of Nature is undoubtedly the most significant legal step forward on major environmental issues brought about by the passage of Ecuador's 2008 Constitution.1 The new language, for the first time giving Nature legal rights, gave rise to great expectations, in particular the possibility of transforming the traditional – and worldwide – paradigm in which Nature is understood to be a mere object available for human use. Many hoped that the view of human beings as the owners, de facto keepers and ultimate end purpose of all-natural resources would be challenged by this emerging environmental paradigm.
