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Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica

by Shiyao Wang 1
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PSSA  2024 3(1):15; https://doi.org/10.69610/j.pssa.20241231
Received: / Accepted: / Published Online: 31 December 2024
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Abstract

This article explores the concept of Wild Law, a legal philosophy that advocates for nature to be recognized as having inherent rights within legal systems. First proposed by South African lawyer Cormac Cullinan, Wild Law seeks to shift the legal framework from an anthropocentric view to one that respects the rights of nature. The article delves into the theoretical foundations of Wild Law, comparing it to traditional environmental and property laws, and discusses its application in real-world case studies, including Toledo’s Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) and Santa Monica’s Rights of Sustainability Ordinance. These cases demonstrate the challenges and legal implications of granting legal rights to natural entities, such as ecosystems and bodies of water, within the existing legal framework. The article also discusses the constitutional conflicts, implementation hurdles, and the future potential of Wild Law in promoting ecological justice and sustainable urban development. While legal frameworks may need significant reform to accommodate Wild Law, the cases of Toledo and Santa Monica offer insight into how these principles could be practically implemented to protect the environment while balancing urban development.

Keywords: Wild Law; Environmental Rights; Legal Systems;
Copyright: © 2024 by Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
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APA Style
Wang, S. (2024). Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica. Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts, 3(1), 15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231
ACS Style
Wang, S. Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica. Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts, 2024, 3, 15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231
AMA Style
Wang S. Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica. Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts; 2024, 3(1):15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231
Chicago/Turabian Style
Wang, Shiyao 2024. "Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica" Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts 3, no.1:15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231

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ACS Style
Wang, S. Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica. Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts, 2024, 3, 15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231
AMA Style
Wang S. Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica. Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts; 2024, 3(1):15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231
Chicago/Turabian Style
Wang, Shiyao 2024. "Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica" Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts 3, no.1:15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231
APA style
Wang, S. (2024). Legal challenges and frameworks for implementing wilderness laws in urban environments: case studies of Toledo and Santa Monica. Perspectives in Social Sciences and Arts, 3(1), 15. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.20241231

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