PANAMA
In 2022, Panama became the third country in the world to recognize the Rights of Nature at the national level, joining Ecuador and Bolivia. Its landmark law has already been applied across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, showing the world that Rights of Nature can move from principle to practice, guiding decisions where science, policy, and community action converge to reshape our relationship with Earth’s living systems.
Panama's Rights of Nature Law No. 287 just won the Future World Policy Award from the World Future Council!
Who We Are
Nearly one-third of Panama’s land and more than half of its ocean territory are under conservation, surpassing the international 30x30 target years ahead of schedule. These commitments not only safeguard biodiversity and climate resilience at home, but also set a precedent for countries everywhere seeking to scale up conservation and embed Rights of Nature into governance.
Panama is inspiring the world by demonstrating what ecocentric governance looks like in practice. By recognizing nature as a subject of rights, Panama has shifted governance toward an ecocentric model that aligns law with ecological reality.
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News
Rights of Nature in Panama Timeline
October 2019 - March 2020
Callie was studying sea turtles on remote islands in Panama on a National Geographic Society grant (October 2019-March 2020) and decides to propose the idea for the Rights of Nature law
January 2020
Callie begins soliciting meetings with First Lady Yazmin Cortizo and Congressman Juan Diego Vasquez in January 2020
February 2020
Callie meets with Congressman Juan Diego Vasquez and First Lady Yazmin Cortizo to present the idea for a new Rights of Nature law in February 2020
February - September 2020
Juan Diego Vasquez's legal cabinet (Juan Diego Infante, Irma Hernandez, Jorge Jaen) collaborate with Callie and environmental lawyer Luisa Arauz to draft the first draft of the Rights of Nature law from February to September 2020. The first draft of the law was drafted by:
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Juan Diego Infante
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Juan Diego Vasquez
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Callie Veelenturf
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Luisa Arrauz
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Jorge Jaen
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Irma Hernandez
September 2020
Juan Diego Vasquez presents the first draft of the Rights of Nature law to Panamanian Parliament and the law is accepted as a law proposal to be considered and debated in Panama.
September 23, 2020
Diputado Juan Diego Vasquez presented the proposed Rights of Nature law to the Panamanian Parliament.
April 2021
Callie contacts Michelle Bender, from the Earth Law Center to ask if the Earth Law Center team would be willing to contribute their expert opinion in the Rights of Nature to the draft law and revise it.
April 2021 - August 2021
Earth Law Center team works to submit a revised version of the law to Juan Diego Vasquez's team. These substantial revisions were largely incorporated into the second draft of the law, which is much stronger than the original. The ELC team that edited the first draft to produce the second draft of Law 287 consisted of:
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Constanza Prieto Figelist (Director of Latin American Department of ELC)
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Javier Ruiz (Environmental Policy and Climate Expert)
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Carla Cardenas (no longer at ELC)
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Michelle Bender (no longer at ELC)
August 2021
The second draft of the law entered the public debating phase in Panama City, where Juan Diego Vasqeuz, Callie and Jorge Jaen attended publicly during the pandemic and Constanza attended the live stream on Zoom.
August - October
The second draft of the law was debated in the second and third debating periods (private debates) in Panama City where Juan Diego Vasquez represented the law
October 2021
The third draft of the law (including all debate edits) passed the third debate, was signed off on by the General Assembly of Panama and was sent to the desk of the President of Panama for final review
February 2022
The President of Panama Nito Cortizo signed Law 287 on February 24, 2022 "Que reconoce los derechos de la Naturaleza y las oblicaciones del Estado relacionadas con estos derechos"
February 2023
Law 287 went into effect
Rights of Nature Implementation Measures
Press
