Center For Democratic And Environmental Rights

THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, (THE ORGANIZATION) IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING A GLOBAL CONVERSATION ABOUT DEMOCRATIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS. TO ATTAIN ITS GOALS, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS ABOUT THE FAILURE OF EXISTING GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEMS TO RECOGNIZE AND ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THEM TO FASHION NEW LAWS AND NEW LEGAL SYSTEMS, WHICH CREATE AND ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS. THE ORGANIZATION THEN ASSISTS THEM TO ENFORCE AND DEFEND THOSE LAWS.

I. DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, CDER PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO GROUPS IN OKLAHOMA, NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS, OREGON, CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, CONNECTICUT, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND OTHER STATES, TO EDUCATE MEMBERS OF THOSE GROUPS ABOUT A NEW SYSTEM OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FOCUSED ON RECOGNIZING LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE RIGHTS FOR ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURE. CDER ALSO PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE LEGAL RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHTS OF NATURE.SPEAK ABOUT THE MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE LEGAL RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHTS OF NATURE.II. DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, CDER PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS AND STRATEGIC ORGANIZATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, IRELAND, ECUADOR, AUSTRALIA, NEPAL, ENGLAND, TANZANIA, AND CANADA. ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS AND STRATEGIC ASSISTANCE FOR THE DRAFTING OF LAWS WHICH WOULD RECOGNIZE THE LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE RIGHTS OF NATURE AND ECOSYSTEMS.III. DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, CDER PROVIDED LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE WHITE EARTH BAND OF OJIBWE AND THE SAUK-SUIATTLE TRIBE OF WASHINGTON STATE. BOTH TRIBES HAD FILED, AND HAVE LITIGATED, CASES IN WHICH BOTH MANOOMIN (WILD RICE) AND SALMON WERE PLAINTIFFS IN CASES THAT WERE FILED IN THE TRIBAL COURTS OF THE RESPECTIVE TRIBES.IV. DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, CDER PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS AND SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS WEBINARS AND OTHER TRAININGS WITH INDIGENOUS LEADERS FROM THOSE TRIBES.V. DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, CDER PARTNERED WITH OTHER STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPLORE CAMPAIGNS FOCUSED ON RECOGNIZING THE LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE RIGHTS OF NATURE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO CREATE NEW LAND OWNERSHIP OPTIONS WHICH WOULD RECOGNIZE NATURE AND ECOSYSTEMS AS RIGHTS-BEARING ENTITIES. VI. DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, CDER PRODUCED TWO LEGAL EDUCATION TRAININGS FOR LAWYER CERTIFICATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (NACLE) AND LAWLINE.