Scientists at the Institute for Agroecology at UVM, along with international co-authors, have published a paper outlining Ecuador's successes in legally championing the Rights of Nature.

Ecuadorian Frogs might seem unlikely superheroes, yet these small spotted amphibians emerged victorious against a Goliath of mining concessions in Ecuador. Like most superheroes, the frogs had help from a team of strong allies. In this case, members of the Junin community, along with biologists, lawyers, and other allies, successfully sued on Nature’s behalf to halt mining activities. 

Conventional environmental laws often focus on regulating human impacts through permits, limits, and, in the best-case scenarios, restoration. In contrast, Rights of Nature laws aim to preserve entire ecosystems holistically––for this reason, endemic endangered frog species and a human community can act as co-equal plaintiffs. 
Ecuador's enshrinement of the Rights of Nature within its Constitution in 2008 represents a monumental shift in rights and jurisprudence. Ecuador’s constitution establishes Nature as a subject with inherent rights. It embeds humans within ecological processes and emphasizes care, stewardship, and the equitable coexistence of all life forms. These efforts have also generated a robust new legal strategy that has inspired similar cases globally, as outlined in the paper.

To date, sustained legal and community efforts have successfully blocked three large mining projects in Intag, while the Rights of Nature have prevailed in half a dozen landmark court cases across Ecuador. Resistance to mining in Intag Valley, a biodiversity hotspot, exemplifies the power of community action and international solidarity in pursuing planetary health equity and justice, and a just transition for all. Ecuador ranks ninth among the world’s megadiverse countries, hosting significant species diversity, including approximately 16,500–20,000 vascular plant species, 465 mammal species, and 690 amphibian species. Amphibians are crucial ecological indicators due to their heightened sensitivity to environmental pollutants and toxins. Both their abundance and diversity are vital indicators of ecological health, and so frogs have become a powerful tiny avatar of Earth’s health.  9 of the 23 frog species reported within the Llurimagua mining concession are on the IUCN list of endangered species. The area is 4,929 hectares and is managed by CODELCO. Three are critically endangered, and two are endemic only to the mining area. Another 19 are listed on Ecuador’s red lists—making a total of 42 threatened frog species in less than 5,000 hectares. On average, that’s over 8 endangered frog species per 1,000 hectares (10 km²).
Andrea Terán, an Ecuadorian biologist providing data and research to support the case and a co-author of the paper, believes the Rights of Nature approach is what led to this environmental success, “Translating the Constitutional Rights of Nature into concrete conservation measures is a  powerful tool to prevent species extinction in areas threatened by mining. 

Large-scale mining concessions are concentrated in the Andes and their foothills, overlapping with regions of high amphibian endemism and richness. Therefore, having a mechanism to halt this extractive economic model opens the door to exploring alternative relationships with nature and sustainable economic models that support life in the long term.”
Dr. Mario Moncayo, part of the team of sponsoring attorneys in the Llurimagua mining case, described their legal victory this way: “In the case of Llurimagua, as explained in the article, the practical applicability of the rights of Nature is demonstrated, showing that these are not merely symbolic declarations but rights with real-world legal effects. The recognition of the rights of nature has allowed individuals and communities to exercise them directly, establishing relevant precedents in the protection of nature.”

This content is taken from University of Vermont

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"What if Mother Earth Could Sue for Mistreatment? Endangered Ecuadorian Frogs and the Junin Community Showcase a Groundbreaking Legal Framework", MachPrinciple, June 30, 2025, https://machprinciple.com/post/What-if-Mother-Earth-Could-Sue-for-Mistreatment-Endangered-Ecuadorian-Frogs-and-the-Junin-Community-Showcase-a-Groundbreaking-Legal-Framework