Du droit de l’arbre aux droits de l’arbre - conférence

What if trees had rights? This conference explores their protection under French law and the recognition of trees as legal natural entities, with Victor David, a specialist in the rights of Nature.

The accelerated erosion of biodiversity in woodlands and forests over the past fifty years, particularly in urban areas, continues inexorably as soils are increasingly developed, compounded by the devastating fires of recent years. In this context, the felling in mid-August by municipal services of 37 mature trees in Bonneveine Park in Marseille, considered dangerous to users despite opposition from many local residents, may seem irresponsible. The operation was not illegal. As is increasingly common in similar circumstances, the question “if these trees had rights, would the city hall have been able to cut them down?” arises, particularly among Nature advocates. After presenting the law applicable to trees in France, we will address the recognition of trees as legal natural entities (ENJs) to ensure them better protection.

This conference is led by: Victor DAVID is a researcher in environmental and sustainable development law at the Research Institute for Development (IRD), and a member of the Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology (IMBE), currently based at La Timone in Marseille. His current research and expertise focus on the development of environmental and sustainable development law. He specializes in the rights of Nature in France, notably through the support he provided for the pioneering creation, in the Environmental Code of New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands Province, of the status of legal natural entities as a new category of legal subjects. His research also addresses environmental health issues. He is also interested in the rights of Indigenous peoples and contexts of cultural and legal pluralism.