Grant Legal Personhood Rights to all chalk streams
Chalk streams are globally unique rivers with ~85% of the total located in England. Some councils have recognised the River Test's "intrinsic rights", aiming to protect the chalk stream from pollution and obstruction. We ask the Government to grant legal personhood rights to all chalk streams.
Signatures
31
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 31/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 31/100,000
- 16 APR 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Matthew Faber
Background
Chalk streams are globally unique and significant ecosystems which are rapidly becoming devoid of life due to pollution. Personhood rights for rivers should grant legal standing to waterways, allowing them to be treated as legal entities with rights, such as the right to flow and exist free from pollution, and not merely as property. We believe this movement can help enable guardians to act on behalf of the river to protect its health and ecosystems, and that these rights are needed before the damage is irreversible.