GARN Asia-Pacific Hub

02/02/2026

🌿 New Webinar Series is coming!

Join GARN Asia-Pacific Hub on 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬 at 12:00 PM KST / 2:00 PM AEST for a deep dive into the 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮🐬

This session explores a bill in Jeju Island that aims to introduce 𝗲𝗰𝗼-𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 for ecosystems and non-human beings like Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, Gotjawal (volcanic forests), and sea turtles.🐢

🎙 Speakers:
Hyejin Jung (Director, Earth Law Center Korea)
Taehyun Park (President, Korean Earth Jurisprudence Society)
with

🎧 Hosted by Dr Michelle Maloney (Co-Founder and Director, Australian Earth Laws Alliance / GARN AP Hub)

🔗 Registration link in bio: https://events.humanitix.com/garnap-20feb

🎨 Illustration by

30/01/2026

🌏 From coral reefs and tropical forests to rivers and mountains, the Asia-Pacific is home to extraordinary ecological and cultural diversity. Across the region, communities are advancing the Rights of Nature in different ways. The GARN Asia-Pacific Hub brings together members from 20+ countries to turn this diversity into shared learning, solidarity, and collective strength.

🤝 This regional webinar series—co-hosted with the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA)—creates a cross-cultural space to share legal developments, grassroots strategies, and local experiences shaping the future of the Rights of Nature.

Stay tuned—details for our first session will be released very soon 🌱✨

30/07/2025

🎶 We rise for climate justice — now. ✊🌏

On this World Nature Conservation Day, the Youth for Active Citizenship and Leadership (YACAL Pilipinas) stands as a youth-led movement calling for urgent action:

🌿 Pass the Rights of Nature Bill
❌ Ban environmentally destructive projects
💰 Make polluters pay

We raise our collective voice for Mt. Ping-as in Pakil, Laguna, Philippines, now under threat from the Ahunan Dam project, which would destroy over 2,000 trees — including endemic species — and endanger lives, biodiversity, culture, and heritage.

🗣️ Heed the voice of Mt. Ping-as
🚫 Stop Ahunan Dam now
⚖️ Let genuine climate justice prevail

29/07/2025

🌏 World Nature Conservation Day 2025
📍 Shamoli Park, Dhaka, Bangladesh
🗓️ July 28, 2025

To mark this global day, DHORA and Waterkeepers Bangladesh came together to raise public awareness and inspire unity in protecting nature with the slogan: “Ensure Legal Rights of Bangladesh Rivers” 🌊 🌿

In a country where all rivers have been recognized as living legal entities, the event called on authorities to protect and free all rivers from encroachment and pollution. It also aimed to unite communities in protecting nature, strengthen the national conservation movement, and inspire more environmental responsibility.

Participants emphasized:
🔹 The importance of ensuring the legal rights of rivers and ecosystems
🔹 The urgent need for nature-based solutions like forest restoration, wetland conservation, and afforestation
🔹 Protection of endangered plants and animals
🔹 Environmental justice for Indigenous peoples and frontline communities
🔹 Restoring nature as a path to peace and resilience in the face of disaster and climate crisis

Banners, placards, and powerful voices reminded that:
It’s not just about nature. It’s about justice, survival, and our shared future.

Let’s act before it’s too late.
Let’s protect what protects us. 🌱

29/07/2025

🐬"I deserve the right to live, to thrive, and to protect my family and the life we’ve always known."🪸

The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, living off the coast of Jeju Island, South Korea - classified as a CITES Appendix II species and listed on the IUCN Red List - are facing increasing threats to their survival.

These dolphins play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and are deeply intertwined with the island’s cultural and environmental identity—particularly with Haenyeo, the iconic women divers of Jeju who have long coexisted with marine life.

Only about 120 individuals remain, and their numbers are declining due to speeding tour boats, plastic pollution, fishing lines, and coastal development.
In 2023 alone, 16 dolphins were found dead along Jeju’s shores.
Despite their ecological and cultural significance, they are still not protected as legal beings.

But change is coming.
In 2024, a bill was submitted to the Korean National Assembly to recognize species like these dolphins as eco-legal entities — granting them rights to exist, to thrive, and to be safeguarded.

This movement is about more than just dolphins — it's about recognizing the rights of nature and creating a future where humans and ecosystems coexist in harmony.

🗣️ Let’s be their voice. Let’s give nature the rights it deserves.🌊

29/07/2025

🗣️Be the Voice of Nature🌿
Join our regional campaign for 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 (July 28)!

We’re calling on you to speak up for the forests, rivers, oceans, and mountains that cannot speak for themselves.🌊🐚⛰️🐢

✨ Represent a natural ecosystem in your country that is under threat.
✨ Speak as that ecosystem — tell its story and demand its rights.

🎨 Choose any format:
Drawing | Video | Photo | Poem | Card News | Song

📌 What to include:

1. What ecosystem are you speaking for?
2. Why is it under threat?
3. What is your call for action or recognition?
4. Post it on Instagram or Facebook
- Tag
- Use hashtags:
#[YourCountry] #[EcosystemName]


💬 Need help submitting your story?
Feel free to send me a DM or email us at: [email protected]

Let’s raise our voices together — for Nature. 🌺

14/05/2025

“The time has come.”⏳
𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗷𝗽𝗮𝗶, our Executive Committee member at GARN, reminds us that for generations, communities in Asia have lived in harmony with nature — honoring her rhythms, her rights. 🌏🌿

Though she couldn’t be with us in Mount Purro, her words carried across borders, calling on our institutions to finally recognize what so many already know in their hearts:
⛰️Nature has rights. Communities deserve a healthy environment. And real change begins now.💫

14/05/2025

Honoured to be featured on the GARN website for our in-person gathering and work on the Mount Purro Declaration!

Grateful to stand with dedicated fellow advocates in launching the Asia-Pacific Hub and advancing the Rights of Nature across the region. 🌏🌿

🌏✨ A milestone for the in the Asia-Pacific region!

From April 27–29, leaders from 10 countries gathered at Mount Purro, Philippines, for the first in-person meeting of GARN’s Asia-Pacific Hub. Together, they launched the Hub and adopted the Mount Purro Declaration—a powerful commitment to uphold the Rights of Nature across the region.

👉 Read the Declaration: https://f.mtr.cool/bzwfpfspng

06/05/2025

🌳“Interconnected for Nature” – Our first in-person GARN Asia-Pacific Hub Gathering has successfully concluded!✨💚

🌏From April 27–29, passionate advocates from 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮, 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵, 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮, 𝗡𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮, 𝗦𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻 came together in the Philippines to exchange stories, strategize collective action, and strengthen the Rights of Nature movement in Asia-Pacific.

🤝Together, we reflected, dreamed, and organized — and as a result, we adopted the 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮-𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰: a shared commitment to advancing legal recognition and protection of nature across our diverse territories.

🌱This is only the beginning. Let’s continue to grow this movement rooted in solidarity, Indigenous knowledge, and ecological justice.

🌿 Stay connected. Stay inspired.

24/04/2025

🌿 "Uplift the Rights of Nature."
A meaningful message of solidarity from 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽-𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗸, an elder of the Ponca Nation, Chair of the Indigenous Council for the GARN, and also a member of the Executive Committee.

We’re honored to share her heartfelt support for the Asia-Pacific region as we come together to ignite the Rights of Nature movement in our territories. ✊🌏

Let’s unite our encouragement, presence, and prayers as we move forward — interconnected for nature💚

24/04/2025

🌏✨
“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲.”
⠀
We’re honored to share a message of wholehearted support from 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗼𝗻— one of the founding members of the GARN, director of the Academic Hub, and author of 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘑𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘸.
⠀
His inspiring words recognize the dedication, vision, and leadership behind the launch of the Asia Pacific Hub — and its upcoming first in-person meeting — a vital step forward in expanding the global discourse on the Rights of Nature.
⠀
💬 “I absolutely believe that the Asia Pacific Hub will be a success — and is crucial in leading this movement into a new and fruitful direction.”

24/04/2025

📢It’s happening!🌟
We’re thrilled to announce the program of our first in-person gathering, coming this April 27–29, 2025, in the Philippines!🌱

Under the theme “𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲”, this 3-day event will bring together advocates, communities, and changemakers across the region to ignite the Rights of Nature movement in Asia-Pacific. 🌿

🗓️ Highlights of the Gathering:
✔️ Presentations on the history of the Rights of Nature movement in each country
✔️ Dialogues on building the Asia-Pacific Hub’s structure and long-term strategy
✔️ Collective action planning for our regional campaigns
✔️ Solidarity night & a community visit to the Sierra Madre Mountain Range — a sacred land under threat

📍 Mount Purro Nature Reserve, Philippines
📥 Want to join us or share your story? Register via the link here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sCMtyWOT6pevyXONGZvuqstCaY2xvRyH3DbtZVoMJMQ/edit) or email us at [email protected]
🔗Zoom link for online participation!: https://pmpi-org-ph.zoom.us/j/86219855270?pwd=O0AumIfXwuCUQjGCI3sC99UbR3INbh.1

Let’s come together to protect nature — not as property, but as a living entity with rights. ✊💚

🎨 Poster design & illustration by