Wildlife as Property Owners: A New Conception of Animal Rights

Humankind coexists with other living things, but property law assumes that only people can own land. This presumption is disastrous for wildlife and humans, leading to biodiversity loss and the possibility of mass extinction. Anthropocentric property is a key driver of biodiversity loss, and extending the legal right to own property to wildlife may be its salvation.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 152 pages
\n Publication date: 17 November 2020
\n Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
\n

Humankind coexists with every other living thing on this planet. We drink the same water, breathe the same air, and share the same land as other animals. However, property law reflects a general assumption that only people can own land. The effects of this presumption are disastrous for wildlife and humans alike. The alarm bells ringing about biodiversity loss are growing louder, and the possibility of mass extinction is real. Anthropocentric property, which prioritizes human interests over the well-being of other species, is a key driver of biodiversity loss. It is a silent killer of species worldwide, causing irreparable damage to ecosystems and the delicate balance of nature.

But as law and sustainability scholar Karen Bradshaw shows, if excluding animals from a legal right to own land is causing their destruction, extending the legal right to own property to wildlife may prove its salvation. Wildlife as Property Owners advocates for folding animals into our existing system of property law, giving them the opportunity to own land just as humans do. This would not only benefit wildlife but also have significant positive impacts on human well-being.

By recognizing the intrinsic value of all living beings and their right to exist, we can create a more sustainable and equitable world. It is time to break down the barriers that separate us from nature and work towards a future where humans and wildlife can coexist in harmony.

\n Weight: 280g\n
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780226571362\n \n