Informal Education for a Non-anthropocentric Relationship with Nature
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: Rights of Nature and Informal Education: How Can We Rethink Our Relationship to Nature Beyond Anthropocentrism?
In the face of today’s environmental crises, many countries and communities recognize that traditional nature conservation models, which focus on human needs, are no longer sufficient. The concept of Rights of Nature is emerging to provide a new approach, one where Nature is recognized as a legal subject in its own right, rather than merely an object to be exploited or protected solely for human interests.
The recognition of the Rights of Nature is expanding, yet its implementation remains a complex challenge.
Rights of Nature hold an essential legal dimension that could transform our legal framework. Several jurisdictions around the world (Ecuador, Brazil, New Zealand, etc.) have already taken this step, recognizing nature as a full legal subject, capable of defending itself in court.
However, Rights of Nature are not merely philosophical or ethical issues. Moving beyond anthropocentrism, it is time to explore informal educational models and practices that place nature at the center of our focus.
This paradigm shift requires each of us to reconsider our education and practices, especially through informal education initiatives that promote a non-anthropocentric relationship with nature. These initiatives, often led by collectives, NGOs, educators, or cultural institutions, help disseminate a new environmental ethic, where nature is perceived as a partner, not merely a resource.
Informal education (in other words, learning in spontaneous or unstructured settings) offers a major advantage in supporting the evolution of perceptions and awareness, due to its experiential and practice-based approach.
This call for contributions seeks to explore how modes of informal education (education outside institutional frameworks, non-formal learning) can foster a profound transformation in our attitudes toward nature. This includes co-developing projects and learning formats, as well as presenting successful case studies in informal education that promote a non-anthropocentric relationship with nature, or experiences that reconnect individuals with the living world and integrate nature as a full legal subject, recognizing humanity as an integral part of it.
This call for contributions also aims to explore concrete and multidimensional proposals (legal, educational, societal) that allow us to rethink our relationship with nature in general and to promote a non-anthropocentric vision in both formal and informal education systems.
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As part of the 18th Geneva Forum, this annual conference offers a high-level interactive workshop to be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in Geneva, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss informal educational models and practices that place nature at the center of attention. This event is organized in partnership with the Geneva Forum, the NGO Objectif Sciences International, and the UN’s Harmony With Nature program.
Call for Contributions
We invite;
– actors promoting the Rights of Nature, associations, federations, NGOs,
– legal experts and legal advocates,
– educators, trainers, and teachers,
– public services, international organizations...
– researchers,
to actively contribute to the reflection on Informal Education for a non-anthropocentric relationship with Nature as a leverage point.
Submit your contributions!
We call on legal professionals, educators, researchers, philosophers, activists, entrepreneurs, and any actor involved in environmental protection movements, discussions on the rights of nature, or the development of unconventional educational practices to share their ideas, projects, initiatives, or concepts that contribute to this sector transformation.
We seek contributions that:
– Present innovative legal or political initiatives to recognize the rights of nature.
– Propose new innovative and informal educational practices and formats that incorporate the Rights of Nature, raising awareness among the public, young generations, and professionals about the importance of viewing nature as a subject of rights.
– Offer concrete solutions for integrating the rights of nature into local or international legislation and in educational projects that reimagine our relationship with the living world.
– Illustrate concrete examples of non-formal education or community initiatives that defend the rights of nature or challenge anthropocentrism.Selected contributions may be presented during conferences, workshops, or professional meetings at the event. They will be examined for possible legal implications and anticipated educational transformations, and may also be discussed in depth for potential collaborations or funding.
- If you wish to propose a topic for short presentations, please complete the form lower on this page.
- If you wish to view the workshop program, please visit the page of the [-
- 2:00 PM: Entry into the venue
- 2:30 PM: Welcome
- 3:00 PM: Introductory presentations (-)
- 3:15 PM: Series of - (10 presentations of 5 minutes each) - -
- 4:10 PM: Presentation of the working question
- 4:20 PM: -
- 5:25 PM: - (feedback session)
- 5:50 PM: Closing remarks
- 6:00 PM: Workshop conclusion
- 7:00 PM: Networking dinner
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- - This call encourages proposals addressing the legal aspects of nature’s rights, especially ways to make these rights effective within existing legal systems. We seek ideas and initiatives that national or local legislation can adopt to recognize nature as a subject of law.
- - Informal education is a powerful lever for changing our relationship with nature. This call aims to identify new educational practices (workshops, intergenerational activities, public awareness efforts, immersive experiences, and participatory approaches) that educate toward symbiosis with nature, reconnecting individuals to nature, while based on the legal recognition of nature’s rights.
- - The transition toward a more eco-responsible society requires connecting legal and educational efforts. This call for contributions invites proposals that connect the legal field with educational formats, so that the recognition of nature’s rights is rooted in both law and popular culture.
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- - to showcase your ideas and projects to an engaged audience.
- - with experts and potential partners to collaborate and advance your initiatives.
- - to a world where all living beings have rights.
This workshop is part of the Geneva Forum’s Conference Cycle on the day dedicated to the Rights of Nature, aiming to provide concrete solutions and proposals for new educational formats to encourage recognition of nature’s rights to the professional community and committed stakeholders. The goal is to foster collective reflection on ways to integrate these rights into educational practices, strengthening the connection between legal systems and education.
Through collaborative facilitation and exchanges among experts in law, education, environment, and local communities, this workshop will explore the most innovative legal and pedagogical approaches. Together, we will consider how to maximize the use of available resources and knowledge to support projects that raise awareness about ecosystem protection and regenerate relationships between humans and nature.
To implement this approach, we will first give the floor to 10 professionals from various fields, each having 5 minutes to present their views during the workshop’s first hour. Participants will receive information on the speakers and their projects beforehand. These short interventions will focus on initiatives that promote recognition of the rights of nature, based on criteria of ecological impact, pedagogical effectiveness, and respect for ecosystems and local communities.
Annual International Conference on the Rights of Nature for Peace and Development->https://www.geneva-forum.com/Rights-of-Nature-83.html].
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Workshop Agenda
- keynotes Rights of Nature and Informal Education: How to Educate and Legislate for a Symbiotic Relationship with Nature?
- short presentations As the global ecological crisis intensifies, transforming not only our relationship with nature but also our legal and educational frameworks becomes imperative. Recognizing nature’s rights in legal frameworks can actively protect ecosystems, and this recognition must be backed by educational initiatives. Countries such as Ecuador, Brazil, and New Zealand have paved the way by enshrining nature as a legal entity in their legislation, but this legal revolution must be paired with mass education to raise awareness and train future generations in this new paradigm.
see below
- Breakout group sessions What types of legislation can ensure the recognition of nature’s rights? How can these laws be applied locally and globally?
- Interactive roundtable How can informal education help build collective awareness of nature’s rights? How can educational practices evolve to include nature as a subject of rights? How can educational approaches outside formal settings promote a non-anthropocentric relationship with nature?
Workshop Objectives - Why Participate
How can concepts of ecological justice be incorporated into educational practices and legal movements to protect ecosystems?
- Workshop Objectives Can ancestral knowledge and indigenous practices,
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