In light of the human-caused climate catastrophe, the sixth mass extinction in Earth`s history, and the
transgression of seven out of eight planetary boundaries, increasing voices in legal literature doubt
that current environmental law is capable of halting these existential threats to humanity. Some voices
believe it is necessary to challenge conventional thinking and propose recognizing components of
"nature" as holders of rights. The idea of so-called "Rights of Nature" has been discussed for several
decades but has only recently become a reality in various legal systems around the world.
Consequently, the questions of what Rights of Nature are and whether they bring any added value
can no longer be discussed solely from a theoretical or legal-philosophical perspective but can also be
examined using concrete examples. This study therefore examines "Rights of Nature" as adopted in
five selected countries the USA, Ecuador, Bolivia, New Zealand and Colombia with a particular focus
on the "Rights of Rivers". It identifies similarities and differences and analyzes them using the context
and literature. The insights gained from the synthesis can contribute to a better understanding of the
functioning, strengths and weaknesses of Rights of Nature. Furthermore, building on the most
significant findings, considerations were made regarding the legal situation in Austria, which could
provide new impetus for the improvement of environmental law.