The awe-inspiring and iconic Table Mountain range is of great cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance and is truly the mother of Cape Town. Known to the Khoi and San Peoples as “Hoerikwaggo” (“Huriǂ'oaxa”) - the ocean-emerging mountain – it has drawn down the rains that fill the springs and streams with sweet water even in times of drought, attracting both people and wildlife to it.
The Wild Law Institute is promoting an inclusive community-driven initiative that advocates for Table Mountain to be recognized as a living “more-than-human” entity with intrinsic legal rights, and not just as a place to use. The initiative will unite a wide range of local people and organizations around a common commitment to respect and protect this unique community of life and to celebrate the diverse symbiotic relationships between people and Hoerikwaggo.
This pioneering approach challenges conventional conservation norms, emphasising a holistic understanding that extends beyond human-centric perspectives, promoting a profound commitment to respecting, protecting, and celebrating this unique being. It will demonstrate how to apply the philosophy of “Earth Jurisprudence,” which is rapidly gaining support in many parts of the world. The initiative will be backed by the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN), and is expected to inspire similar initiatives elsewhere.
You can learn more about Table Mountain on the website.
