CHAPTER I The Foundations: ECO_CARE

Abstract

This chapter outlines the primary objective of the ECO_CARE project: establishing a cooperative governance framework that legally recognizes water and communities as living entities with inherent rights. The chapter underscores the crucial role of water in sustaining life and argues for an ecologically integrated approach to water sustainability and governance, critically analysing the inadequacies of top-down approaches in meeting global environmental goals. Water-related challenges such as scarcity, contamination, and unequal distribution are identified, leading to environmental stress that adversely impacts community and biodiversity rights. The project proposes a water-centric legal response grounded in environmental law, advocating for an integral understanding of water value, interconnectedness, and the necessity of protective actions. The methodological approach of the project relies on legal research and ecological ethics, emphasizing empathy, compassion, and care to foster thoughtful relations within and between ecological communities. The chapter details the project's initial step in remodelling water governance by expanding participatory environmental rights from procedural to substantive positions. This transformative shift aims to amplify the voices of nature defenders and acknowledge nature’s intrinsic value, challenging Euro and Western-centric perspectives.