“From barriers to boundary objects: Rights of nature in Australia”

This article explores the challenges of recognizing the Rights of Nature (RoN) in Australia, drawing on interviews with individuals across politics, law, advocacy, academia, and local communities. The most significant barrier identified was dominant paradigms, including human-centered thinking and entrenched ideologies. Other key obstacles include regulatory systems, vested interests, and power imbalances. The study introduces the BERN Framework, a new taxonomy of RoN barriers, and shows how RoN functions as a boundary object in Australia, shaped by differing interpretations across sectors.