A Landmark Case Gives Nature a Legal Voice

In Italy, a court ruling over the illegal trafficking of rare cacti has set a new precedent by recognising environmental damage as a harm that can be compensated in court.

“What makes this case absolutely unique is that, for the first time, a court ordered those responsible to pay damages to an organisation for harming its mission to protect nature,” said Andrea Cattabriga, conservation expert and adviser to European authorities on illegal plant trade.

The case followed the seizure of more than 1,000 endangered cacti — illegally taken from the Atacama Desert — and uncovered a global black market worth over €1 million. Beyond criminal penalties, the court’s civil ruling recognised biodiversity loss itself as a form of damage, with funds directed toward conservation work. If upheld on appeal, the decision could influence legal systems worldwide, offering a powerful new tool to protect ecosystems from illegal trade and environmental harm.