Ridgway is the latest town to join the “rights of nature” movement, with the council’s adoption of a resolution declaring the Uncompahgre River has its own legal rights.

Earth Law Center Director Grant Wilson, who traveled from Durango to participate in last week’s meeting, encouraged the council to join the “growing movement” of communities embracing the idea that the natural world has rights.

“Nature should have a voice in local government,” he sai...