Should wild animals have property rights over their habitats

[Catherine]

I think squatters rights applies in Canada, but then our legal system came from the British system so it would be the same. That rule could be important when applied to animals. If the Non Human Rights Project has any success it could spread. Once you recognize the rights of some animals then you start to recognize the rights of all animals. If animals have rights therefore squatters rights could apply to them.

Developers won't like it.

Quote:UK planning laws have to consider other species, and usually a survey is done before planning permission is granted. This so far, applies to protected species only. But there has been many a bat who has had a property developer pulling his hair out!

As kids we were told that bats would get in our hair(totally untrue), but  it seems that right now bats are getting in developers hair.

It is important that they have to assess land before they can do anything to it. That means a vulnerable species might be able to protect the habitat for all the other species in the area.
It is a recognition that we don't own the whole planet.

Not all decisions will be made for financial reasons. I know there are underhanded practices and things happen that shouldn't. But there are times when the right thing happens. There is progress, but it is slow.