The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) is proud to recognize
Stefania Falcon as this month’s Outstanding Member of the Month, celebrating her longstanding work to protect biodiversity, advance ecological rights, and promote a more just relationship between humans and the living world.
Based in Cape Town, Stefania is an environmentalist and UCT-qualified paralegal with more than a decade of experience in wildlife protection, environmental advocacy, policy development, and research. Originally from Italy, she has dedicated her work to advancing environmental, social, and intergenerational justice, with a particular focus on wildlife and ecological protection in South Africa.
Stefania is a member of the Secretariat of GARN’s African Hub and brings her legal and policy expertise to the growing Rights of Nature movement. She is also Co-Director of Green Group Simonstown and works with Future 4 Wildlife, advocating for stronger protections for wildlife and ecosystems.
Advancing Wild Law and ecological rights
A central part of Stefania’s work is challenging systems that treat animals and ecosystems primarily as commodities or resources. Her advocacy has addressed issues including the lion bone trade, captive big cat industries, elephant management, overfishing, and wildlife protection.
Her work brings together research, policy engagement, advocacy, and legal approaches to address the systemic drivers of biodiversity loss. She has also engaged directly with South African government institutions and participates in forums focused on wildlife protection and animal welfare.
Through the Wild Law Institute and her broader advocacy, Stefania contributes to a growing movement seeking to rethink environmental governance and recognize the intrinsic value and rights of the more-than-human world.
Building practical pathways for Rights of Nature
For Stefania, advancing the Rights of Nature is about changing how we understand our place within the living world.
As she reflects:
“Rights of Nature keeps reshaping how I see our place in the living world, and turning that shift into real, practical pathways.”
Her contribution also extends to the wider GARN community. As a member of the African Hub Secretariat, Stefania helps strengthen connections between advocates working across regions and contributes to building a global movement for ecological rights. She describes being part of the Rights of Nature movement as deeply motivating:
“Being part of the fastest-growing movement of this century still gives me chills.”
For GARN, her work embodies the kind of committed, practical, and cross-disciplinary action that is helping the Rights of Nature movement grow. We are proud to celebrate Stefania Falcon as GARN’s Outstanding Member of the Month.
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Know someone whose work is advancing the Rights of Nature?
Nominate yourself, someone else, or an organization whose work you admire for next month’s recognition. Join GARN for free at
garn.org/get-involved and receive the application link directly in your inbox.
