Towards “grounded” knowledges: from the Atrato River to knowing nature when defending its rights

Purpose This paper tackles the reliance of the Rights of Nature (RoN) practice on expert knowledge and aims to spatialise and materialise other-than-expert knowledges within RoN practice by proposing “grounded” knowledges. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyses the Atrato River case regarding the power asymmetries inherent in epistemology and legal practice. The authors pivot their arguments on legal geography and feminist perspectives to promote situated epistemologies for RoN practice. Findings Underscoring the epistemological commitments and implications in RoN practice, the authors argue for the necessity to explore potential avenues for environmental mobilisation through spatially and materially engaged litigation, which can challenge assumptions and methods of law. Originality/value This paper highlights the constitutive role of epistemologies in RoN and pivots its analysis on the Atrato case’s judicial site visit.