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Rights of Nature



Between 1888 and 1913, Romeyn Beck Rough published the American Woods: an extensive catalogue, composed of 14 volumes. Each volume is a disguised box that contains a set of 25 cards, showcasing three different section cuts of species of trees found in North America, and a instructive book. In total, Hough catalogued 350 species.

To do so, the author invented a machine that would cut the wood so thin that it was able to be placed between two sheets of paper, making the publication viable.

Be it for curiosity, science, love or profit, human activity has been dramatically and growingly altering the environment.

Throughout this research, I came across the concept of Rights of Nature: the idea of a non-human entity being a subject entitled of rights.

The binomial of man vs. nature has a direct consequence in nature being seen as property, as a go-to place to harvest resources. This video addresses the very absurdity of a biological entity — a river, a mountain, a tree — being awarded legal personhood by the very same party that caused the need for protection.


Video, 4’20

Featured at RISD Graphic Design website
Developed in Grad Studio I (Bethany Johns & John Caserta)

Rights of Nature



Between 1888 and 1913, Romeyn Beck Rough published the American Woods: an extensive catalogue, composed of 14 volumes. Each volume is a disguised box that contains a set of 25 cards, showcasing three different section cuts of species of trees found in North America, and a instructive book. In total, Hough catalogued 350 species.

To do so, the author invented a machine that would cut the wood so thin that it was able to be placed between two sheets of paper, making the publication viable.

Be it for curiosity, science, love or profit, human activity has been dramatically and growingly altering the environment.

Throughout this research, I came across the concept of Rights of Nature: the idea of a non-human entity being a subject entitled of rights.

The binomial of man vs. nature has a direct consequence in nature being seen as property, as a go-to place to harvest resources. This video addresses the very absurdity of a biological entity - a river, a mountain, a tree - being awarded legal personhood by the very same party that caused the need for protection.


Video, 4’20

Featured at RISD Graphic Design website
Developed in Grad Studio I (Bethany Johns & John Caserta)

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