Animal Trusteeship – A Revolutionary Framework for Wildlife Advocacy

In this thought-provoking interview, Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan speak with Liv Baker and Kristin Stewart from PAN Works about their groundbreaking “animal trusteeship” framework – a new approach that transforms how we advocate for wild animals in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

Key Points:

• Wildlife Representation Framework: Pan Works has developed an innovative animal trusteeship model that gives wild animals direct representation in environmental decision-making processes
• Legal Innovation for Animal Rights: This framework builds on pet trust statutes that created the legal precedent for animals to be recognized as trust beneficiaries rather than merely property
• Decentering Human Interests: Unlike traditional conservation approaches that prioritize human needs, animal trustees focus exclusively on representing the wellbeing and interests of specific animal populations
• Practical Application in Conservation: The National Wolf Conversation demonstrated how animal trustees can effectively represent wildlife interests in major policy discussions
• Advocacy Tool for Environmental Decision-Making: The animal trusteeship approach provides a structured, transparent method for ensuring animal perspectives are considered in public hearings and policy development

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Kristin L. Stewart, JD, PhD, is an attorney, scholar, and founding board member of PAN Works, an independent think-tank dedicated to the wellbeing of animals. Her work bridges legal practice and ethical theory, with a focus on how we care for and represent animals in law and policy. Kris’s teaching includes graduate and undergraduate courses in animal law, policy, and ethics, and her writing on animal law appears in both scholarly and popular publications. She has also practiced animal law in a variety of contexts, alongside broader work in environmental law and government litigation. Her legal experience—including estate planning with pet trusts and a deep understanding of the limits of the Public Trust Doctrine—informed the co-authored article In Trust: A Framework for Animal Representation.

Dr. Liv Baker is a conservation behaviorist and expert in wild animal wellbeing. She is Chair of the Board of PAN Works, Research Director at Mahouts Elephant Foundation, and teaches at Sarah Lawrence College. Her work focuses on compassionate conservation and the ways animals shape their own lives and communities.

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