Pests: Biodiversity, Property Law and Human-Use Categories in Animals

About Dr. Péter Szigeti

Dr. Peter Szigeti is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta, where he primarily teaches Property Law, and Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Law. He has also held visiting appointments at Universität Wien and UCLouvain. Dr. Szigeti holds an SJD and LL.M. from Harvard Law School; a Master 2 from Paris 1 (Pantheon-Sorbonne); and a JD from ELTE University, Budapest. His research interests include jurisdiction within international law; interactions between property law and environmental protection; and comparative immigration and nationality law. His research has been published in the International Journal of Constitutional Law, Harvard International Law Journal, McGill Law Journal, and Environmental Law, among other venues.

Abstract:

It is well-known that an estimated 10-30 species are going extinct daily, yet basically nothing has been done to remedy this situation. The proximate reasons are also well-known: habitat loss because of land use conversions to agriculture or residential land; pesticide and herbicide use; and climate change. This presentation will address some of the cultural and legal changes necessary to have a positive impact on biodiversity, mostly through property law and the quasi-legal category of “pests”. Animals are regulated through four human-use categories, which are in turn created through property categories: pets exist in residential homes, livestock live in agricultural areas, wild animals exist in nature reserves or unclaimed land – and most importantly, pests live where they shouldn’t. “Pest” as a category is location- and function-determined: the same mouse can exist as a cherished pet, as “livestock” if it is raised to be eaten by pet snakes, as a wild animal in a field, or as a pest if it escapes its cage. Pets and livestock are protected by animal welfare regulations and anti-cruelty laws, and wild animals are protected by hunting regulations and laws on endangered species. Pests, however, live completely outside of the legal system. The liberty to destroy pests is a key factor in destroying ecosystems, as insecticides kill insects indiscriminately and the exterminated “pests” are also unable to provide food for predators higher up in the food chain. Preserving or restoring biodiversity also requires reconsidering the category of pests. I propose some ways to do this, which are also property law-related: animal-centric infrastructure and animal rights through property rights.

Location :

University of Luxembourg

Campus Kirchberg - Weicker Building

4, rue Alphonse Weicker, L-2721 Luxembourg

Room B001 (ground floor)

Language :

English

This is a free conference. Registration is mandatory.