Mount Taranaki, an 8,261-foot stratovolcano in New Zealand, has been recognized as a legal person, granting it the rights, duties, and responsibilities of an individual.

Known as Taranaki Maunga in Māori, the mountain is now considered a “living and indivisible whole,” including its physical and spiritual elements.

This move, following similar legal recognitions of a sacred forest and a river, transfers ownership from the government to a partnership between the local Māori iwi and the government.

The Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill also acknowledges past injustices and land confiscations against the Māori, NBC News has reported.

Public access will continue as the mountain’s preservation and wildlife protection are prioritized.

Written by B.C. Begley