THE IN DUBIO PRO NATURA PRINCIPLE: AN ATTEMPT OF A COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL RECONSTRUCTION

The purpose of this Article is to propose a fresh look at the origin and the legal nature of the in dubio pro natura principle in international and comparative law perspectives. The Article will demonstrate that the principle in dubio pro natura must be distinguished from the precautionary principle and will show the evolving practice at national level. This practice is particularly significant because it locates the debate in the more general attitude of certain States to protect and put nature at the core of the legal reasoning. From this standpoint, it would also be possible to trace global developmental trends by observing the use of the related legal formants. Moreover, the Article will eventually assess whether the in dubio pro natura has been consolidating as a regional custom, and will argue that, de jure condendo, it can be qualified as a general principle of international law.