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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
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Results for offenses against the environment
238 results foundAuthor: Frankcom, S., editor Title: Stop Illegal Fishing in Southern Africa Summary: This report looks at the status and impacts of Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing in the southern African region, covering a number of themes and issues including international trade, certification, MCS (monitoring, control and surveillance), flag state issues, and port state measures. This report also includes country studies and interviews with key politicians. Details: Botswana: Stop Illegal Fishing Programme, 2008 Source: Year: 2008 Country: Botswana URL: Shelf Number: 114344 Keywords: Fishing IndustryIllegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentUnregulated FishingWildlife Crime |
Author: Nellemann, Christian Title: The Last Stand of the Gorilla: Environmental Crime and Conflict in the Congo Basin Summary: Gorillas are under renewed threat across the Congo Basin from Nigeria to the Albertine Rift: poaching for bushmeat, loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion, degradation of habitat from logging, mining and charcoal production are amongst these threats, in addition to natural epidemics such as ebola and the new risk of diseases passed from humans to gorillas. Details: Arendal, Norway: United Nations Environment Programme, GRID-Arendal, 2010. 86p. Source: A Rapid Response Assessment Year: 2010 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 118173 Keywords: Illegal HuntingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPoaching |
Author: Mwebaza, Rose Title: The Nature and Extent of Environmental Crimes in Seychelles Summary: This national study took place in Seychelles from January to March 2009 and included a national workshop to validate the findings. The study consisted of a thorough analysis of the state of the environment and the extent of environment crime in the country. In addition, the study examined the legal and institutional regime for combating environmental crime in Seychelles. Finally, an assessment of the challenges facing these institutions was undertaken and recommendations were made to effectively deal with the environmental crimes in the country. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2009. 31p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: Seychelles URL: Shelf Number: 118263 Keywords: Environmental CrimeIllegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPoaching |
Author: Brack, Duncan Title: Illegal Logging and Related Trade: 2008 Assessment of the Global Response (Pilot Study) Summary: Illegal logging and its related trade has for some years been recognized by international decision-makers as one of the world's most pressing environmental problems. In many timber-producing countries the majority of trees are illegally cut, resulting in significant losses of assets and revenues and devastating damage to the forests upon which hundreds of millions of the world's poorest people depend. More than ten years have now passed since the G8 leaders recognized the problem, in 1988, and committed to act. During that time, large amounts of time and money have been spent trying to tackle the problem. This paper attempts to measure what difference this effort has made. Details: London: Chatham House, Energy, Environment and Development Programme, 2009. 97p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 117829 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Pramod, Ganapathiraju Title: Sources of Information Supporting Estimates of Unreported Fishery Catches (IUU) for 59 Countries and the High Seas Summary: Estimating the level of illegal fishing is, by its very nature, extremely difficult and has not previously been attempted on a global scale. This report documents source materials used in assembling quantitative estimates of illegal fishery catches, unreported catches and discards used in a series of spreadsheet analyses as part of a global estimate of IUU fishing. Details: Vancouver, BC: Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2008. 242p. Source: Fisheries Centre Research Reports, Volume 16, no. 4, 2008 Year: 2008 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 117325 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: TRAFFIC North America Title: Wildlife Trade Control: CAFTA-DR Regional Gap Analysis Report Summary: The trade in wild plants and animals is a complex and challenging issue, which many governments and organizations internationally have struggled with to reduce illegal and unsustainable elements. The countries that have signed the Central America - Dominican Republic - United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) are no exception to this challenge. There is a clear need to understand the drivers of illegal and unsustainable trade in wildlife to formulate approaches to improve the capacity of government authorities to enforce existing laws and regulations in a coordinated manner. This project undertook analyses of the best approaches to strengthen capacity at local, national and regional levels to improve the implementation of existing wildlife laws. Details: Washington, DC: World Wildlife Fund, 2009. 59p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118227 Keywords: Illegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife (Laws and Legislation) |
Author: Cerutti, Paolo Omar Title: Forests, Illegality, and Livelihoods in Cameroon Summary: This paper addresses the state of illegal forest activities in Cameroon, with particular attention to environmental outcomes and implications for livelihoods. It provides suggestions to the government and donor community about priority areas for interventions related to illegal forest activities, sustainability, and livelihoods. Details: Bogor Barat, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research, 2006. 22p. Source: Working Paper No. 35 Year: 2006 Country: Cameroon URL: Shelf Number: 118312 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Cameroon)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Kangaspunta, Kristiina Title: Eco-Crime and Justice: Essays on Environmental Crime Summary: The aim of this publication is to provide a bridge between, on the one hand, eco-crime, pollution, climate change and the deriving social conflicts, and, on the other, the areas of criminal justice, human rights and environmental rights. The authors hope to contribute to the articulation of a global research agenda on environmental crime; a research agenda based on commitment to the following three principles: (1) Recognition of the value of evidence-based policy making; (2) Willingness to appreciate the importance of theoretical insights drawn from different disciplines to guide policy, and (3) Concern with balancing human and ecological rights. Details: Turin, Italy: UNICRI, 2009. 121p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118320 Keywords: Environmental CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Akech, Migai Title: Enforcement of Environmental Crime Laws: A Framework Training Manual for Law Enforcement Agencies Summary: This manual is intended for national trainers on environmental crime in Eastern and Southern Africa. It seeks to enable such trainers to equip police officers and other actors involved in fighting environmental crimes with knowledge and understanding of the nature of environmental crimes, environmental inspection and investigation, and prosecution of environmental crimes. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2010. 80p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 118608 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Pescott, Michael J. Title: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance: Progress in Asia and the Pacific Summary: Forest law enforcement and governance (FLEG) is a specific and recognizable field of professional practice within forest management. A country's FLEG framework provides the foundation for combating forest crime and for realizing the true potential that sustainable forest management can contribute to socio-economic development. With increasing demand for wood products and for environmental services in Asia and the Pacific, the value of strenghening FLEG will undoubtedly increase in the future. The papers in this volume aim to provide an overview of the current FLEG-related initiatives for 16 of the most forest-rich nations in Asia and the Pacific. Details: Bangkok: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 2010. 205p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 118615 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: TRAFFIC Title: What's Driving the Wildlife Trade? A Review of Expert Opinion on Economic and Social Drivers of the Wildlife Trade and Trade Control Efforts in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDF and Vietnam Summary: South-east Asia is both a center for the comsumption of wildlife products, and also a key supplier of wildlife products to the world. Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Vietnam are among the south-east Asian countries that act as major sources of wildlife in trade, the trade involving a wide variety of native species, which, in many cases, are declining as a result of unsustainable, and often illegal, harvest. This study was initiated to provide a better understanding of the economic and social drivers of the wildlife trade in these four countries, and to assess the effectiveness of interventions that have been employed to halt illegal and unsustainable trade in their native flora and fauna. Details: Washington, DC: Sustainable Development Bank, World Bank, 2008. 103p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 118609 Keywords: Illegal HuntingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWild Animal TradeWildlife Crime (Asia) |
Author: Mwebaza, Rose Title: Situation Report: Environmental Crimes in Ethiopia Summary: What entails an environmental crime, or who commits an offense against the environment? This study sets out to examine this complex question by determining what constitutes an environmental crime in Ethiopian jurisprudence. This is done by examining the legal and institutional regime for combating environmental crimes. The study also examines the main perpetrators of environmental crime in Ethiopia and the main enforcement mechanisms that are in place to deal with the perpetrators. Finally, the study examines the capacity needs that have to be addressed to enhance the enforcement of environmental crimes in Ethiopia. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2009. 31p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Ethiopia URL: Shelf Number: 118367 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Global Witness Title: Investigation Into the Illegal Felling, Transport and Export of Precious Wood in SAVA Region Madagascar Summary: In the period since February 2009, a dramatic increase in the felling and cutting of rosewood has been reported in the SAVE Region of north-east Madagascar. As a result, several investigative missions have been sent into the region to gather evidence of these activities. In July 2009, Global Witness and the Washington-based Environmental Investigation Agency, Inc., were contacted by the Malagasy institution, Madagascar National Parks, to assist their efforts in investigating the illegal harvest of precious wood in the SAVA Region, and the associated international trafficking of illegal timber. The investigation team observed intensive logging of rosewood trees in the northeast of Masoala National Park, and transport of logs to Antalaha. The intensive transport of rosewood in broad daylight, on sections of road policed by Gendarmerie posts, both to the south and to the north of Antalaha, demonstrates a serious breakdown in the rule of law - if not the active collusion of law enforcement authorities with illegal timber traffickers. Details: London; Global Witness; Washington, DC: Environmental Investigation Agency, Inc., 2009. 40p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Madagascar URL: Shelf Number: 118750 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal Trade, LumberOffenses Against the EnvironmentPolice Corruption (Madagascar) |
Author: Hamid, Abdel HA Title: Nature and Extent of Environmental Crime in Sudan: Situation Report Summary: This report analyses the nature and extent of environmental crime in Sudan. The study was carried out between October 2008 and March 2009 with two main objectives, namely to assess the nature and extent of environmental crime, and to determine the capacity needs of the environmental law enforcement agencies in the country. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2010. 38p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Sudan URL: Shelf Number: 118791 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPoachingPolutionWildlife Crime |
Author: Scotland. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland Title: Natural Justice: A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Arrangements in Scotland for Preventing, Investigating and Prosecuting Wildlife Crime Summary: This report presents the results of a joint inspection on the arrangements for preventing, investigating and prosecuting wildlife crime in Scotland. It calls for a national strategy to reduce wildlife crime, in addition to a significantly revised and strengthened national structure to the police service's intention to treat wildlife crime like any other crime and to enhance implementation of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service's existing approach to dealing with wildlife crimes through its network of specialist prosecutors. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2008-2009. 52 p.; 31p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 118809 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime (Scotland) |
Author: Meere, Frank Title: Assessment of Impacts of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Asia-Pacific Summary: Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Asia-Pacific region has been the subject of considerable discussion over the last decade. During that period, concern about the economic, social and environmental impact of IUU fishing in the region, as elsewhere in the world, has increased. The overall objective of this study is provide a better understanding of the IUU fishing problem in the Asia-Pacific Region and to provide a basis for recommendations for minimizing IUU fishing and mitigating the impacts of this activity. The analysis in this report is based on three main sources of information: 1) a review of the literature and publicly available data on the nature and extent of IUU fishing in the region; 2) responses to questionnaires distribued to APEC member economies and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations; and 3) four case studies of IUU fishing in the Asia-Pacific region. Details: Singapore: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, 2008. 106p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 115785 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Milliken, T. Title: The Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) and the Illicit Trade in Ivory Summary: The illicit trade in ivory, which has been increasing in volume since 2004, moved sharply upward in 2009, according to the latest analysis of seizure data in the Elephant Trade Information System. The analysis was based upon 14,364 elephant product seizure records from 85 countries or territories since 1989, nearly 2,000 more records than the previous analysis, in 2007. The remarkable surge in 2009 reflects a series of large-scale seizure events that suggest an increased involvement or organized crime syndicates in the trade, connecting African source countries with Asian end-use markets. Details: Harare, Zimbabwe: TRAFFIC East and Southern Africa, 2009. 40p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 117396 Keywords: Illegal Trade (Ivory)Offenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife Crime |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Open Season: The Burgeoning Illegal Ivory Trade in Tanzania and Zambia Summary: Acting as major conduit and exporting countries for illegal ivory from other African elephant Range States, Tanzania and Zambia also have significant illegal domestic ivory markets. These cater for resident migrant workers and tourists seeking souvenirs and provide ivory in large volumes to traders and syndicates for export to destinations such as China and Vietnam. Elephants are being poached from within both countries to supply these markets. Details: London: EIA, 2010. 13p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 119217 Keywords: Illegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPoachingWildlife Crime |
Author: Global Witness Title: The Untouchables: Forest Crime and the Concessionaires - Can Cambodia Afford to Keep Them? Summary: This report details the major illegal activities of a selection of concessionaires currently operating in Cambodia. It comprises both a historical record of concessionaire activity in Cambodia since 1995, and a critique of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) - funded concession review carried out by consultants Fraser Thomas. The report details the illegal activities of 12 concessionaires, and the fact that three further concessions are almost certainly no longer viable in the short term. Details: London: Global Witness, 1999. 17p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 1999 Country: Cambodia URL: Shelf Number: 119230 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition Title: Illegal Toothfish Trade: Introducing Illegal Catches into the Markets Summary: Toothfish poaching has rapidly risen to become one of the most lucrative, illegal fishing businesses globally. For example, the 85 ton toothfish catch of the Viarsa 1 alone was worth as much as US$ 1 million (US$ 1.7 million as a retail product). Due to the high price that toothfish can reach at the docks, this fish has been called “white gold” by illegal fishermen. Illegal operators have been successful in exploiting loopholes in the set of measures developed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to control illegal fishing and trade in toothfish. In some cases, poachers even launder their illegal catch through the use of the Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS), the certification system designed to track the trade in toothfish and to ensure that shipments of toothfish brought to market are legally caught. This paper summarizes the main results of a research study conducted by the National Environmental Trust (NET) in the United States aimed at evaluating the magnitude of illegal Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish currently being imported into that country. The detailed findings of this study have been published in the report “Black Market for White Gold: the Illegal trade in Chilean Sea Bass”. The report describes a number of tactics that are used by illegal operators to smuggle their fish into the market, which are summarized in this paper. Taking into account that the United States is one of the main import markets of toothfish and that its government has been in the forefront of developing trade measures to prevent illegal toothfish to access the market, ASOC believes that the loopholes identified here are relevant for all global trade in toothfish. Indeed, the authors of the NET report concluded that it is likely that the patterns of trade that allow “illegal, unreported, and unregulated” (IUU) toothfish into the United States are similar in all countries that import this fish. Details: Washington, DC: ASOC, 2004. 16p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2004 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119243 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Walters, Julie Title: Following the Proceeds of Illegal Logging in Indonesia Summary: low number of prosecutions in Indonesia for illegal logging may not offer a strong enough deterrent against engaging in what is a lucrative crime. However, the movement of offenders and proceeds tied to illegal logging through other countries in the region offers some opportunities to support Indonesia’s law enforcement responses. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2010. 6p. Source: Internet Resource; Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No. 391 Year: 2010 Country: Indonesia URL: Shelf Number: 109420 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Agnew, David Title: The Global Extent of Illegal Fishing Summary: Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has now been recognised as a global problem, and many groups have developed proposals and plans for addressing IUU fishing. In order to clearly understand the impact of these initiatives we need to have a good understanding of current and historical levels of illegal fishing on a global and regional scale. Although a number of studies of illegal fishing have been undertaken previously, this report presents the first detailed quantitative analysis of the problem on a global scale. Estimates of illegal fishing from different Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and unregulated and unreported fishing high seas regions were collected through an IUU monitoring network (commissioned directly by the project) and sourced from the available literature and through discussions with monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) professionals. The combination of information was used to generate a series of in-depth studies detailing the level of illegal fishing for a number of different species in 60 countries (chosen as those with the highest catches in their EEZs) and 17 high seas FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) regions. Overall the estimates of illegal fishing are based on a number of species and areas that constitute 46% of global catches based on FAO catch statistics. The level of IUU catches was calculated on a regional and species group basis. The results demonstrated that there are significant differences in the level of IUU catch and the trends in those catches between regions, being highest in the Eastern Central Atlantic (Area 34) and lowest in the Southwest Pacific (Area 81). Over the last 10 years IUU has declined in 7 areas, increased in one and stayed the same in the remaining 7. We estimate that the overall loss from our studied fisheries is 11-19% of the reported catch in those fisheries, worth some $5-11bn in 2003. Taking the total estimated value of illegal catch losses within the analysed fisheries and areas and raising by the proportion of the total world catch, the lower and upper estimates of the total value of current IUU losses worldwide were between $10bn and $23bn annually, representing between 11.06 and 25.91 million tonnes. This estimate is roughly consistent with estimates made recently by MRAG (2005) ($9bn), the European Commission (2007) ($15bn) and the estimates from Pauly et al..(2002) ($25bn)." Details: Vancouver, BC: Fisheries Ecosystems Restoration Research, Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2008. 33p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119371 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Palma, Mary Ann Title: Case Study on the Impacts of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Sulawesi Sea Summary: "This report presents an analysis of the nature and extent of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Sulawesi Sea, including their economic, social and environmental impacts and the factors contributing to IUU fishing in the area." Details: Singapore: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, 2008. 61p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 119372 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Standing, Andre Title: Corruption and Industrial Fishing in Africa Summary: "Africa’s marine resources are increasingly in demand and are gaining in geo political importance. Competition between key fishing nations for access and control over marine resources is joined by competition between local communities and industrialised foreign fishing fleets. In this context, incentives for a range of illegal activities abound, to which African nations often have weak capacity to respond. The author describes key areas of concern relating to corruption and the exploitation of marine resources in African countries by foreign fishing fleets. Policy reforms that may reduce incentives and opportunities for corruption in fisheries management are also discussed." Details: Bergen, Norway: CHR. Michelsen Institute, 2008. 29p. Source: Internet Resource; U4 Issue 2008:7 Year: 2008 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 119373 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Preston, Brian J. Title: Achieving Consistency and Transparency in Sentencing for Environmental Offences Summary: Sentencing statistics for criminal offences have been used by Local, District and Supreme Courts in New South Wales for more than 15 years. This monograph reports on an intiative of the Judicial Information Research System to provide sentencing statistics for environmental offences in graphical form. Details: Sydney: Judicial Commission of New South Wales, 2008. 48p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119451 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentSentencingWildlife Crime |
Author: Brack, Duncan Title: Controlling Illegal Logging: Consumer-Country Measures Summary: Consumer countries contribute to the problems of illegal logging by importing timber and wood products without ensuring that they are legally sourced. Over the last few years, however, consumer countries have taken a series of measures to try to ensure that they exclude illegal timber products from their markets. The bilateral voluntary partnership agreements negotiated between the EU and timber-producing countries, which will establish a licensing scheme for legal timber, offer one of the best ways of controlling the trade but will be slow to establish. Broader measures to exclude illegal timber lack some of the benefits of this approach but can be implemented more quickly and with greater coverage. The extension of the Lacey Act to timber in 2008 was a significant development, providing the US with an effective means of encouraging the timber industry to exercise 'due care' and preventing imports of illegal timber. Whether the EU's 'due diligence' regulation will prove as effective remains to be seen. Public procurement policies aimed at purchasing legal (and, usually, sustainable) timber can prove very effective in excluding illegal timber from segments of a consumer-country market. All these developments will encourage the spread of the voluntary certification and legality verification schemes, but at the same time are likely to expose them to increasing pressures, for example from fraud. Details: London: Chatham House, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource; Briefing Paper Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118627 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: A Deadly Game of Cat and Mouse: How Tiger Criminals Give China the Run-Around Summary: Between 25 July and 14 August 2009 EIA carried out an investigation in the markets of Xining (Qinghai Province), Linxia (Gansu Province), Lhasa (TAR), Shigatse (TAR) and Nagchu (TAR). A team also attended the Nagchu Horse Festival (TAR). In just 21 days, EIA documented a range of items for sale, some openly displayed. In addition, EIA documented at least 9 people wearing real tiger skin chupas and at least 25 people wearing real leopard skin chupas at the Nagchu Horse Festival. Numerous ivory bangles, prayer beads and other carvings were documented for sale without State Forest Administration / CITES certificates in Xining, Linxia and Lhasa. Details: London: Environmental Investigation Agency, 2010. 11p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: China URL: Shelf Number: 119546 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentTigersWildlife Crime |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Rogue Traders: The Murky Business of Merbau Timber Smuggling in Indonesia Summary: During 2009 and 2010 EIA/Telapak carried out undercover investigations into the illicit merbau trade in China and Singapore, as well as Surabaya, Makassar and Papua in Indonesia. These investigations reveal how significant amounts of illegal merbau, in the form of square logs and rough sawn timber, continue to be smuggled out of Indonesia, with the bulk bound for China. They also uncover the illegal activities of two rogue timber traders; Hengky Gosal, the man behind a foiled attempt to ship 23 containers of merbau logs, and Ricky Gunawan, a serial smuggler based in Surabaya. Details: London: Environmental Investigation Agency; Bogor, Indonesia: Telepak, 2010. 13p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Indonesia URL: Shelf Number: 119547 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentSmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: Walters, Reece Title: Crime is in the Air: Air Pollution and Regulation in the UK Summary: This briefing draws attention to an area of harm that is often absent from criminological debate. It highlights the human costs of air pollution and failed attempts to adequately regulate and control such harm. Arguing for a cross disciplinary ‘eco-crime’ narrative, the author calls for greater understanding of the far-reaching consequences of air pollution which could set in train changes which may lead to a ‘more robust and meaningful system of justice’. Describing current arrangements in place to control and regulate air pollution, the briefing draws attention to the lack of neutrality in current arrangements and the bias ‘towards the economic imperatives of free trade over and above the centrality of environmental protection’. While attention is often given to direct and individualised instances of ‘crime’, the serious consequences of air pollution are frequently neglected. The negative effects of pollution on health and well-being are often borne by people already experiencing a range of other disadvantages. In a global and national context, it is often the poor who are affected most. Ultimately, political and economic imperatives have historically helped to shape legal and regulatory regimes. Whether this is an inherent flaw in current systems or something that can be overcome in favour of dealing with more wide-ranging harms is an area that requires further discussion and debate. Details: London: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Kings' College London, 2009. 12p. Source: Internet Resource; Briefing 8 Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119554 Keywords: Air PollutionOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Nijman, Vincent Title: An Assessment of Trade in Gibbons and Orang-utans in Sumatra, Indonesia Summary: This report presents an assessment of the trade in gibbons and orang-utans in Sumatra, Indonesia, including the islands off Sumatra’s west coast (most notably, the Mentawai Islands). Until recently Sumatra and its off-lying islands harboured one of the largest expanses of lowland evergreen rainforest in Southeast Asia. Most of the lowland forests are gone and the forest that remains is largely in the hills and mountains, running along the western part of the island, with the largest expanse of forests being in the Leuser Ecosystem, and adjacent Ulu Masen forest to the north. Commercial timber extraction, small-scale logging (legal and illegal), conversion of forest to palm oil or wood-pulp plantations, and forest fires – along with the concurrent increase in access to formerly remote areas – are increasingly threatening the integrity of the remaining forests, thus putting the survival of its inhabitants at stake. Sumatra is home to five species of ape i.e. the Sumatran Orang-utan Pongo abelii, and the Lar Gibbon Hylobates lar in the northernmost part, the Agile Gibbon Hylobates agilis in the central and southern part, and the Siamang Symphalangus syndactylus occurring sympatrically with the other apes throughout the island. Kloss’ Gibbon Hylobates klossi is found on the four Mentawai Islands, off Sumatra’s west coast. Lar Gibbons occur throughout Southeast Asia. The Sumatran Orang-utan is only found in Sumatra, and although the Agile Gibbon and the Siamang do occur in Peninsular Malaysia, based on the area of occupancy, over 90 percent of their populations are found in Sumatra. Kloss’ Gibbons are endemic to Indonesia. Indonesia bears a great responsibility towards safeguarding the future of these five ape species. All species are classified by the IUCN Red List as Globally Threatened, primarily due to loss of habitat but also due to illegal hunting and trade. This report finds that a lack of law enforcement against illegal trade in Indonesia threatens the survival of orang-utans and gibbons on Sumatra. The report recommends that the root causes of trade be examined and that laws be better implemented for the protection of orang-utans, gibbons and the island’s other wildlife. (Excerpts from publication) Details: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia: TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, 2009. 57p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 13, 2010 at http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_mammals47.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_mammals47.pdf Shelf Number: 119591 Keywords: Illegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Ferrier, Peyton Title: The Economics of Agricultural and Wildlife Smuggling Summary: The United States bans imports of certain agricultural and wildlife goods that can carry pathogens or diseases or whose harvest can threaten wildlife stocks or endanger species. Despite these bans, contraband is regularly uncovered in inspections of cargo containers and in domestic markets. This study characterizes the economic factors affecting agricultural and wildlife smuggling by drawing on inspection and interdiction data from USDA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and existing economic literature. Findings reveal that agricultural and wildlife smuggling primarily include luxury goods, ethnic foods, and specialty goods, such as traditional medicines. Incidents of detected smuggling are disproportionately higher for agricultural goods originating in China and for wildlife goods originating in Mexico. Fragmentary data show that approximately 1 percent of all commercial wildlife shipments to the United States and 0.40 percent of all U.S. wildlife imports by value are refused entry and suspected of being smuggled. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Services, 2009. 35p. Source: Internet Resource; Economic Research Report No. 81. Accessed August 16, 2010 at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err81/err81.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err81/err81.pdf Shelf Number: 116551 Keywords: Agricultural CrimeIllicit TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentSmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: Bateman, Sam Title: Good Order at Sea in Southeast Asia Summary: This policy paper examines the threats to good order at sea in Southeast Asia . Threats to good order include piracy and armed robbery against ships, maritime terrorism, illicit trafficking in drugs and arms, people smuggling, pollution, illegal fishing and marine natural hazards. This paper reviews the current situation and makes recommendations for non-governmental actions that would enhance cooperation in addressing the problem. Details: Singapore: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, 2009. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: RSIS Policy Paper: Accessed August 20, 2010 at: http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/policy_papers/RSIS_Policy%20Paper%20-%20Good%20Order%20at%20Sea_270409.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Asia URL: http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/policy_papers/RSIS_Policy%20Paper%20-%20Good%20Order%20at%20Sea_270409.pdf Shelf Number: 119644 Keywords: Drug SmugglingHuman SmugglingIllegal FishingIllicit TraffickingMaritime CrimeMaritime SecurityOffenses Against the EnvironmentPiratesWildlife Crime |
Author: Lack, Mary Title: Continuing CCAMLR's Fight Against IUU Fishing for Toothfish Summary: The future of the Patagonian and Antarctic Toothfish and the highly valuable fishery based on them concentrated in the Southern Ocean, is under significant pressure from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This report documents the fact that IUU fishing is severely undermining protection of these valuable species. Details: Sydney: World Wildlife Fund - Australia and TRAFFIC International, 2008. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2010 at: http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_fish31.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_fish31.pdf Shelf Number: 115683 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Dexel, Birga Title: The Illegal Trade in Snow Leopards - A Global Perspective Summary: The snow leopard was listed by the CITES Parties in 1975 on Appendix I. Since then cross-border trade has become an ever increasing threat to snow leopards, but no further measures have been taken in the framework of the convention to stop the on-going illegal trade in live specimen, parts and derivatives. Many range countries did not become a party to CITES till the late 1990s and some have not joined at all. The species is fully protected in every range country under the respective national laws and hunting as well as the trade in live specimen and parts is prohibited. All range countries with the exception of Bhutan have difficulties in enforcing these provisions. The national and international trade in live specimen, skins and bones is, according to the global network of snow leopard experts (SLN), the major threat to the survival of the species, particularly in Central Asia. This report is the first of its kind to assimilate the somewhat scarce information available, and to provide the Parties with evidence on the existence of this trade which, if no comprehensive measures are implemented as a matter of urgency, will lead to the extinction of this unique species. It also presents new trade data derived from investigations by the Kirghiz snow leopard enforcement group, Gruppa Bars, which is part of the joint Snow Leopard Conservation Programme of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and the German Society for Nature Conservation (NABU). (Excerpts from the report) Details: Berlin: German Society for Nature Conservation, 2002. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2010 at: http://www.nabu.de/schneeleopard/report.pdf Year: 2002 Country: International URL: http://www.nabu.de/schneeleopard/report.pdf Shelf Number: 119209 Keywords: Illegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: International Alert Title: The Role of the Exploitation of Natural Resources in Fuelling and Prolonging Crisis in the Eastern DRC Summary: For more than a decade, research has stressed the importance of the economic dimension of conflict, and of the economic interests of belligerents. Competition among political, military and business actors for the control of mineral resources in the east of the country is being increasingly recognised as a pivotal factor in assessing the causes of instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This report is based on a thorough review of all the main literature on the subject since the year 2000. It describes and assesses the different categories of actors and the processes, chains and linkages that are involved in mining and trading of minerals in the Kivu provinces and in the territory of Ituri. It also reveals some of the main gaps in the information on the issue that is needed to develop and refine more effective peace-building strategies by national and international interveners. Details: London: International Alert, 2009. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2010 at: http://international-alert.org/pdf/Natural_Resources_Jan_10.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Africa URL: http://international-alert.org/pdf/Natural_Resources_Jan_10.pdf Shelf Number: 118599 Keywords: Illegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentViolenceWildlife Crime |
Author: Welsh, Brandon P. Title: Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime Summary: Improved street lighting serves many functions and is used in both public and private settings. The prevention of personal and property crime is one of its objectives in public space, which is the main focus of this review. There are two main theories of why improved street lighting may cause a reduction in crime. The first suggests that improved lighting leads to increased surveillance of potential offenders (both by improving visibility and by increasing the number of people on the street) and hence to increased deterrence of potential offenders. The second suggests that improved lighting signals community investment in the area and that the area is improving, leading to increased community pride, community cohesiveness, and informal social control. The first theory predicts decreases in crime especially during the hours of darkness, while the second theory predicts decreases in crime during both daytime and nighttime. Results of this review indicate that improved street lighting significantly reduces crime. This lends support for the continued use of improved street lighting to prevent crime in public space. The review also found that nighttime crimes did not decrease more than daytime crimes. This suggests that a theory of street lighting focusing on its role in increasing community pride and informal social control may be more plausible than a theory focusing on increased surveillance and increased deterrence. Future research should be designed to test the main theories of the effects of improved street lighting more explicitly, and future light. Details: Oslo: Campbell Collaboration, 2008. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Campbell Systematic Review, 2008:13: Accessed September 8, 2010 at: http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/233/ Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/233/ Shelf Number: 119765 Keywords: Crime PreventionLightingOffenses Against the EnvironmentProperty CrimeSituational Crime PreventionStreet CrimeThird Party PolicingWildlife Crime |
Author: Mwanika, Philip Arthur Njuguna Title: Eco-Cop: Environmental Policing in Eastern Africa Summary: The power to police, as part of statecraft , is a basic attribute of contemporary government that manifests in a vast array of sites of governance, including not only the state itself, but also areas such as the community, the household and industry, and contemporary realms such as the war against terrorism. This paper looks at a particular dominant realm of governance that is a mainstay of modern policing, i.e. the environmental protection realm, and particularly the policing component known as environmental crime management. Towards that end, this paper attempts to make sense of the policing component understood as ‘environmental policing’ and how it is operationalised in Africa. Case studies from the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa have been adopted. The question of whether the police institution in the continent should be involved in environmental protection or have an environmental enforcement component has been critically investigated against a backdrop of the political, societal, administrative and bureaucratic realities in the mentioned geo-political concerns. Details: Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: ISS Paper 215: Accessed September 17, 2010 at: http://www.iss.co.za/uploads/215.pdf Year: 2010 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.iss.co.za/uploads/215.pdf Shelf Number: 119827 Keywords: Environmental ProtectionIllegal FishingIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPolicingWildlife Crimes |
Author: Greenpeace Title: The Untouchables: Rimbunan Hijau's World of Forest Crime and Political Patronage Summary: Rimbunan Hijau (RH) dominates the logging industry in Papua New Guinea and has interests in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Indonesia, New Zealand and Russia, making it one of the world's largest forest destroyers. Many of these operations are characterised by documented illegalities and environmental destruction. The company seems impervious to criticism and appears to be protected by an extensive and well-established network of political patronage and media control. Details: Amsterdam: Greenpeace, 2004. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 21, 2010 at: http://www.wrm.org.uy/countries/Malaysia/RHreport.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://www.wrm.org.uy/countries/Malaysia/RHreport.pdf Shelf Number: 119840 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Scotland. Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland Title: Natural Justice Update Summary: The joint thematic inspection that led to the publication of the report "Natural Justice" in April 2008, was commissioned as a result of widespread and increasing public concern about wildlife crime in Scotland. While Inspectorates have systems for tracking the progress of their own recommendations as part of their routine monitoring, where joint inspections are carried out, joint assessments of progress are required. This update report examines the extent to which our recommendations have been implemented some eighteen months later. It also considers the current climate, conditions and challenges now facing those who have an interest in, or are charged with, preventing, investigating and prosecuting wildlife crime. Details: Edinburgh: Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, 2009. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2010 at: Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119887 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Lawson, Sam Title: Illegal Logging and Related Trade: Indicators of the Global Response: Country Report Cards Summary: This report card assesses the imports of illegally sourced wood, the government response, the private-sector response, media attention and areas for improvement for Brazil, Cameroon, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, UK, United States, The Netherlands, France and Japan. Details: London: Chatham House, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 12, 2010 at: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/research/eedp/papers/view/-/id/913/ Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/research/eedp/papers/view/-/id/913/ Shelf Number: 119934 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Ishihara, Akiko Title: The State of Wildlife Trade in Japan Summary: The State of Wildlife Trade in Japan analyses the significance of Japan’s trade in wild animal and plant species and their products, reviews this trade in the light of national and international regulations and provides critical insights into the nature of Japan’s impact on global biodiversity. It provides, among other things, explanations of the current trends in topical issues involving Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, and the often-illegal trade in reptiles as pets, while highlighting the importance of sustainable use of medicinal plants, an issue closely related to the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Details: Tokyo: TRAFFIC East Asia-Japan, 2010. 95p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 18, 2010 at: www.traffic.org/general-reports/traffic_pub_gen38.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Japan URL: Shelf Number: 120007 Keywords: Illegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Bricknell, Samantha Title: Environmental Crime in Australia Summary: Environmental crime is the perpetration of harms against the environment that violate current law. The term environmental harm is often interchanged with environmental crime and, for some, any activity that has a deleterious effect on the environment is considered an environmental crime. At the other end of the spectrum, the harm may be conceived of as a crime per se only if it is subject to criminal prosecution and criminal sanction. The activities that are recognised in Australia as environmental crimes include: pollution or other contamination of air, land and water; illegal discharge and dumping of, or trade in, hazardous and other regulated waste; illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances; illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing; illegal trade in (protected) flora and fauna and harms to biodiversity; illegal logging and timber trade; illegal native vegetation clearance; and water theft. Compared with other crimes, environmental crime has taken longer to be accepted as a genuine category of crime. Changing perceptions about the vulnerability of the environment, particularly with respect to long-term outcomes of environmentally harmful practices, has altered this view to the extent that most behaviour with a potential environmental consequence is now tightly regulated. Environmental crime has received some research attention in Australia but little in the way of a comprehensive account. This report aims to address this by assembling the available literature to examine the nature and extent of environmental crime in Australia and the laws and other processes in place to prevent, deter and sanction environmental offences. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2010. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: AIC Reports, Research and Public Policy Series 109: Accessed October 18, 2010 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/2/1/1/%7B211B5EB9-E888-4D26-AED4-1D4E76646E4B%7Drpp109.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/2/1/1/%7B211B5EB9-E888-4D26-AED4-1D4E76646E4B%7Drpp109.pdf Shelf Number: 120006 Keywords: Illegal FishingIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Jaakko Poyry Consulting Title: Overview of Illegal Logging Summary: This report prepared for the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides an overview of the estimated impact of illegal logging on Australian imports of forest and wood products. Details: Melbourne: J P Management Consulting, 2005. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2010 at: http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/37593/illegal_logging_report_16sept05.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Australia URL: http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/37593/illegal_logging_report_16sept05.pdf Shelf Number: 120014 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Center for International Economics Title: A Final Report to Inform a Regulation Impact Statement for the Proposed New Policy on Illegally Logged Timber Summary: The Australian Government is considering introducing a policy to combat illegal logging and associated trade by establishing systems that will promote trade in legally logged timber and, in the long term, trade in timber and wood products from sustainably managed forests. The proposed policy includes restricting importation of illegally logged timber and thereby assisting in reducing the environmental, social and financial damage caused by it to Australia and other countries in the region. It also includes action to require disclosure of species, country of harvest and any certification at point of sale. This report is the final report to the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) on the Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) process required for the policy. It is designed to assist DAFF to inform Government consideration of the options for combating illegal logging and associated trade in the most cost effective and efficient manner. It has drawn on initial consultations based on an issues paper circulated earlier in the process, a Consultation (Draft) RIS and stakeholder submissions responding to that and on interactions with government agencies with portfolio interests in combating illegal logging and associated trade. After considering a range of options, the report concludes that, because of Australia's limited share in the international timber trade, Australia should consider only non-regulatory policy options to combat illegal logging. Capacity building is one possibility. This has not been assessed here as this was not of concern to the Office of Best Practice Regulation. Nonetheless, an advantage of capacity building options is that they are designed to tackle the problem of illegal logging at its source. That is, they are designed to change ambiguous laws and/or to see enforcement of laws closer to the source of the problem. They also act directly on domestic production, not just part of trade. At this level, Australia is likely to provide more direct leadership and to establish influence without creating reasons for retaliation or non-cooperation. It can also limit and contain costs by targeting action toward initiatives where it has a reasonable chance of success. Bilateral and/or plurilateral agreements designed to tackle illegal logging by directly influencing the reform and enforcement of forestry laws in the country of origin of the problem may also hold promise. They too are targeting all levels of production in risk countries, not just a small amount of exports. Details: Canberra: Centre for International Economics, 2010. 144p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2010 at: Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 120015 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Southwest Border: More Timely Border Patrol Access and Training Could Improve Security Operations and Natural Resource Protection on Federal Lands Summary: When operating on federal lands, Border Patrol has responsibilities under several federal land management laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Wilderness Act, and Endangered Species Act. Border Patrol must obtain permission or a permit from federal land management agencies before its agents can maintain roads and install surveillance equipment on these lands. Because land management agencies are also responsible for ensuring compliance with land management laws, Border Patrol generally coordinates its responsibilities under these laws with land management agencies through national and local interagency agreements. The most comprehensive agreement is a 2006 memorandum of understanding intended to guide Border Patrol activities on federal lands. Border Patrol's access to portions of some federal lands along the southwestern border has been limited because of certain land management laws, according to patrol agents-in-charge for 17 of the 26 stations, resulting in delays and restrictions in agents' patrolling and monitoring these lands. Specifically, patrol agents-in-charge for 14 of the 17 stations reported that they have been unable to obtain a permit or permission to access certain areas in a timely manner because of how long it takes for land managers to conduct required environmental and historic property assessments. The 2006 memorandum of understanding directs the agencies to cooperate with one another to complete, in an expedited manner, all compliance required by applicable federal laws, but such cooperation has not always occurred. For example, Border Patrol requested permission to move surveillance equipment to an area, but by the time the land manager conducted a historic property assessment and granted permission--more than 4 months after the initial request--illegal traffic had shifted to other areas. Despite the access delays and restrictions, 22 of the 26 agents-in-charge reported that the overall security status of their jurisdiction is not affected by land management laws. Instead, factors such as the remoteness and ruggedness of the terrain have the greatest effect on their ability to achieve operational control. Although 4 agents-in-charge reported that delays and restrictions have affected their ability to achieve or maintain operational control, they either have not requested resources for increased or timelier access or have had their requests denied by senior Border Patrol officials, who said that other needs were more important. While federal land managers in the borderlands region rely on Border Patrol to collect data on the extent of cross-border illegal activities on their lands, the extent of the land managers' data collection efforts on the effects of these illegal activities has varied. Some land managers monitor areas on a routine basis, some document environmental damage on an ad hoc basis, and still others collect no such data. Where collected, land managers have used these data for several purposes, including restoring lands and providing Border Patrol agents with environmental awareness training. With regard to training, most agents-in-charge wanted more-frequent, area-specific training to be provided by land managers. GAO recommends, among other things, that the Secretaries of Homeland Security, the Interior, and Agriculture take steps to help Border Patrol expedite access to portions of federal lands by more quickly initiating required assessments. In commenting on a draft of this report, the agencies generally agreed with GAO's findings and recommendations. Details: Washington, DC: 2010. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-11-38: Accessed October 19, 2010 at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1138.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1138.pdf Shelf Number: 120023 Keywords: Border PatrolBorder SecurityOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Rekins, Martins Title: Illegal Logging in Latvia and Export of Forest Products to the UK Summary: For several years illegal logging and forest crime have been priority issues for WWF globally as well as Pasaules Dabas Fonds (formerly WWF Latvia) forest programme. The previous studies conducted by WWF and its partners about the forest sector in Latvia have concluded that illegal logging and forest crime are major factors undermining the economic development of the industry, creating social problems and adverse environmental consequences. Export of forest products brought in about one third of Latvia’s export revenues in 2004, exceeding 1 billion EUR. The United Kingdom was the biggest trade partner (300 million EUR in 2004) and Latvia was the second largest supplier of timber products to the UK after Sweden. The main export product is sawn timber, constituting more than 90 % of all exported volume. The study has three main goals: to provide an overview on development trends of illegal logging and forest crime in Latvia; to gather information about the leading Latvia’s exporters of forest products to the United Kingdom and evaluate purchasing policy and corporate social responsibility of these companies; and to provide recommendations for responsible governmental organisations, industry and other stakeholders for further activities to eliminate illegal logging and forest crime in Latvia. Details: Riga, Latvia: Pasaules Dabas Fonds, 2006. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2010 at: http://www.pdf.lv/doc_upl/IllegalLogin.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Latvia URL: http://www.pdf.lv/doc_upl/IllegalLogin.pdf Shelf Number: 120031 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Palmer, Mick Title: Report on Illegal Fishing for Commercial Gain or Profit in NSW Summary: The illegal capture and sale of fish for commercial gain or profit is accepted as a significant issue in NSW. For a long time it has been known that abalone and rock lobster in particular have formed the basis of a significant illegal trade, but other species are becoming increasingly involved as the demand for fresh seafood, and the price of quality product, have risen. Various compliance strategies have been implemented over time to increase compliance capacity and effectiveness, with varying degrees of success. Accurate and timely information has traditionally been difficult to obtain and, consequently, even targeted compliance operations have frequently proven to be extremely resource and time intensive. The overall goal of this review is to scope and assess the nature and extent of illegal harvesting and black marketing of fish for commercial purposes and to recommend areas for potential improvement in legislation, regulation, education and enforcement including identifying the resources and priorities necessary to achieve optimal compliance and effective deterrents. Details: Sydney, N.S.W.: NSW Fisheries, 2004. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 21, 2010 at: http://www.illegal-fishing.info/uploads/Black-Market-Report-NSW.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Australia URL: http://www.illegal-fishing.info/uploads/Black-Market-Report-NSW.pdf Shelf Number: 120042 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Global Witness Title: Investigation Into the Global Trade in Malagasy Precious Woods: Rosewood, Ebony and Pallisander Summary: In June 2009, Madagascar National Parks (MNP) with an official mandate of the Ministry of the Environment and Forests contracted Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) to investigate and monitor the flow of illegally harvested precious wood from the national parks and surrounding areas of Madagascar’s SAVA Region. This illicit trade in rare, high-value species such as ebony, rosewood and pallisander serves export markets in China, the United States and Europe, where it is used to manufacture furniture and musical instruments. The quick profits on offer have fuelled a timber rush which has decimated Madagascar’s few remaining precious forests. Our November 2009 report, Investigation into the illegal felling, transport and export of precious wood in SAVA Region Madagascar1, revealed the inner workings of the trade and the extent of the damage. It estimated the traffic’s value at up to USD460,000 per day on international markets, with most profits pocketed by a small group of “timber barons”, who typically channel the money into overseas bank accounts and property. This latest report tells what happened next. It traces several important developments since the November publication, and presents findings from our follow-up investigations into the trade flows and consumer markets which facilitate and promote demand for Madagascar’s precious woods. Details: Washington, DC: Environmental Investigation Agency; London: Global Witness, 2010. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 1, 2010 at: http://www.financialtaskforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Illegal_Timber_Report_261010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Madagascar URL: http://www.financialtaskforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Illegal_Timber_Report_261010.pdf Shelf Number: 120136 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Stewart, James G. Title: Corporate War Crimes: Prosecuting the Pillage of Natural Resources Summary: Since the end of the Cold War, the illegal exploitation of natural resources has emerged as a primary means of financing armed violence. In countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, the sale of natural resources within conflict zones has not only created perverse incentives for war, it has also furnished warring parties with the finances necessary to sustain some of the most brutal hostilities in recent history. As a consequence of the illegal trade in minerals, metals, timber, and other natural resources, armed conflicts in which participants are able to draw upon easily accessible natural resource wealth are often more bloody, financially costly, and intractable than other forms of armed violence. Resource wars also contribute to the so-called resource curse, whereby the richest nations in terms of resource endowment are poorest in terms of social development and most prone to violent upheaval. While there is broad consensus that the correlation between resource wealth and armed violence must be addressed through a range of initiatives geared at fighting corruption, policing the resource sector domestically, and building judicial capacity in countries recovering from war, the liability of foreign businesses for trading in illicit conflict commodities is also vital. Resource wars, after all, are entirely dependent on commercial actors to purchase, transport, and market the resources that are illegally acquired in order to sustain violence. As part of this growing interest in resource wars, Corporate War Crimes: Prosecuting the Pillage of Natural Resources explores the elements of corporate liability for the war crime of pillage. Although the term pillage has a long pedigree in the laws of war, the offense also features as a contemporary war crime in the statutes of all modern international criminal courts and a large number of domestic criminal systems. In essence, pillage means theft during war, and is synonymous with other equally evocative terms such as looting, spoliation, and plunder. A substantial body of jurisprudence has applied the offense in practice. Modern courts such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) enforce the offense as a matter of course. At present, Liberia’s former president Charles Taylor and the former vice-president of Congo Jean- Pierre Bemba are facing trial before international courts for having allegedly perpetrated acts of pillage during war, but the most important precedents derive from World War Two. In the wake of that conflict, a significant number of business representatives were prosecuted for pillaging natural resources in circumstances that are often strikingly similar to corporate practices in modern resource wars. By exploring these cases and the law governing pillage in detail, Corporate War Crimes seeks to guide investigative bodies and war crimes prosecutors engaged with the technicalities of these issues. We also hope that this manual will be useful for advocates, political institutions, and companies interested in curbing resource wars. Our belief is that the deterrent effect created by even a single case is likely to transform conflict financing in a large number of ongoing conflicts. At the same time, we are conscious of the potential humanitarian consequences of depriving warring factions of access to resource wealth in some contexts, and of the serious dangers of tarnishing reputable companies that provide the legitimate investment essential to rehabilitating economies ravaged by war. With this balance in mind, this project seeks to act as a catalyst for reinvigorating prosecution of the war crime of pillage and to bring accountability to companies that illegally trade in conflict commodities. Details: New York: Open Society Institute, 2010. 148p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 1, 2010 at: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/focus/anticorruption/articles_publications/publications/pillage-manual-20101025/pillage-manual-20101025.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/focus/anticorruption/articles_publications/publications/pillage-manual-20101025/pillage-manual-20101025.pdf Shelf Number: 120138 Keywords: Illegal TradeLootingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPillagingProsecutionTheft |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General. Oversight and Review Division Title: A Review of Federal Prison Industries' Electronic-Waste Recycling Program Summary: This report describes the results of an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) into the health, safety, and environmental compliance practices of Federal Prison Industries’ (FPI) electronic waste (ewaste) recycling program. Federal Prison Industries, which is known by its trade name “UNICOR,” is a government corporation within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that provides employment to staff and inmates at federal prisons throughout the United States. UNICOR sells a variety of consumer products and services, such as office furniture and clothing, and industrial products, such as security fencing and vehicle tags. As of June 2010, UNICOR had 103 factories at 73 prison locations, employing approximately 17,000 inmates or 11 percent of the inmate population. Starting in 1997, UNICOR began to accept computers, monitors, printers, and other types of e-waste for recycling at federal prisons. UNICOR sold these e-waste items to its customers, sometimes following refurbishment, or disassembled the items into their component parts and sold the parts to recyclers for further processing. E-waste contains many toxic substances that can be harmful to humans and to the environment. For example, a computer can contain toxic metals, such as cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, and beryllium. Cathode ray tubes, which are found in televisions and computer monitors, typically contain between 2 to 5 pounds of lead. When e-waste is disassembled and recycled, workers can be exposed to toxic metals which can cause serious health implications. UNICOR’s recycling of e-waste resulted in complaints from BOP and UNICOR staff and inmates, most notably from Leroy A. Smith, Jr., a former Safety Manager at the United States Penitentiary (USP) in Atwater, California. In particular, the complaints asserted that UNICOR’s e-waste recycling practices were not safe and had made UNICOR staff and inmates sick. As a result of these complaints and at the request of the BOP, Department of Justice (DOJ), and attorneys for Mr. Smith, the OIG investigated the safety of UNICOR’s e-waste recycling operations, as well as other allegations of theft, conflict of interest, and environmental crimes that arose during our investigation related to UNICOR’s e-waste operations. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, 2010. 173p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2010 at: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/o1010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/o1010.pdf Shelf Number: 120160 Keywords: Hazardous WasteOffenses Against the EnvironmentPrison IndustriesPrison LaborU.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons |
Author: Ahmed, Abrar Title: Imperilled Custodians of the Night: A Study on Illegal Trade, Trapping and Use of Owls in India Summary: Use of owls in black magic and sorcery driven by superstition, totems and taboos is one of the prime drivers of the covert owl trade. This report presents the findings from an investigation into the illegal trade, trapping and utilization of owls in India. The investigation also finds that besides black magic, owls are trapped and traded for use in street performances; killed for taxidermy and for their meat; their parts are used in folk medicines; even their claws and feathers are sometimes used in headgear. Live owls are also used as decoys to catch other bird species. Details: New Delhi, India: TRAFFIC India/WWF-India, 2010. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2010 at: http://assets.wwf.org.nz/downloads/traffic_species_birds12.pdf Year: 2010 Country: India URL: http://assets.wwf.org.nz/downloads/traffic_species_birds12.pdf Shelf Number: 120200 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife CrimesWildlife Trade (India) |
Author: Jaramillo, Ana Lucia Title: Stemming Illegal Logging and Timber Trade: An Overview of the European Union FLEGT Action Plan Summary: Over the last four decades, there has been a global recognition of the damage to world forests caused by illegal logging and the related trade in illegally produced timber products. The European Community (hereinafter “EC”), as a major timber-consuming market, understands that the EC’s demand for timber, and the subsequent money flow there from, perpetuates the negative effects of illegal logging. The EC recognises that illegal logging poses a threat to wild fauna and flora, to the indigenous people living in the forests of timber-producing countries, the depressing effect on the economies of timber-producing countries, and the fact that profits of illegal logging often flow back to corrupt regimes and conflict zones. The purpose of this report is to give an overview of the EC’s effort to tackle illegal logging and trade in illegally produced timber. Details: Brussels: Institute for Environmental Security, 2008. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2010 at: http://www.envirosecurity.org/pathfinder/FLEGT_web.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Europe URL: http://www.envirosecurity.org/pathfinder/FLEGT_web.pdf Shelf Number: 120203 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Giessen, Eric van de Title: Peace Park Amid Violence? A Report on Environmental Security in the Virunga-Bwindi Region Summary: This study is carried out for the Institute for Environmental Security (IES) within the framework of the Horizon 21 Programme. This programme has been designed to draw political attention to environmental security, in order to prevent conflict, instability and unrest. The Horizon 21 Programme integrates the disciplines of science, diplomacy, international law, finance and education. It aims to provide policy-makers with a methodology and the policy tools to tackle environmental security risks in time in order to safeguard essential conditions for sustainable development. In this context, IES currently works on Prototype EnviroSecurity Assessments. It is the objective of these assessments to come up with recommendations to international decision makers on the protection of specific eco-regions. These recommendations should be based on a profound analysis of perceived trends, opportunities and threats. The final report will integrate thematic maps, based on remote sensing data (observations and forecasts), alongside policy, legal, financial and educational aspects. The mountain gorilla habitat is one of the three Prototype EnviroSecurity Assessment case studies. This specific report contributes to the EnviroSecurity Asssessment by providing an outline of the socio-economic and political situation in the region. It will look into environmental insecurity, being an important factor in explaining the violent conflicts in this region, both in the past and nowadays. The special aim of this report is to make an analysis of threats and opportunities for the protection of the Virunga-Bwindi region. Details: The Hague: Institute for Environmental Security, 2005. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2010 at: http://www.envirosecurity.org/espa/PDF/IES_ESA_CS_Africa_Supplement.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Africa URL: http://www.envirosecurity.org/espa/PDF/IES_ESA_CS_Africa_Supplement.pdf Shelf Number: 120204 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentViolence (Africa)Wildlife Crimes |
Author: Kofoed, Julie Garfieldt Title: Criminal Justice in the Netherlands Over Trade in Natural Resources Originating From Conflict Zones Summary: Natural resources such as diamonds, timber, coltan, and other minerals are often extracted from developing countries by rebel groups; and the resources are subsequently exported to developed countries as private goods. There is evidence that the presence of valuable natural resources increases the likelihood of armed conflict; and it is widely acknowledged that the sale of these natural resources is often used to fund an prolong armed conflicts. Once sold, these natural resources regularly enter developed countries, including the Netherlands, as a final destination or a transit point, whereupon they are sold and used as if they were legitimately obtained goods. Given that the countries of origin are often unable to exercise effective control over the illicit extraction and trade in resources on their territory, the IES has advocated that developed importing or transit countries take steps to block access to their national markets by criminalizing trade in resources that originate from conflict zones and that are illicitly extracted and sold. It is hoped that the prevention of access to the external market will diminish the money flow which fuels armed conflicts. It is expected that without the ability to export the illicitly obtained resources to external markets, the most important money flows that underlie or fund the continuation of armed conflict will soon dry up. Details: The Hague: Institute for Environmental Security, Amsterdam International Law Clinic and Bronkhorst International Law Services, 2008. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2010 at: http://www.envirosecurity.org/pathfinder/Criminal_Jurisdiction.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Netherlands URL: http://www.envirosecurity.org/pathfinder/Criminal_Jurisdiction.pdf Shelf Number: 120262 Keywords: Illegal TradeNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife Crimes |
Author: Verheij, Pauline Title: Reduced to Skin and Bones: An Analysis of Tiger Seizures from 11 Tiger Range Countries (2000-2010) Summary: Parts of at least 1,069 Tigers have been seized in Tiger range countries over the past decade, according to new analysis of Tiger seizures carried out by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. Reduced to Skin and Bones shows that from January 2000 to April 2010, parts of between 1,069 and 1,220 Tigers were seized in 11 of the 13 tiger range countries—or an average of 104 to 119 animals per year. Of the 11, India, China and Nepal ranked highest in the number of tiger part seizures, the report states, with India by far the highest number of Tiger part seizures at 276, representing between 469 and 533 Tigers. China, with 40, had the second highest number of seizures, or 116-124 Tigers, and Nepal reported 39 seizures, or 113-130 Tigers. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC International, 2010. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 11, 2010 at: http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_mammals60.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_mammals60.pdf Shelf Number: 120278 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentPoachingWild Animal TradeWildlife CrimesWildlife Trade |
Author: Bawumia, Mahamudu Title: Fisheries, Ecosystems and Piracy: A Case Study of Somalia Summary: It has been argued that a possible root cause of Somali piracy is the (illegal) overfishing that has been taking place in the country's waters, which has deprived local fishers of their livelihoods, and which may be considered as another form of 'piracy'. In this paper, we explore the origins of this argument using both historical and ecosystem justice frameworks. We demonstrate in this contribution that this claim has some wings to it and that further research is needed to verify if this claim, as we suspect, is empirically valid. Details: Vancouver, BC: Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2010. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Series; Working Paper # 2010-04: Accessed December 2, 2010 at: ftp://ftp.fisheries.ubc.ca/FCWP/2010/FCWP_2010-04_BawumiaSumaila.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Somalia URL: Shelf Number: 120346 Keywords: Illegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPirates/Piracy (Somalia)Wildlife Crime |
Author: Arky, Aaron S. Title: Trading Nets for Guns: The Impact of Illegal Fishing on Piracy in Somalia Summary: Somali piracy reached a record high level in 2008, with 111 of the 293 worldwide attacks occurring in the waters surrounding Somalia. The incidence of piracy in Somali waters almost doubled in 2009, and the Somali share of total piracy attacks worldwide increased from under 40% to over 50%. Often overlooked is the initial upsurge in piracy, following the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, which contributed to a sharp increase in piracy in 2005 and again in 2008. This thesis addresses why this initial surge occurred when it did. This increase can be attributed to the transformation of the pirate business model from fishermen who started to defend themselves, to the organized crime that displaced them in 2004 due to the opportunistic behavior of warlords. A convergence of factors contributing to the conditions at the time of the tsunami had short-term effects in 2005 that were enough to provide a boost to the already increasing business model of piracy. Details: Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School, 2010. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed December 2, 2010 at: http://www.hsdl.org/?view&doc=131926&coll=limited Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.hsdl.org/?view&doc=131926&coll=limited Shelf Number: 120362 Keywords: Illegal FishingMaritime CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePiracy/PiratesPiratesWildlife Crime |
Author: Martin, Tony Title: Report on Foreign Fishing Vessel Security Issues in the Pacific Islands Region Summary: The threat of terrorist activity associated with foreign fishing vessels operating in the Pacific region is regarded as very low. These vessels do, however, represent a security risk in a number of areas: illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, people smuggling, trafficking in persons, illegal immigration, smuggling of weapons and drugs, prostitution, money laundering and corruption. The extent of risk in each of these areas is difficult to quantify with any certainty because of the lack of reliable data. At the international, regional and sub-regional levels, fisheries management is the subject of a large number of international and regional regulatory instruments. This is not the case when it comes to fishing vessel safety, training and conditions of employment of crews and protection of the marine environment where there has been a marked reluctance internationally to adopt and enforce standards. In the Pacific region, there is a lack of understanding on the part of those responsible for fisheries management, maritime administration and border management issues, of the respective roles each plays and the issues they face. Communication and information sharing between these sectors occurs infrequently if at all. In this report, specific measures are proposed to mitigate the security risks posed by foreign fishing vessels including wider use of existing information for monitoring vessels’ locations and their activities and, in due course, an ILO-based system for seafarer identification. The measures, with some modification, reflect some of the provisions of the maritime security regime (the ISPS Code) for international merchant shipping that might usefully be applied to the fishing sector for border management control purposes. Details: Noumea, New Caledonia: Regional Maritime Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2005. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 10, 2010 at: dns1.spc.int/coastfish/Reports/HOF5/FFVsecurity.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 120441 Keywords: Fishing IndustryMaritime CrimeMaritime SecurityOffenses Against the EnvironmentTerrorism |
Author: TRAFFIC Title: Traffic Bulletin Seizures and Prosecutions: March 1997 - March 2010 Summary: The cases reported here, extracted from the TRAFFIC Bulletin, represent a selection of seizures and prosecutions that have taken place around the world over the past 12 years. The sources of this information are cited at the end of each country section. The CITES Appendix-listing for each species is placed in parentheses, where appropriate. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC, 2010. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 13, 2010 at: www.traffic.org/traffic-bulletin/traffic_bulletin_seizures_1997-2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 120491 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentSmugglingWildlife Crimes |
Author: VERIFOR Title: Meeting the Challenge of Timber Legality Verification: A Policy Brief Summary: Worldwide, interest in timber legality is growing. The handwringing that has sometimes characterised debate on illegal logging is giving way to practical measures designed to increase the proportion of timber that is harvested and traded according to the law. Proponents argue that the verification of timber legality can encourage good forest governance and ensure access to markets that might otherwise be restricted. This policy brief considers the merits of that argument. It draws on the collective knowledge of 100 forest governance practitioners and researchers who, in late 2008, attended an international workshop on the issue organised by the VERIFOR project (Box 1) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It describes the process of effective timber legality verification, identifies the challenges, and presents eight key messages for policymakers. Details: London: VERIFOR, 2009. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2010 at: http://www.verifor.org/RESOURCES/workshop_summary.pdf Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://www.verifor.org/RESOURCES/workshop_summary.pdf Shelf Number: 119936 Keywords: Illegal TimberOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Obidzinski, Krystof Title: Timber Smuggling in Indonesia: Critical or Overstated problem? Forest Governance Lessons from Kalimantan Summary: Over the last few years, illegal logging has been at the center of policy debates about the current state and future prospects of Indonesia’s forestry sector. To a significant extent, the policy dialogues as well as public understanding of the illegal logging problem have been influenced by the timber establishment’s view that clandestine timber smuggling is responsible for illegal logging activities in the country. Echoing this sentiment, the Indonesian government has been at odds with neighboring countries Malaysia and Singapore over their perceived lack of cooperation in stemming the illegal flow of Indonesian timber across the border and thus helping to rein in illegal logging. At the same time, timber smuggling has become the focus of forest law enforcement operations in Indonesia. This paper scrutinizes the assumption that timber smuggling is at the core of the illegal logging problem in Indonesia. Taking the border zone between Indonesia and Malaysia on the island of Borneo (Kalimantan) as a sample unit of analysis and complementing it with data from other parts of Indonesia, the paper shows the intensity of timber smuggling was relatively high between 2000 and 2003, but has since declined by over 70%. Despite this decline, illegal logging in Indonesia still continues at a rate of approximately 40 million m3 per year. It seems clear that timber smuggling is not the primary driver of illegal logging in Indonesia. Instead, the core of the problem is the extraction of timber by Indonesian forest concession holders, plantation developers, road construction companies and other ventures that abuse company permits and violate prevailing forestry regulations. The current timber trade system, controlled by the government regulating bodies BRIK and ETPIK, stresses the administrative and documentary compliance of forestry businesses in Indonesia. However, this is not enough because these requirements are relatively easy to manipulate and their enforcement is lax. There is an urgent need for a timber legality standard that would be more difficult to manipulate, simpler to enforce and easier to evaluate – e.g. the standard developed collaboratively by LEI, TNC and other parties. This will require a lot of political will, commitment and sustained effort from a range of government agencies to endorse the legality standard, develop the implementation framework, provide public policy incentives and remove disincentives, allow third party independent verification of legality, and perhaps most importantly develop a comprehensive plan to balance the supply and demand for timber in Indonesia. While this is a lot to hope for, it seems to be the only way to make meaningful and lasting progress on the illegal logging issue in Indonesia. Details: Bogar, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research, 2006. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2010 at: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/Books/BObidzinski0601.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/Books/BObidzinski0601.pdf Shelf Number: 120562 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Indonesia)Offenses Against the EnvironmentSmuggling |
Author: Tacconi, Luda Title: Learning Lessons to Promote Forest Certification and Control Illegal Logging in Indonesia Summary: Illegal logging is a cause for widespread concern. It has negative environmental impacts, results in the loss of forest products used by rural communities, creates conflicts, and causes significant losses of tax revenues that could be used for development activities. The Nature Conservancy and World Wide Fund for Nature developed the Alliance to Promote Certification and Combat Illegal Logging in Indonesia to respond to the concern about illegal logging. The Alliance is a three-year initiative that aims to: 1. Strengthen market signals to expand certification and combat illegal logging, 2. Increase supply of certified Indonesian wood products, 3. Demonstrate practical solutions to achieve certification and differentiate legal and illegal supplies, 4. Reduce financing and investment in companies engaged in destructive or illegal logging in Indonesia, 5. Share lessons learned from the project. The Alliance seeks to learn lessons from its ongoing work to inform and adapt its activities, as well as to inform other initiatives seeking to address similar problems. This report is part of this lessons learning process. This report assesses the situation in Indonesia, including a quantitative estimation of illegally produced logs, discusses the causes of illegal logging, and describes the national and international policy and trade context. Then, it considers the work undertaken by the Alliance to address illegal logging in Indonesia; it summarizes the strategy of the Alliance, describes its rationale, and assesses the assumptions underlying the rationale and the objectives. Finally, it summarizes the progress made by the Alliance towards achieving its goal, highlights the lessons that can be learnt from the work in progress, and provides recommendations for the Alliance. Details: Jakarta, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research, 2004. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2010 at: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/Books/BTacconi0401.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/Books/BTacconi0401.pdf Shelf Number: 120566 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: ProFauna Indonesia Title: Wildlife Trade Survey on the Bird Markets in Java Summary: Indonesia is a mega-biodiversity country. It is estimated that about 300,000 wild animals or 17% of the world animals inhabit the nature of Indonesia, despite Indonesia’s lands is only 1.3% of the world’s. Indonesia has the largest mammals (515 species) and is inhabited by 1,539 bird species. 45% of the world’s fish species live in Indonesia’s waters. However, illegal wildlife trade becomes a huge threat towards wild animals survival in Indonesia. 183 mammal, 115 bird, 27 reptile, and 111 fish species are threatened in Indonesia (IUCN, 2008). Unless there are efforts to save and protect the animals, wild animals in Indonesia will be extinct like Balinese Tiger which was gone in the 1970’s. Similarly, Javan tiger is considered extinct even though some scientists believe that there are some still left in Merubetiri National Park in Banyuwangi, East Java. The main causes of wild animal extinction are the habitat loss or destruction and poaching for trade. Now, wildlife trade poses serious threat to the Indonesian animals’ survival. More than 95% of the traded animals are caught from the wild instead of captive-bred. The hub of wildlife trade takes place in bird (animal/ pet) markets in Java. Almost every big city in Java has a bird market. Java Island is one of the largest islands in Indonesia which 12 millions hectares (6% of the Indonesian land) and 116 millions population (60% of the whole country population) since Java is the centre of Indonesian government and economy. To the Javanese’s believe, birds as pets take certain position in their social life. Keeping birds has been a lifestyle for a Javanese man. Some also believe that keeping bird is a symbol of accomplishment and settlement. In the past, noble Javanese were considered to be successful in life when he had a turangga (horse/ride), a curiga (Javanese weapon), and a kukila (bird. This traditional belief is assumed to explain why Javanese keep birds which also encourages the flourishing bird markets in Java. Because the market sells birds the most, it is named ‘bird market’ by the locals despite it also sells other species or wildlife. To study the wildlife trade in bird markets, ProFauna has conducted a survey on the bird markets in Java between May and July 2009. Details: Malang, Indonesia: ProFauna, 2010(?). 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2010 at: http://www.profauna.org/download/publication/final-report-bird-market-survey-(2009).pdf Year: 2010 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.profauna.org/download/publication/final-report-bird-market-survey-(2009).pdf Shelf Number: 120567 Keywords: Illegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: ProFauna Indonesia Title: The Illegal Trade of Tiger Parts and Ivory Tusks in Sumatera, Indonesia Summary: Sumatera Island which is located in Indonesia is the sixth biggest island in the world with 470,000 kilometre squares. The population of the island was 45 million in 2005. Sumatera is a mega biodiversity island. There are 205 big and small mammals, and 380 bird species. As a mega biodiversity island, Sumatera is important as Indonesia’s heritage. Many endangered species inhabit the island: Sumateran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Sumateran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatranus), Sumatran orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus abelli), Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), and tapir (Tapirus indicus). The populations of three famous species in Sumatra: the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus), Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), and orangutan (Pongo abelii) are declining. Sumatran elephant population in 2007 was estimated around 2,400 to 2,800, falling to 35% from the record in 1992 which was around 2,800 to 5,000. While Sumatran tiger population was 400, orangutan’s was 7,500. In the 1990’s their populations were estimated 200,000. The decreasing population of the three endangered species shows the general shrinkage of other species populations in Sumatera. The habitat loss and wildlife hunting are the two causes of the declining population. According to the Forestry Information Center, the lowland forests in Sumatera had dramatically fallen into eight millions hectares from 1990- 2000. The shrinkage triggers the human animal conflicts. The illegal wildlife trade has become an important factor of the drastic decline in the populations of wildlife species in Sumatera besides the habitat loss. Wildlife trade is serious because 100% of the traded animals are caught from the wild. The investigation in July to October 2008 was intended to reveal the illegal trade of body parts and wildlife products of the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in some locations in Sumatera and Java. Previously in November – December 2007, ProFauna with the funding provided IFAW conducted a short-term investigation on wildlife trade in Sumatera. The investigation focused on mammal and bird species. From the investigation in 2007, ProFauna gathered some beginning information on the trade of ivory tusks and tiger parts. The findings were then followed up by a further investigation from July to October 2008. Details: Malang, Indonesia: ProFauna Indonesia, 2009. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 23, 2010 at: http://www.profauna.org/download/publication/tiger-ivory-investigation-report-(2009).pdf Year: 2009 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.profauna.org/download/publication/tiger-ivory-investigation-report-(2009).pdf Shelf Number: 120624 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: ProFauna Indonesia Title: Pirated Parrots: ProFauna's Investigation of the Indonesian Parrot Smuggling to the Philippines Summary: There are about 85 parrot species in Indonesia, 14 of them are classified as threatened. One of the regions with many parrot species is Wallacea which includes Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and the Maluku Islands. 4 endangered species in Wallacea are the red-and-blue Lory (Eos histrio), yellowcrested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), blue-napped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucioinensis), and blackwinged Lory (Eos cyanogenia). The most threatened genus in Wallacea are the lorry and cockatoo ones, mainly caused by the trapping for trade. This trapping is made worse by habitat loss resulting in local extinctions for some species like the yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), salmon-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), red-and-blue Lory (Eos histrio), and the chattering Lory (Lorius garulus). All parrot species (Psittaciformes spp) are in Appendix II CITES, except those in Appendix I and a few in Appendxi III. There are 5 parrot species listed in Appendix I: Goffin’s Cockatoo (Cacatua goffini), the salmon-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) and the red-and-blue Lory (Eos histrio). This means that the commercial international trade in these parrots is principally prohibited and must be from captive bred birds not wild caught ones. Other species in Appendix II can be traded under the catching quotas and the permits issued by the Forestry Department. In 2007, Indonesia didn’t issue export quotas for any species, including parrots. Therefore, there is no legal export of Indonesian parrots. Even though there is no legal export for parrots from Indonesia, poaching of birds from the wild which are subsequently smuggled into the Philippines and domestically traded is still going on. A ProFauna Indonesia investigation in June – September 2007, funded by Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), reveals the fact that parrot smuggling from Maluku, Indonesia to the Philippines has been taking place until now. This poses a serious threat towards the parrot conservation in the wild. Details: Malang, Indonesia: ProFauna Indonesia, 2008. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 23, 2010 at: http://www.profauna.org/download/publication/pirated-parrot-(2008).pdf Year: 2008 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.profauna.org/download/publication/pirated-parrot-(2008).pdf Shelf Number: 120625 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPoachingSmugglingWildlife Crime |
Author: Setiono, Bambang Title: Fighting Forest Crime and Promoting Prudent Banking for Sustainable Forests Management: The Anti Money Laundering Approach Summary: If illegal logging was a crime involving only poor forest-dependent people, truck drivers or underpaid forest rangers, it would not be difficult to stop. With involvement of financiers of illegal logging, known as cukong, legal timber industries, and government officers, illegal logging becomes a complex problem not only for Indonesia, but also for the international forestry community. The current forestry law enforcement approach fails to capture the masterminds of illegal logging. However, the money laundering law enforcement approach which ‘follows the money’ provides an important option to deal with the masterminds of illegal logging. This new approach requires banks and other financial service providers to be more active and prudent in dealing with financial transactions related to their customers. Bank customers could include financiers of illegal logging, timber industries, law enforcement and government officers. Overall, proper implementation of the anti money laundering regime should provide opportunities for promoting prudent banking practices and sustainable forest management, and for curtailing forestry crimes. Details: Jakarta, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research, 2005. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: CIFOR Occasional Paper No. 44: Accessed February 1, 2011 at: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/OccPapers/OP-44.pdf Year: 2005 Country: International URL: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/OccPapers/OP-44.pdf Shelf Number: 120653 Keywords: Illegal LoggingMoney LaunderingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Tacconi, Luca Title: National and International Policies to Control Illegal Forest Activities Summary: The purpose of this study is to critically examine the range of national and international policy options available to reduce illegal forest activities. Illegal forest activities include a broad array of legal violations that range from violating ownership and use rights to engaging in corrupt relationships. They also may span activities at all stages of the forest production chain, from the acquisition of authorizations, to planning, to harvesting and transport of raw material and finished products, to financial management. Illegal forest activities pose a significant threat to the sustainability of forest ecosystems, result in losses of government revenues, foster a vicious cycle of bad governance, and may contribute to increased poverty and social conflict. As such, they have received considerable attention from the international community, particularly in recent years. Yet, significant gaps still exist both in the identification and evaluation of policy responses and in linking such responses to critical development priorities such as improved governance, improved livelihoods for the rural poor, environmental protection, sustainable forest management (SFM), and economic development. As such, the current debate on illegal forest activities has yet to recognize fully the broader implications of some options for such priorities. In this study we provide a framework for addressing these issues and to narrow these gaps. We present an overview of the symptomatic manifestations of illegal forest activities: Forest products generated in violation of government policies represent a very significant fraction of total production and may amount to 10-15 billion dollars in lost government revenues. We then provide a simple framework to understand the problem. In this framework we lay out that profit and income maximization are key aspects of the economic behavior of firms and individuals. Illegal behavior is more likely when the benefits derived from violating the law (e.g., timber mining, tax evasion, harvesting protected species or in unauthorized areas) exceed the costs of non-compliance. In large part, the policy options that are listed in the report consist of measures that reduce the economic rewards from illegal behavior, either by increasing the rewards of compliance, or by increasing the costs of non-compliance. Potential underlying market, governance and institutional causes of illegal forest activities, as well as capacity and technical factors are identified. We do so by first relying on the lessons learned from efforts to promote SFM over the past two decades. There are several reasons for doing so and particularly the fact that efforts to promote SFM and to reduce illegal forest activities are motivated by similar goals and challenges. These lessons learned from SFM experiences are then integrated with knowledge and insights gained from recent developments in our understanding of good forest governance to develop an array of possible policy responses by producer and consumer countries. An analysis of existing trade and environmental agreements, their lessons, and potential relevance to addressing illegal forest activities is presented. An analysis of trade data shows that Asian producer countries export mainly to other Asian countries, whereas African countries export mostly to Europe. Therefore, trade measures adopted by Asian consumer countries are most likely to have an impact on illegal trade and illegal logging in Asia (with the exception of China that imports from Africa as well). Trade measures implemented by European countries are most likely to be effective on illegal trade and illegal logging in Africa. The report concludes by presenting principles, criteria, and initial sequencing steps to aid the development of appropriate policy options to reduce illegal forest activities. Details: Jakarta, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research, 2003. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 1, 2011 at: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/events/Illegal-logging.pdf Year: 2003 Country: International URL: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/events/Illegal-logging.pdf Shelf Number: 120568 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal Trade (Forest Products)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Hubschle, Annette, compiler Title: Organised Crime in Southern Africa: First Annual Review Summary: In 2005 representatives of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Secretariat of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) discussed the lack of reliable information and research on organised crime and how it impacted on law enforcement in southern Africa. The lack of credible homegrown research data ultimately led to the conceptualisation of a joint research project between the Cape Town-based ISS Organised Crime and Money Laundering Programme and SARPCCO. The Enhancing Regional Responses Against Organised Crime (EROC) Project commenced in January 2008 and concludes in December 2010. The objectives of the research are to: Provide in-depth information on contemporary organised criminal activities in the sub-region to policy and decision makers; Analyse the transnational dynamics of organised criminal groups and networks; Determine whether, and to what extent, links exist between organised crime and terrorism; Consider and document the role that corruption plays in organised crime; and Evaluate the capacity and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in the sub-region to overcome organised crime. This report comprises the research findings of the first year of data collection (2008) for the EROC project. It is the first of three such reports that will be published by the ISS in collaboration with SARPCCO. It looks at selected organised criminal activities and observed levels of prevalence in 12 southern African countries. Research questions, methodologies, limitations and ethical considerations are discussed in detail. Due to the lack of statistical and quantitative data, the report relies mostly on qualitative methodologies. Representatives of law enforcement agencies, government departments and para-statals, civil society, business and professional associations, academics, prisoners, former gang members and members of the broader communities whose lives have been affected by organised crime, were consulted in one-on-one interviews, focus groups, observations and workshops. A team of field researchers led by a research coordinator collected the data presented and analysed in this report. The research was informed by a working definition of organised crime which was jointly developed by the heads of criminal investigation departments in southern Africa and the research team. The report shows that the more serious forms of crime in terms of the monetary value involved or the potential harm they cause have a transnational dimension, both in terms of being committed by people of varying nationalities and in terms of affecting more than one country. It has been established that organised crime in most countries is underpinned by corruption, which is either a facilitating activity or an organised criminal activity in its own right. The geo-political and economic environments of individual countries amplifies the significance of specific criminal activities, the commonest forms of which have been identified as stock theft, theft/hijacking of motor vehicles, cultivation of marijuana and a broad spectrum of economic crimes. Further, the research has shown that although economic crimes may not be as prevalent as other forms of crime, statistically their impact on the society and the economy are far reaching. Furthermore, the effectiveness of law enforcement against organised crime has been put in the spotlight. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2010. 101p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2011 at: http://www.iss.co.za/uploads/OrgCrimeReviewDec2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.iss.co.za/uploads/OrgCrimeReviewDec2010.pdf Shelf Number: 120675 Keywords: CorruptionCounterfeit GoodsDrug MarketsFinancial CrimesHuman TraffickingMoney LaunderingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime (South Africa)PoachingSmugglingStolen Motor VehiclesWildlife Crime |
Author: Haken, Jeremy Title: Transnational Crime In The Developing World Summary: This report analyzes the scale, flow, profit distribution, and impact of 12 different types of illicit trade: drugs, humans, wildlife, counterfeit goods and currency, human organs, small arms, diamonds and colored gemstones, oil, timber, fish, art and cultural property, and gold. Though the specific characteristics of each market vary, in general it can be said that these profitable and complex criminal operations originate primarily in developing countries, thrive in the space created by poverty, inequality, and state weakness, and contribute to forestalling economic prosperity for billions of people in countries across the world. Details: Washington, DC: Global Financial Integrity, 2011. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: http://www.gfip.org/storage/gfip/documents/reports/transcrime/gfi_transnational_crime_high-res.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.gfip.org/storage/gfip/documents/reports/transcrime/gfi_transnational_crime_high-res.pdf Shelf Number: 120716 Keywords: Art CrimeCounterfeitingDrug TraffickingFinancial CrimesHuman TraffickingIllicit TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentTransnational CrimeWildlife Crime |
Author: Scheyvens, Henry Title: Enhancing Customs Collaboration To Combat The Trade In Illegal Timber Summary: This report builds on the initiatives of the Asia Forest Partnership and East Asia and Pacific FLEG to promote cooperation among Customs, Forestry and other authorities to reduce the trade of illegal wood products. The goal of this review is to assist Customs and timber trade regulating agencies in their efforts to improve control over the international tropical timber trade, thereby preventing trade from being a driver of illegal logging and thus supporting the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests. This study is based on a wide-ranging analytical review of (i) Customs and illegal logging literature, (ii) international legal instruments, (iii) bilateral arrangements that assign or imply a role for Customs in combating the trade of illegal timber, (iv) model and existing agreements for Customs mutual administrative assistance, and (v) existing Customs networks. The review was augmented through consultations including Customs, Forestry and other officials, experts and key stakeholders. Further input was provided through the peer review workshop for this paper, which was held on 28-29 October 2009 in Bangkok. Details: Kanagawa, Japan: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2010. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/2784/attach/iges_trade_in_illegal_timber.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/2784/attach/iges_trade_in_illegal_timber.pdf Shelf Number: 120723 Keywords: Customs EnforcementIllegal TimberIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Yanfang, Tian Title: China's Imports of Russian Timber: Chinese Actors in the Timber Commodity Chain and Their Risks of Involvement in Illegal Logging and the Resultant Trade Summary: Since the end of the 1990s, the Sino-Russian border regions have witnessed a dramatic, unprecedented increase in cross-border timber trade that has made Russia the largest log supplier for China’s expanding wood industry sector. Driving factors include: severe constraints in China’s domestic wood supplies, the availability of rich forest resources in the Russian Far East and Siberia, liberalised trade policies and demand from both domestic and European, Japanese and US markets for low cost Chinese wood products. This study provides a contextual description and analysis of the cross-border timber trade boom and the actors involved. It examines the current challenges faced by a largely inefficient Russian forestry sector and decentralised Russian forest administration in the context of illegal logging and unsustainable forestry practices, both widely viewed as having reached serious dimensions. This study focuses on the involvement and role of Chinese actors throughout the supply chain. Chinese companies have entered the Russian forestry sector, introduced greater efficiency and proved competitive. This involvement has also opened doors for Chinese actors to inadvertently or intentionally participate in illegal activities throughout the supply chain. In addition to timber harvesting, Chinese actors are involved as intermediaries in the commercial log depots and control the wholesale timber market in some parts of Russia. Chinese actors have also increasingly invested in wood processing in Russia, partly in response to the adjustment of the Russian export tax on logs. Most recently, there has been a trend towards vertical integration for Chinese companies, with intermediaries and wood importers attempting to extend their business to every node of the trading network. On the Chinese side of the border, preferential tax policies and infrastructure investment have spurred a rapid development of the timber processing industry with private sector processing mills replacing state-owned timber processing factories. To promote responsible timber trade within this context of commodity chain transformation, the study recommends the following measures: Establish inspection sites near the commercial depots; Enhance the effectiveness of administrative inspection through technical improvement, harmonisation of regulations and setting-up of an integrated monitoring system; Localise international forest certification schemes; Chinese and Russian government agencies to provide joint guidance on documentation that could be used by traders to establish a chain of custody for forest products; Establish a China-Russian multi-stakeholder working group to monitor the timber trade and exchange customs data in a timely manner; Chinese government to revise its procurement policy to favour legal and sustainable wood. Details: Kanagawa, Japan: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2008. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Forest Conservation, Livelihoods and Rights Project - Occasional Paper No. 2: Accessed February 14, 2011 at: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/1569/attach/1569.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Russia URL: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/1569/attach/1569.pdf Shelf Number: 120769 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Lawson, Sam Title: Illegal Logging and Related Trade: Indicators of the Global Response Summary: Illegal logging and associated trade in illegally sourced wood products are important causes of deforestation and forest degradation in many developing countries. Forest destruction in turn contributes up to 20 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Illegal logging also robs cash-strapped governments of vital revenues, has a devastating impact on the livelihoods of forest-dependent people, and fosters corruption and conflict. Over the last decade governments, the private sector and civil society have recognized these impacts and have made increasing efforts to tackle the problem. This study attempts to measure the scale and the effectiveness of the response to illegal logging. It examines the response in countries where illegal logging occurs and also in those countries which import, process and consume illegally sourced wood. In addition to measuring the extent to which illegal logging and associated trade has changed over time, the study examines how attention to the problem has changed and how governments and the private sector have responded. Various indicators and means of verification have been designed, tested and used by Chatham House to measure the response in five timber-producing countries, five consuming countries, and two countries whose timber trade is largely based on processing imported raw material for export. The study finds that while illegal logging remains a major problem, the impact of the response has been considerable. Illegal logging is estimated to have fallen during the last decade by 50 per cent in Cameroon, by between 50 and 75 per cent in the Brazilian Amazon, and by 75 per cent in Indonesia, while imports of illegally sourced wood to the seven consumer and processing countries studied are down 30 per cent from their peak. Details: London: Chatham House, 2010. 132p. Source: Accessed February 15, 2011 at: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/16950_0710pr_illegallogging.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/16950_0710pr_illegallogging.pdf Shelf Number: 120770 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Lopez-Casero, Federico Title: Customs Collaboration to Combat the Interntional Trade in Illegal Timber Summary: While it is widely understood that forests fulfil economic, social and environmental functions that are critical to human survival and wellbeing, their destruction continues at an alarming rate; the area of primary forest in Asia decreased at an average rate of 1.5 million hectares per annum from 1990-2005 (FAO 2006, 135). Not all of this deforestation is planned. In developing tropical countries, illegal logging is a significant cause of forest degradation that often leads to permanent land use conversion. Because timber markets mostly do not distinguish between legal and illegal timber, international trade can inadvertently act as a driver of illegal logging. Various initiatives are underway to reform the international timber trade to support legal and sustainable forest operations. This policy brief presents the findings of a study conducted by IGES and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) from June 2008 to January 2010 under the Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) programme for customs agencies to be involved in this endeavour. We mostly associate customs with collecting revenues and combating the trade in narcotics, weapons, etc. but the IGESTNC study found that customs could also play an important role in reducing the cross-border movement of illegal timber. The recommendations of the IGES-TNC study include: • Use existing bilateral agreements on illegal logging to build the capacity of customs and collaboration within and between countries for more effective enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). • Use export declarations as a check on legality at the point of import. • Target regional processes and platforms for regular meetings between customs and forestry officials. • Make more effective use of existing World Customs Organisation (WCO) networks and tools. Details: Kanagawa, Japan: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2010. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief No. 11: Accessed February 15, 2011 at: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/2934/attach/pb11_e.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/2934/attach/pb11_e.pdf Shelf Number: 120772 Keywords: Customs/BordersIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: de Coning, Eve Title: Transnational Organized Crime in the Fishing Industry. Focus on: Trafficking in Persons; Smuggling of Migrants; Illicit Drugs Trafficking Summary: The study posed the questions whether there is transnational organized crime and other criminal activity in the fishing industry and, if so, what the vulnerabilities of the fishing industry are to transnational organized crime or other criminal activity. The research took the form of a six-month desk review of available literature, supplemented by ad hoc consultations and a two-day expert consultation held in Vienna, Austria. Importantly the study did not set out to tarnish the fishing industry. Rather, the study sought to determine whether criminal activities take place within the fishing industry to the detriment of law-abiding fishers, the legitimate fishing industry, local fishing communities and the general public alike. The study considered the involvement of the fishing industry or the use of fishing vessels in trafficking in persons (Chapter 2); smuggling of migrants (Chapter 3); illicit traffic in drugs (Chapter 4); and other forms of crime such as marine living resource crime, corruption, and piracy and other security related crimes (Chapter 5). Details: Vienna: United Nations, 2011. 146p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed May 9, 2011 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Issue_Paper_-_TOC_in_the_Fishing_Industry.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Issue_Paper_-_TOC_in_the_Fishing_Industry.pdf Shelf Number: 121659 Keywords: Child TraffickingDrug TraffickingForced LaborHuman TraffickingIllegal FishingIllegal MigrantsMaritime CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePirates/Piracy |
Author: Ruiz, German Andres Quimbayo Title: Crops for Illicit Use and Ecocide. Are Illicit Crops Really the Main Cause oe Damage to the Ecosystem in Colombia? Summary: According to the Colombian government, cocaine consumers are unaware of the ecological disaster caused by production of the alkaloid. If they knew that cocaine is perpetrating ecocide in the country that leads on world production of the drug – Colombia – they would stop consuming it. Based on this premise, the government has organised an information campaign called Shared Responsibility, which uses pictures and statistics to tell people about the destruction caused by coca and cocaine production in the country. The campaign, which has the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), amongst others, has mainly taken the form of a travelling exhibition that has visited different countries in Europe. As a heading on its website, the campaign states that “The first source of air pollution in the Colombian jungle is smoke from the burning of trees to grow coca.” This indicates – right from the start and without any supporting analysis whatsoever – who the campaign believes is mainly to blame for the catastrophe: the small farmer who grows coca. For decades, Colombia has been implementing supply-side strategies that aim to solve the problem of coca and cocaine production. These strategies have been ineffective and counter-productive. They have failed to reduce production, caused humanitarian crises and worsened the armed conflict that has afflicted the country for so long. In response to the failure of policies to reduce the supply, the government has started to insist that consumer countries need to strengthen policies to curb the demand. This is where the Shared Responsibility campaign seeks to play a role. Again without any analysis whatsoever, it focuses on the other scapegoat in this affair: the consumer. And so the small farmer and the consumer are portrayed as sharing responsibility for ecocide. This ignores the complexity of a problem that is global in scope and involves numerous different players on both the legal and the illegal sides. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2008. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing Nr. 28 Year: 2008 Country: Colombia URL: Shelf Number: 121494 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction(Colombia)Drug Control PolicyOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Felbab-Brown, Vanda Title: The Disappearing Act: The Illicit Trade in Wildlife in Asia Summary: Southeast Asia, with its linkages into the larger Asian market that includes China, Indonesia, and India, is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots as well as one of the world’s hotspots for the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts. Although demand markets for wildlife, including illegally-traded wildlife are present throughout the world, China ranks as the world’s largest market for illegal trade in wildlife, and wildlife products, followed by the United States. Globally, the volume and diversity of traded and consumed species have increased to phenomenal and unprecedented levels, contributing to very intense species loss. In Southeast Asia alone, where the illegal trade in wildlife is estimated to be worth $8-$10 billion per year, wildlife is harvested at many times the sustainable level, decimating ecosystems and driving species to extinction. Other environmental threats such as climate change, deforestation and other habitat destruction, industrial pollution, and the competition between indigenous species and invasive species often impact ecosystems on a large scale. But the unsustainable, and often illegal, trade in wildlife has the capacity to drive species into extirpation in large areas and often into worldwide extinction—especially species that are already vulnerable as a result of other environmental threats. The threats posed by illegal (and also legal, but badly managed and unsustainable) trade in wildlife are serious and multiple. They include irrevocable loss of species and biodiversity; extensive disturbances to larger ecosystems; economic losses due to the collapse of sustainable legal trade of a species and its medicinal and other derivate products, or of ecotourism linked to the species; severe threats to the food-supply and income of forest-dependent peoples; spread of viruses and diseases; and the strengthening of organized crime and militant groups who use the illegal trade in wildlife for provisions and financing. At the core of the illegal trade in wildlife is a strong and rapidly-expanding demand. This includes demand for bushmeat — by marginalized communities for whom wildlife meat is often the primary source of protein, and for the affluent who consume exotic meat as a luxury good. Other demand for wildlife is for curios, trophies, collections, and accessories, furs and pets. Much of demand arises out of the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which uses natural plant, animal, and mineral-based materials to treat a variety of illnesses, maintain good health and longevity, and enhance sexual potency, and is practiced by hundreds of millions of people. Although effective medicinal alternatives are now available—many of these TCM potions fail to cure anything, and the supply of ingredients for TCM frequently comes through illegal channels and crisis-level poaching — demand for TCM continues to expand greatly. The expansion of supply of illegally-sourced and traded wildlife has been facilitated by the opening up of economies in Southeast and East Asia and the strengthening of their international legal and illegal trade connections; infrastructure development linking previously inaccessible wilderness areas; and commercial logging. The illegal trade in wildlife involves a complex and diverse set of actors. These include illegal hunters — ranging from traditional and poor ones to professional hunters, layers of middlemen, top-level traders and organized-crime groups, launderers of wildlife products (such as corrupt captive- breeding farms and private zoos), militant groups, as well as local and far-away consumers, both affluent and some of the world’s poorest. Other stakeholders in the regulation of wildlife trade and conservation include logging companies, agribusinesses, the fishing industry, local police and en- forcement forces, and governments. Policies and enforcement strategies for curbing the illegal trade in wildlife to ensure wildlife conservation and preserve biodiversity need to address the complex and actor-specific drivers of the illegal behavior. In Southeast and East Asia, government policies to prevent illegal trade in wildlife continue to be generally characterized by weak laws governing wildlife trade, limited enforcement and low penalties. Government efforts to inform publics largely unaware of (and often indifferent to) how their consumer behavior contributes to the devastation of ecosystems in the region and world-wide also continue to be inadequate. Monitoring of captive-breeding facilities in Asia is often poor, thus facilitating the laundering of illegally-sourced wildlife and undermining the capacity of the legal trade in wildlife to curb illegal and unsustainable practices. Nonetheless, there has been intensification and improvement of government response to the illegal trade in wildlife in Asia, with many governments in the region toughening laws and increasing law enforcement, the Southeast Asian countries establishing the ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) to facilitate law enforcement, and even China undertaking more extensive labeling of legal wildlife products. The extent of unsustainable, environmentally damaging, and illegal practices that still characterize the wildlife trade in Asia and in many parts of the world cries out for better forms of regulation and more effective law enforcement. Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions to the problem; and almost every particular regulatory policy is either difficult to implement or entails difficult trade-offs and dilemmas. Details: Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 2011. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper No. 6: Accessed July 7, 2011 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2011/06_illegal_wildlife_trade_felbabbrown/06_illegal_wildlife_trade_felbabbrown.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Asia URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2011/06_illegal_wildlife_trade_felbabbrown/06_illegal_wildlife_trade_felbabbrown.pdf Shelf Number: 122000 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal Wildlife TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife Crime (Asia) |
Author: de Ville, Geraud Title: Good Deal, Bad Deal. Report of the conference "Illegal Trade in Natural Resources - What Can Brussels Do?" Summary: Natural resources are the backbone of the global economy. Many emerging economies are based on exporting natural resources to industrialised countries fuelling global markets in much needed raw materials. In accountable States, the income generated should be used to serve development needs, for example to finance the construction of infrastructures or programmes for poverty alleviation. However, governments sometimes lack the capacity or the legitimacy to regulate the exploitation of these assets. In these cases, natural resources can become a cause for corruption, social disputes and even violent conflicts. The problem is well known. In countries plagued by weak governance and in conflict‐ridden countries, the governments are incapable of controlling domestic resources that are being exploited criminally. These illegally extracted resources are exported owing to illegal doings of corrupt businessmen, rebels and also state and military officials. Importing countries are a key link in this dark picture as they unintentionally provide the finances that reinforce bad elements in the system. Therefore greater attention should be dedicated to their role and responsibili:es. A central element in the Institute for Environmental Security’s “Pathfinder Programme” on new legal mechanisms to combat trade in illegally extracted natural resources was the organization of a state‐of‐the‐art conference in Brussels. The idea was not to focus on one specific resource such as timber or minerals or on a specific region or country such as the DRC or Indonesia but to build bridges between practitioners and policy makers and try to understand what a regional power such as the European Union could do to help combat trade in illegally extracted natural resources. Details: The Hague: Institute for Environmental Security, 2010. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 12, 2011 at: http://www.envirosecurity.org/pathfinder/conference/Report_Final_med.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.envirosecurity.org/pathfinder/conference/Report_Final_med.pdf Shelf Number: 122038 Keywords: Illegal TradeNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Hoisington, Caroline Title: Rough Trade: How Australia's Trade Policies Contribute to Illegal Logging in the Pacific Region Summary: The Australian Government is not doing enough to ensure that Australian imports of forestry products are consistent with the goals of Australian aid programs and stated commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. Australian aid includes programs and projects to help Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Island nations to better manage their forestry resources for long-term sustainability, maximum socioeconomic benefit for their citizens and to participate in REDD (reduced emissions from deforestation and forest destruction), the innovative program rewarding carbon sequestration. Illegal logging in these countries is more extensive than generally understood and it is a serious impediment to achieving the goals of Australian aid programs. Illegal logging is a major cause of deforestation and environmental destruction; it undermines nations’ efforts to manage forest resources for a sustainable industry, destroys the livelihood of forest-dwellers and costs governments large sums in lost revenue. It fosters corruption and is associated with organised crime and violence. It undercuts the international and Australian domestic markets for wood products from legally managed forestry by being cheaper. Deforestation is responsible for about 20 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, and illegal logging is responsible for a large part of the deforestation. Continued illegal logging demonstrates that governments cannot protect their forest resources and it undermines their credibility for participation in the REDD mechanism. Ultimately, illegal logging is market-driven and a significant part of the demand is international. Australia inadvertently contributes to these problems by importing timber and wood products, including wooden furniture, without adequate controls in place to ensure that the wood is legally sourced. The lack of legal mechanisms available to Customs for the control of illegal wood imports is inconsistent with the goal of Australia’s aid program, environmentally sound management of natural resources among neighbouring countries and at home. It may benefit the importers of certain products by keeping prices low but those artificially low prices undercut Australia’s own forestry and forestry-based industries. Several specific measures are recommended to ensure that timber and wood-product imports are legally sourced. Details: Bruce, ACT, AUS: The Australia Institute, University of Canberra, 2010. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Institute Paper No. 5: Accessed July 27, 2011 at: www.tai.org.au Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 122177 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Australia)Illegal TradeNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime |
Author: Magrath, William Title: CHAINSAW Project: An INTERPOL Perspective on Law Enforcement in Illegal Logging Summary: INTERPOL’s Project CHAINSAW was initiated in July 2008 in consultation with the World Bank. The World Bank raised concern that the illegal logging issue has, to date, principally been considered from an environmental perspective and requested INTERPOL, the only International Criminal Police Organisation, to examine the problem from the perspective of international criminal justice. When it comes to breaching national and international laws, undertaking and developing illegal activities at transnational level, and jeopardizing public safety; illegal logging becomes a criminal issue and the individuals responsible for illegal logging become criminals subject to sanctions. The World Bank also underlined the limited knowledge of the criminal justice system and need for better understanding of international law enforcement mechanisms among forestry policy makers. The CHAINSAW report is developed from a perspective of timber as a commodity, and illegal logging (more precisely illegal timber trafficking) as a succession of criminal activities undertaken at an international level by a network of organized criminals. The report provides a better appreciation of law enforcement systems and a better understanding of the way police agencies cooperate, or in some cases fail to cooperate, at an international level. It discusses the role and functions of INTERPOL to a non law enforcement audience This report is not exhaustive but aims to give a better idea of how legal texts, law enforcement agencies, and police cooperation all form a criminal justice system that could be more relevant and applicable to forest governance. The CHAINSAW report is not an operational report; it does not contain nominal data such as the names of illegal timber traffickers, names of companies engaging in illegal activities, or the locations of those activities. It will define the structure of the phenomenon and its different components, and also identify the law enforcement mechanisms and tools available to counter illegal logging. The CHAINSAW report includes information obtained from a variety of sources including police information from INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCB’s), data collected by national customs offices, research papers by environmental organisations, articles from criminology journals, and reports written by Non-governmental Organisations (NGO’s). One of the difficulties met while drafting the report was locating accurate statistics. The authors found that when used to support a point of view, numerical data is often biased, if not conflicting. This has resulted, for this report, in available statistics being employed only for illustrative purposes, not demonstrative. Nonetheless it is hoped that the contents of this report will provide a useful additional framework for policy makers and those responsible for forest governance and will help galvanize interest and support for stronger efforts among traditional law enforcement authorities to address illegal logging and illegal timber trade. Details: Lyon, France: INTERPOL; Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2010? 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2011 at: http://www.interpol.int/Public/EnvironmentalCrime/Manual/WorldBankChainsawIllegalLoggingReport.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.interpol.int/Public/EnvironmentalCrime/Manual/WorldBankChainsawIllegalLoggingReport.pdf Shelf Number: 122377 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Greenpeace Title: The Cod Fishery in the Baltic Sea: Unsustainable and Illegal Summary: The United Nations (UN) states that the main factors determining biodiversity loss in our oceans are overfishing and climate change. Cod is a case in point. Once so dense that fish could literally be scooped out of the sea, the majority of the cod stocks worldwide are now commercially extinct, or very close to it. This is true in the Baltic Sea, particularly for the eastern stock. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES: the scientific advisory body for the northeastern Atlantic region) is calling for a drastic reduction of quotas, or even for a cessation of cod fishing in waters of the eastern Baltic Sea. However, the dire warnings from ICES have been ignored in the past, and there is no reason to be more optimistic this time. For instance, the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the EU has set the 2006 total allowable catch for Eastern Baltic cod at a level more than three times that advised by ICES. In addition to the official quota of 49,000 tonnes, a huge amount of illegally caught cod is landed in harbours around the Baltic Sea for consumption within the EU market. ICES estimates that in 2005, the amount of illegally caught cod reached close to 15,000 tonnes, which is 38 % above the official landings. The Polish fleet, in particular, is fishing above its allocated quota. This report summarises the disastrous situation, gives an overview of the Baltic cod fleet and markets, and describes the EU’s political approach to managing Baltic cod fisheries, which may be viewed as a failure to this point in time. Details: Amsterdam: Greenpeace, 2006. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 17, 2011 at: http://www.imcsnet.org/imcs/docs/the_cod_fishery_in_the_Baltic_sea_unsustainable_illegal.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Europe URL: http://www.imcsnet.org/imcs/docs/the_cod_fishery_in_the_Baltic_sea_unsustainable_illegal.pdf Shelf Number: 122363 Keywords: Illegal Fishing (Baltic Sea)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Shelley, Tara O'Connor Title: Environmental Threat, Environmental Crime Salience, and Social Control Summary: The research explores whether perceptions of environmental threat influence support for environmental controls. To fulfill this purpose, the research builds on social threat and social control theory, which initially emphasized the putative threat of minorities as a factor that can influence mechanisms of social control. I argue the relevance of threat for social control can be more broadly understood and that social threats can have a variety of origins. Indeed, there are a number of threats that may be posed by various environmentally sensitive factors such as hazardous waste disposal, industrial pollution, and chemical spills. Using national survey data collected in the spring of 2002, I assess whether perceptions of environmental threats and environmental crime salience are related to support for social control. Since it is plausible that respondents can experience different dimensions of environmental threat, I examine three variations—threats perceived at the general or global level, threats that impact individual health and safety, and the proximity of environmental threats. I also consider two separate types of social control. The first examines support for criminal justice controls, while the second explores support for conservation/policy oriented forms of control. The research findings indicate that perceptions of environmental threat significantly increase support for environmental controls. More specifically, it appears that when environmental threats are proximate and personal, individuals are consistently more willing to endorse the use of punitive criminal justice controls. Conversely, people are not willing to support the use of punitive sanctions for general environmental threats that have no immediate or direct impact on them. In that context, conservation controls are consistently viewed as the appropriate form of control. The salience of environmental crime is also a consistent predictor of conservation and punitive controls. Details: Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2006. 257p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 2, 2011 at: http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-07052006-174753/ Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-07052006-174753/ Shelf Number: 122611 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentPollutionSocial Control Theory |
Author: Faure, Michael G. Title: Law and Economics of Environmental Crime: a Survey Summary: In the economic analysis of law, much attention has been paid to the instruments to be used for the control of environmental pollution. However, lawyers seem to focus mainly on environmental standards (emission standards and quality standards) and on the question of how these standards should be set, whereas economists (mostly interested in environmental economics) focus mainly on 'economic instruments' (emission trading and taxes). Environmental law is often categorised as administrative law. However, in practice the whole body of environmental law is, to a large extent, also criminal law. The usual way in which environmental law is structured consists of the imposition on industry of specific administrative requirements, specifying the permissible amounts and quality of polluting emissions, and the punishment, as environmental crimes, of violations of these requirements. In legal literature, much attention has been paid to the way in which the law should use penal sanctions to deter environmental pollution, but environmental criminal law has not, so far, been very often subjected to an economic analysis. The goal of this paper is to provide an overview of the way in which traditional theories on the economics of crime have been applied to environmental criminal law. We will therefore begin by addressing the question of why, according to the economist literature criminal law should at all be used to deter environmental pollution. An inevitable question in that respect, obviously, is whether other instruments, such as civil liability, would not suffice for the deterrence of environmental pollution (§ 2). In addition, we will address the manner in which the literature on the economics of crime relates to environmental pollution (§ 3). The paper also looks at what the optimal penalties for environmental pollution would be (§ 4). Moreover, in practice it can be observed that there is an increasing interest in administrative penal law. Hence, the question arises as to why, in some cases, administrative law might provide better results than criminal law (§ 5). In addition, given that environmental crimes are committed mostly within the corporate sphere, it is necessary to ask whether criminal law should be applied to companies and/or to individual actors. (§ 6). Thus, our paper attempts to provide a survey of the literature concerning the way in which criminal law has been, and can be, used in the fight against environmental pollution. Details: Zurich: Swiss Institute of Technology, 2003. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2011 at: http://www.hertig.ethz.ch/LE_2004_files/Papers/Faure_Environmental_Crime.pdf Year: 2003 Country: International URL: http://www.hertig.ethz.ch/LE_2004_files/Papers/Faure_Environmental_Crime.pdf Shelf Number: 122588 Keywords: Economics of CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Chimeli, Ariaster B. Title: The Use of Violence in Illegal Markets: Evidence from Mahogany Trade in the Brazilian Amazon Summary: Agents operating in illegal markets cannot resort to the justice system to guarantee property rights, to enforce contracts, or to seek protection from competitors’ improper behaviors. In these contexts, violence is used to enforce previous agreements and to fight for market share. This relationship plays a major role in the debate on the pernicious effects of the illegality of drug trade. This paper explores a singular episode of transition of a market from legal to illegal to provide a first piece of evidence on the causal effect of illegality on systemic violence. Brazil has historically been the main world producer of big leaf mahogany (a tropical wood). Starting in the 1990s, policies restricting extraction and trade of mahogany, culminating with prohibition, were implemented. First, we present evidence that large scale mahogany trade persisted after prohibition, through misclassification of mahogany exports as “other tropical timber species.” Second, we document relative increases in violence after prohibition in areas with: (i) higher share of mahogany exports before prohibition; (ii) higher suspected illegal mahogany activity after prohibition; and (iii) natural occurrence of mahogany. We believe this is one of the first documented experiences of increase in violence following the transition of a market from legal to illegal. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor, 2011. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper, No. 5923: Accessed September 3, 2011 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp5923.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Brazil URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp5923.pdf Shelf Number: 122631 Keywords: HomicidesIllegal LoggingIllegal Markets (Brazil)Offenses Against the EnvironmentTimberViolence |
Author: Kazmierow, Bronek Title: Compliance Decision Making: Perceptions, Experiences and Factors Influencing Regulatory Compliance Summary: This report presents research findings a out commercial fishers' compliance decision making. The study addressed three objectives: 1. To examine commercial fishers' experiences and perceptions of fisheries compliance. 2. To identify factors influencing compliance behaviour and measure their relative importance. 3. To identify implications for fisheries compliance management. These objectives were investigated using a mixed-method approach. Methods included a literature review, in-depth interviews with 20 skippers and a postal questionnaire survey of commercial fishers (n = 104). Study participants were commercial fishers operating within the South-East fin fishery, a mixed fishery, which was used as a case study. Near the study conclusion, a workshop was held etween researchers and Ministry of Fisheries' staff to discuss study results and highlight management implications. Study findings pertain to the case study South-East commercial fin fishery. Care must be taken if generalising study findings to other fisheries, given the particular characteristics of the South-East fin fishery. A range of fishing-related characteristics was evident amongst study participants, including those who did and did not own quota, use of a variety of fishing techniques, fishing from a wide spread of locations and involvement in fishing operations of different scales. The term „compliance‟ was defined initially using the simple terms „keeping within the fisheries rules and regulations‟. For the survey phase of the study, it was necessary to develop a more detailed operational definition for compliance. The operational definition derived for „major rule reaches‟ was misreporting, dumping, trucking, using illegal gear or techniques, or fishing within a prohiited area; whereas „minor rule reaches‟ were all other lesser offences (i.e. those not relating to a major rule). STUDY FINDINGS Two main theoretical approaches to understanding compliance behaviour were identified from the literature: (i) deterrence, and (ii) normative and social influences. A third category of „other‟ factors also was linked to commercial fishers' compliance decision making. From these three categories, a list of 16 specific factors was derived. These factors formed the basis for the interview and survey phases of the study. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Fisheries, 2010. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2011 at: http://www.fish.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/E028429E-8F77-4692-B58B-5A2BBD66848C/0/Compliance_research_report_2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.fish.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/E028429E-8F77-4692-B58B-5A2BBD66848C/0/Compliance_research_report_2010.pdf Shelf Number: 122644 Keywords: Illegal Fishing (New Zealand)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Spalding, Mark K. Title: Summary: This analysis outlines a successful binational campaign to protect critical grey whale habitat by using the rule of law in Mexico to hold the state and its representatives accountable to their constituencies, and thus to stop an industrial saltworks project in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Beginning with a review of the facts of the dispute over an industrial saltworks development at Laguna San Ignacio; then tracing the role of binational cooperation in the Campaign itself; and highlighting the ten most important coordinated actions taken by the binational coalition; followed by analysis of the outcome in light of the cooperation. An afterward will discuss the rule of law in relationship to the land easements recently put in place to further protect the lagoon. The Laguna San Ignacio campaign is one of the best case studies of the challenges and successes of cross-border, cross-sectoral, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Details: La Jolla and San Diego, CA: UCSD Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies and USD Trans-Border Institute, 2006. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: JUSTICE IN MEXICO Working Paper Series, Issue Number 9, 2006; Accessed October 29, 2011 at: http://justiceinmexico.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/11-mobilizing_across_borders_the_case_of_the_laguna_san_ignacio_saltworks_project.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://justiceinmexico.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/11-mobilizing_across_borders_the_case_of_the_laguna_san_ignacio_saltworks_project.pdf Shelf Number: 123176 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime (U.S.)Wildlife Protection |
Author: Palmer, Charles E. Title: The Extent and Causes of Illegal Logging: An Analysis of a Major Cause of Tropical Deforestation in Indonesia Summary: This paper considers the scale and underlying causes of recent high rates of deforestation in Indonesia. Its extent during 1997-98 is analysed using a materials balance model, the results of which demonstrate the seriousness of the problem at a time when the Indonesian economy was suffering the effects of the Asian financial crisis. The behaviour of the principal agents, illegal loggers, is discussed in the context of market and government failures and rent-seeking or corruption. A culture of corruption originated at the top of government during the tenure of ex-President Suharto, leading to market and government failures in the forestry sector, thus resulting in the creation of high levels of rent. A culture of corruption ensures that policy failures cannot be reversed and may lead to further intervention to benefit the status quo. Rent-seeking behaviour then spread to all levels of government, via a lack of good example at the top, leading to the creation of illegal logging networks. Since rent from illegal logging is higher than that for legal logging, there is an incentive for agents to ignore costs associated with sustainable forest management. Illegal logging, and hence inefficient resource use, is further encouraged by institutional failures such as weak enforcement and monitoring capacity, as well as policy failures at the international level too. Consequently, Indonesia’s forests have been intensively deforested for perhaps as long as 30 years, with little or no attention given to sustainable forest management. Details: London: Economics Department, University College London and Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment, University College London and University of East Anglia, 2001(?). 33p. Source: Internet Resource: CSERGE Working Paper: Accessed November 1, 2011 at: http://www.cserge.ucl.ac.uk/Illegal_Logging.pdf Year: 2001 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.cserge.ucl.ac.uk/Illegal_Logging.pdf Shelf Number: 123209 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Leggett, Ted Title: Organized Crime and Instability in Central Africa: A Threat Assessment Summary: This study was undertaken to inform programme development efforts in the context of UNODC’s regional programme approach. The Great Lakes region of Central Africa is a region of vast natural resources – and great potential – with a tragic history. Remarkable progress has been made in some countries, while others are only now beginning to find their feet. Many of the problems facing the region stretch back to colonial times, but the current situation is best explained by reference to more recent events. By some estimates, over five million people died during the eight-country conflict known as the Second Congo War which started in 1998, making it one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II. The human impact has been tremendous: communities have been displaced, weapons disseminated, the population traumatized, and the economy decimated. Although the formal hostilities ended in 2002-2003, violence has continued to afflict the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Smouldering grievances, often highly local ones, were again stirred to a blaze. Ethnic tensions in Ituri, a region in Orientale province, stretch back many decades, but violence surged again after the end of the war. The Kivu provinces experienced continuing bouts of extreme brutality fuelled by competition for land and resources, as well as by ethnic grievances. Today, however, the DRC is in a state of transition. Deaths due to disease and malnutrition, tied in part to the displacement caused by violence, continue, but the World Bank estimates that there were only 610 battlefield deaths in 2008. Though no one is declaring victory yet, it appears that the scale of the conflict has substantially declined. The violence that remains, however, is a potent mix of interpersonal violence and the continuing presence of armed groups across the Eastern DRC, much of which is connected to the exploitation of natural resources. The violence is preventing the region as a whole from benefiting from development opportunities that would come with stability. Details: Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2011. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 4, 2011 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/Central_Africa_Report_2011_web.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Africa URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/Central_Africa_Report_2011_web.pdf Shelf Number: 123225 Keywords: Exploitation of Natural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime (Central Africa)ViolenceViolent CrimeWildlife Crime |
Author: Savona, Ernesto U. Title: Understudied Organized Crime Offending: A Discussion of the Canadian Situation in the International Context Summary: This report provides an analysis of selected possible understudied organized crime activities in the Canadian context, contributing to the knowledge on both of the nature and the scope of organized crime. The analysis involved an extensive review of the existing state of organized crime literature in the international context. The analysis was based on available literature, official reports and informed speculations. Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2011. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: http://transcrime.cs.unitn.it/tc/fso/pubblicazioni/AP/Understudied_Organized_Crime_Offending_A_Discussion_of_the_Canadian_Situation_in_the_International_Context-English.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://transcrime.cs.unitn.it/tc/fso/pubblicazioni/AP/Understudied_Organized_Crime_Offending_A_Discussion_of_the_Canadian_Situation_in_the_International_Context-English.pdf Shelf Number: 123556 Keywords: Counterfeit GoodsCounterfeitingGamblingHazardous WastesOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife Crime |
Author: New Jersey. Commission of Investigation Title: Industrious Subversion: Circumvention of Oversight in Solid Waste and Recycling in New Jersey Summary: Over the years, lawmakers, regulators and law enforcement officials repeatedly have taken aim at organized crime and other criminal elements in New Jersey’s solid waste industry. Garbage mobsters have been prosecuted and jailed, their waste-hauling cartels have been dismantled, and special licensing requirements have been established – all in an effort to prevent convicted felons and other unscrupulous individuals from systematically infiltrating and subverting what collectively constitutes one of the State’s largest commercial enterprises impacting the health and quality of life of the citizens of New Jersey. Despite these actions, the integrity of this industry remains in peril. The State Commission of Investigation, which first uncovered significant criminal intrusion into solid waste as far back as the late 1960s, has found that the industry today remains open to manipulation and abuse by criminal elements that circumvent the State’s existing regulatory and oversight system. The urgency of this matter is compounded by evidence that convicted felons, including organized crime members and associates, profit heavily from commercial recycling, which, though a lucrative adjunct to solid waste, has remained largely unregulated. That is the case even though recycling has developed and grown to be an economic force far beyond what was envisioned when New Jersey adopted mandatory recycling nearly 25 years ago. The Commission’s latest investigation has revealed that individuals who were banned from the solid waste industry in New Jersey years ago because of ties to organized crime or and other criminal activities nonetheless have found ways to conduct a lucrative commerce in waste-hauling and recycling here. In some cases, they operate behind the guise of seemingly legitimate front companies. In other, they make money secondarily as the owners of real estate and/or equipment leased to licensed waste companies. In still others, their business interests are covertly embedded in firms owned and operated byu relatives whose credentials and clean criminal records satisfy solid waste licensing requirements. Among the most disturbing trends identified during this inquiry is the fact that New Jersey once again has become a haven for criminally tainted garbage and recycling entrepreneurs who were kicked out of the business as a result of heightened vigilance and stronger rules elsewhere, most notably in neighboring New York. During this investigation, the Commission identified more than 30 individuals debarred by New York but currently engaged in commercial solid waste and/or recycling in New Jersey. Of particular concern is the vulnerability to corruption of certain activities, such as the recycling and disposal of contaminated soil and demolition debris that pose serious potential environmental and public health consequences. Details: Trenton: New Jersey Commission of Investigation, 2011. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: http://www.state.nj.us/sci/pdf/Solid%20Waste%20Report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.state.nj.us/sci/pdf/Solid%20Waste%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 123565 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime (New Jersey)Recycling IndustrySolid Waste Industry |
Author: White, Rob Title: Key Vulnerabilities & Limitations in the Management of Hazardous Waste and Its Disposal Summary: This paper outlines the process of developing a matrix to assess overall environmental regulatory performance, in the context of key vulnerabilities and limitations in the management of hazardous waste and its disposal. Details: Hobart, Tasmania: School of Sociology and Social Work, University of Tasmania, 2011. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper No. 3: Accessed January 13, 2012 at: http://www.utas.edu.au/sociology/CRU/Briefing_Paper_3_Key_Vulnerabilities_and_Limitations_in_the_Management_of_Hazardous_Waste_and_its_Disposal.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.utas.edu.au/sociology/CRU/Briefing_Paper_3_Key_Vulnerabilities_and_Limitations_in_the_Management_of_Hazardous_Waste_and_its_Disposal.pdf Shelf Number: 123603 Keywords: Hazardous WasteOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWaste Management (Australia) |
Author: Engler, Maylynn Title: Opportunity or Threat: The Role of the European Union in Global Wildlife Trade Summary: The European Union (EU) ranks as the top global importer by value of many wild animal and plant commodities, including tropical timber, caviar, reptile skins and live reptiles. In 2005, the legal trade in wildlife products in the EU had an estimated declared import value of EUR93 billion, and EUR2.5 billion excluding timber and fisheries. As EU membership has expanded, the magnitude of the EU market for wildlife and wildlife products has also increased. The links between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are now universally acknowledged, for example in the Millennium Development Goals and the conclusions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. A sustainable trade in wild species can contribute significantly to rural incomes, and the effect upon local economies in developing countries can be substantial. The high value of wildlife and wildlife products can also provide a positive incentive for local communities to conserve wild species and their habitats. Consequently, sustainable wildlife trade is potentially beneficial to species and habitat conservation, as well as contributing towards sustainable livelihoods and development. However, unsustainable and illegal trade is a major factor driving biodiversity loss and poses a serious threat to the long-term survival of species including Big-leaf Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla, Vicuña Vicugna vicugna, and sturgeon species. Illegal wildlife trade also affects the economies of developing countries: illegal logging costs developing country governments an estimated EUR10–15 billion every year in lost revenue. There is a huge and escalating demand in Member States for exotic pets, tropical timber, and other wildlife products. While the majority of this wildlife trade into and within the EU is conducted legally, continued demand for some rare and protected species means that illegal wildlife trade still occurs. From 2003 to 2004, enforcement authorities in the EU made over 7000 seizures involving over 3.5 million CITES-listed specimens; from 2000–2005, almost 12 t of caviar were seized. The effect on wild populations of rare and endangered species can be devastating: in the last four years seizures in the EU of the Critically Endangered Egyptian Tortoise Testudo kleinmanni represented around 13% of the total estimated population remaining in the wild. The demand for rare specimens and products means that black market values can be very high: certain species of tortoise can fetch EUR30 000 per specimen. Low political awareness is also an exacerbating factor behind unsustainable and illegal trade, as are high prices for wildlife and low penalties. Low penalties may also influence trade routes: countries with low penalties become the gateway for illegal trade. It is little wonder that organized crime syndicates are engaged in wildlife crime. TheEUhas accomplished many significant achievements in wildlife law enforcement. These could be enhanced considerably through greater national, regional and interregional co-ordination. A co-ordinated EU wildlife trade enforcement action plan with identified priorities, and building on growing political will would considerably strengthen the EU’s response to illegal trade. The sustainability of the trade in wildlife is another key issue to address. Four case studies in this report (tropical timber, reptiles, caviar, and Vicuña products) highlight the role the EU plays in the global wildlife trade, and how the EU could co-ordinate its external assistance actions to maximise effectiveness. The European Commission and EUMember States have made a number of laudable interventions to ensure that trade is sustainable. However, EU external interventions are ad hoc and there are no means of ensuring co-ordination or complementarity of actions from the Member States or the European Commission. A strategic approach, based on priorities identified in collaboration with range States, would enable synergies to be developed, coordination between programmes and monitoring of the effectiveness of assistance interventions. The EU has made a number of policy commitments relevant to wildlife trade. The EU’s Sustainable Development Strategy provides the broad framework for the responsible management of natural resources and requires environmental sustainability to be part of all EU external policies. The Thematic Programme for Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (ENRTP), under the Thematic Strategy, identifies broad objectives which align strongly with the objectives of the CITES Strategic Vision and with priorities identified in this report for EU external assistance. Furthermore, the EU Biodiversity Action Plan specifically calls for a co-ordinated EU response to unsustainable trade and constructive follow up to EU import suspensions. These political commitments set a positive course for the EU in taking responsibility to ensure wildlife trade is sustainable. But they are vague in terms of priorities, concrete targets and timelines required to achieve these goals, and lack specific guidance on meeting these obligations. Wildlife trade is implicitly recognized in all EU commitments to biodiversity conservation and its interface with sustainable development. Explicit acknowledgement of the steps required to achieve legal and sustainable wildlife trade came in December 2006 when the EU Council of Ministers adopted Council Conclusions calling upon the European Commission and the Member States: • To build capacity to strengthen implementation of CITES and policies for the conservation and sustain able use of wildlife in developing countries, ensuring complementarity of assistance provided, and • To reinforce efforts to combat illegal trade through a strengthened and co-ordinated response and actions for the enforcement of CITES. Details: Brussels, Belgium: Traffic Europe, 2007. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Traffic Europe Report: Accessed February 13, 2012 at: www.traffic.org/general-reports/traffic_pub_trade15.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 124113 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWild Animal TradeWildlife Crime (Europe) |
Author: Kessler, Bryce R. Title: Perceptions of Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens about Effectiveness of Law Enforcement Programs Summary: Conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat for future generations has been very important in America. The decline, if not extinction, of native wildlife have become major issues in the conservation field. Youth are vulnerable to following the practices of a society and youth are the future in protecting and conserving natural resources. Illegal hunting and fishing have caused the extinction or demise of many wildlife species. Law enforcement at both federal and state levels has been addressing wildlife crimes for well over a hundred years. Natural resource law enforcement programs are used every day in order to protect this nations’ wildlife for future generations. In Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens have been tasked with protecting Texas’ natural resources. This study was created in order to find out the perceptions of Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens about effectiveness of law enforcement programs within the department. A survey was sent to game wardens throughout the state of Texas to find out the effectiveness of the following law enforcement programs: fish patrol, game patrol, Operation Game Thief, and educational programs. The effectiveness of the above programs was based on six categories of effectiveness. The six categories of effectiveness used were specific deterrence, general deterrence, detection, cost effectiveness, public support, and Operation Game Thief. Game wardens ranked each program on how well they perceived the program in being effective. An additional survey was added to this research paper as exploratory research in order to explore possible concerns about recruitment and retention within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division of Law Enforcement. The four law enforcement programs studied received above average support from game wardens throughout the state. Fish and game patrol were considered the most effective in the perception of effectiveness categories. Even though Operation Game Thief and educational programs were considered to be less effective, the programs were still supported by a majority of game wardens. The recruitment and retention survey illustrated that a large number of game wardens were concerned about recruitment and retention within the Texas Parks & Wildlife Law Enforcement Division. Details: San Marcos, Texas: Texas State University-San Marcos, 2005. Source: Applied Research Project, Paper 5, Master's Thesis: Internet Resource: Accessed February 18, 2012 at Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 124175 Keywords: Illegal HuntingLaw EnforcementOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime Illegal Fishing |
Author: LeBillon, Philippe Title: Extractive Sectors and Illicit Financial Flows: What Role for Revenue Governance Initiatives? Summary: Countries highly dependent on natural resources are among the most severely affected by the problem of illicit financial flows. Despite a lack of definite studies proving the correlation between higher dependency on natural resources and higher levels of illicit flows, there are grounds to believe extractive industries’ revenues provide a large contribution to these flows. Most existing initiatives to address governance issues in extractive sectors have not been designed with the problem of illicit financial flows in mind. They have generally contributed to increased levels of transparency in the sector but have not significantly influenced the likelihood that revenues from natural resources will be misappropriated and illicitly transferred. But extractive industries initiatives can be improved in this regard, and development aid, along with other stakeholders, can help. Among other priorities, transparency initiatives should demand higher disaggregation of information disclosed by extractive companies and host governments. Transparency requirements should extend beyond revenues to licensing, contracts, physical resource flows, and other production factors, as well as to public expenditure. Extractives transparency initiatives also need to integrate elements of the tax justice and tax evasion agendas in order to expand their relevance to the effort to reduce illicit financial flows. Details: Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (U4 Issue 2011:13) 41 p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 29, 2012 at: http://www.u4.no/publications/extractive-sectors-and-illicit-financial-flows-what-role-for-revenue-governance-initiatives/ Year: 0 Country: International URL: http://www.u4.no/publications/extractive-sectors-and-illicit-financial-flows-what-role-for-revenue-governance-initiatives/ Shelf Number: 124321 Keywords: Financial CrimesNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentTax Evasion |
Author: Fröhlich, Tanja Title: Organised environmental crime in a few Candidate Countries Summary: The study at issue investigates organized environmental crime in the five Accession Countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland. The study encompasses: a numerical evaluation of cases of organised environmental crime in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland; an analysis of the legal environment concerning organised environmental crime in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland; a review of the enforcement structures concerning organised environmental crime in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland. The following sectors are covered: illegal commercial trade in endangered species and their products; illegal pollution, dumping and storage of waste, including transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste; illegal commercial trade in ozone depleting substances; illegal dumping and shipment of radioactive waste and potentially radioactive material; illegal logging and illegal trade in wood; and illegal fishing. Details: Kassel, Germany: BfU, 2003. 625p. Source: Final Report: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2012 at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/crime/pdf/organised_candidate_countries.pdf Year: 2003 Country: Europe URL: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/crime/pdf/organised_candidate_countries.pdf Shelf Number: 124362 Keywords: Endangered SpeciesEnvironmental Crime (Czech Republic) (Estonia) (HuIllegal FishingIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePollution |
Author: Bosello, Francesco Title: The Economic and Environmental Effects of an EU Ban on Illegal Logging Imports. Insights from a CGE Assessment Summary: Illegal logging is widely recognized as a major economic problem and one of the causes of environmental degradation. Increasing awareness of its negative effects has fostered a wide range of proposals to combat it by major international conservation groups and political organizations. Following the 2008 US legislation which prohibits the import of illegally harvested wood and wood products, the European Union (EU) is now discussing a legislation proposal which would ban illegal timber from the EU market. In this study we use the ICES computable general equilibrium model to estimate the reallocation of global demand and timber imports following the pending EU legislation. With this exercise our final objective is to assess the economic impacts and measure the potential emission reduction resulting from the introduction of this type of policy. Results show that while the EU ban does not seem particularly effective in reducing illegal logging activities, its main effect will be the removal of illegal logs from the international markets. In addition, the unilateral EU ban on illegal logs increases secondary wood production in illegal logging countries as their exports become relatively more competitive. Through this mechanism, part of the banned, illegal timber will re-enter the international trade flows, but it will be “hidden” as processed wood. This effect is, however, limited. Finally, given the limited effect on overall economic activity, effects on GHG emissions are also limited. Direct carbon emissions from logging activities can decrease from 2.5 to 0.6 million tons per year. Details: Venice: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), 2010. 34p. Source: FEEM Working Paper 67.2010: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2012 at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1627988## Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1627988## Shelf Number: 124567 Keywords: EconomicsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Title: The Last Fish: Plunder in the South Pacific Summary: Looting the Seas is an award-winning project by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists looking at forces that are rapidly emptying oceans of fish. In its first installment ICIJ documented the massive black market in threatened bluefin tuna. In the second, it revealed that billions of dollars in subsidies flow into the Spanish fishing industry despite its record of flouting rules and breaking the law. For the last of the three-part investigation, ICIJ reporters focused on an unlikely protagonist: the bony, bronzed-hued jack mackerel in the southern Pacific. Industrial fleets, after fishing out other waters decimated it at stunning speed. Since so much jack mackerel is reduced to fishmeal for aquaculture and pigs, we eat it unaware with each forkful of farmed salmon. The plunder continues today as the world’s largest trawlers head south before binding quotas are established. Not long ago, this was one of the world’s richest fishing grounds. ICIJ reporters ranged from New Zealand’s South Island to the top of Norway and from ramshackle wharves in Chile and Peru to carpeted offices in Brussels and Hong Kong. They conducted more than 100 interviews; filed freedom of information requests in the European Union, Peru and the Netherlands; and analyzed more than 100,000 catch and inspection records. In Chile, where the damage is greatest, Juan Pablo Figueroa Lasch of the investigative reporting center CIPER looked at the few powerful families and industrial groups that control 87 percent of the jack mackerel catch. He lived aboard the Santa María II, watching as fishermen hauled up mostly empty nets. In Peru, Milagros Salazar of IDL-Reporteros investigated another species used for fishmeal, anchoveta. It is the world’s largest fishery. She found cheating so massive – at rigged scales and unsupervised docks – that at least 630,000 tons of fish “vanished” in just two and a half years. Fish, the reporters found, are at the heart of geopolitical wrangling among governments that protect, and often subsidize, their fleets. Mar Cabra, who covered Brussels, is still waiting for most EU records she requested through freedom of information laws. EU officials refused to give her catch records, saying disclosure would undermine the “protection of commercial interests.” Plenty of sources spoke frankly and at length. When Mort Rosenblum asked to speak with the elusive Ng Joo Siang, head of the giant Hong Kong fishing conglomerate, Pacific Andes, the company’s outsourced public relations people refused to transmit the request. But a call to the man’s cell phone produced a lengthy and revealing interview. Our media partners are Le Monde (France), the International Herald Tribune, South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), El Mundo (Spain) and Trouw (The Netherlands). In addition, ICIJ is co-producing a documentary with London-based tve that is planned to air on BBC World News TV in the spring. Key findings: Asian, European and Latin American fleets have devastated fish stocks in the southern Pacific, once among the world’s richest waters; Since 2006, jack mackerel stocks have declined by nearly twothirds. The oily fish is a staple in Africa, but people elsewhere are unaware that it is in their forkfuls of farmed salmon. Jack mackerel is a vital component of fishmeal for aquaculture; National interests and geopolitical rivalry have blocked efforts since 2006 to ratify a regional fisheries management organization that can impose binding regulations to rescue jack mackerel from further collapse; In Chile, a handful of companies controlled by wealthy families own rights to 87 percent of the jack mackerel catch; with government backing, they have secured unrealistically high quotas — beyond what scientists say are essential to save the stock; In Peru, the world’s second largest fishing nation, widespread cheating at fishmeal plants allows companies to overfish and evade taxes. At least 630,000 tons of anchoveta – worth nearly $200 million as fishmeal – “vanished” over two and a half years. Details: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Source: Looting the Seas III: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2012 at http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7B4de9af69-2fdc-420c-944b-436045c9b0e8%7D/LOOTING_THE_SEAS_3.PDF?tr=y&auid=10229971 Year: 0 Country: International URL: http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7B4de9af69-2fdc-420c-944b-436045c9b0e8%7D/LOOTING_THE_SEAS_3.PDF?tr=y&auid=10229971 Shelf Number: 124851 Keywords: Environmental CrimeIllegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPoaching |
Author: Nellemann, C. Title: The Last Stand of the Orangutan: State of Emergency: Illegal Logging, Fire and Palm Oil in Indonesia's National Parks Summary: Globalization and international trade are generating wealth on an unprecedented scale and lifting millions out of poverty. However, the growth of global markets is also putting pressure on the Earth’s ecosystems or natural assets that in many ways are the foundation of wealth creation in the first place. The planet’s tropical forests are some of these extraordinary and economically important assets – ecosystems playing a vital role in moderating the atmosphere, sequestrating greenhouse gases, delivering watershed management and are home to a rich and biologically important array of plants and animals. This UNEP Rapid Response report, carried out on behalf of the UN-led Great Ape Survival Project, has used the latest satellite imagery and data from the Government of Indonesia to assess changes in the forests in one part of south-east Asia. The results indicate that illegal logging, fires and plantations of crops such as palm oil are now intruding extensively into Indonesia’s national parks which, for example, are the last safe-holds of the orangutan. In the past five years more than 90% of over 40 parks have now been impacted putting at risk national and regional attempts to meet the 2010 biodiversity target. The driving forces are not impoverished farmers, but what appears to be well-organized companies with heavy machinery and strong international links to the global markets. UNEP applauds the Indonesian government’s new initiative focusing on new and specially trained ranger units to win back the national parks. It is starting to show some promising results with illegal logging halted in two parks in 2006. But the authorities need more assistance. National parks represent a common heritage and their protection and enforcement is essential in international conservation. UNEP therefore hopes to work even more closely with Indonesia’s government in the coming years and support them in this vital work that may hold promise for other nations too. Details: Arendal, Norway: United Nations Environment, 2007. 52p. Programme, GRID-Arendal, 2007. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 9, 2012 at: http://www.unep.org/grasp/docs/2007Jan-LastStand-of-Orangutan-report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.unep.org/grasp/docs/2007Jan-LastStand-of-Orangutan-report.pdf Shelf Number: 124898 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Indonesia)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Spalding, Mark K. Title: Mobilizing Across Borders: The Case of the Laguna San Ignacio Saltworks Project Summary: This analysis outlines a successful binational campaign to protect critical grey whale habitat by using the rule of law in Mexico to hold the state and its representatives accountable to their constituencies, and thus to stop an industrial saltworks project in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Beginning with a review of the facts of the dispute over an industrial saltworks development at Laguna San Ignacio; then tracing the role of binational cooperation in the Campaign itself; and highlighting the ten most important coordinated actions taken by the binational coalition; followed by analysis of the outcome in light of the cooperation. An afterward will discuss the rule of law in relationship to the land easements recently put in place to further protect the lagoon. The Laguna San Ignacio campaign is one of the best case studies of the challenges and successes of cross-border, cross-sectoral, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Details: La Jolla and San Diego, CA: UCSD Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies and USD Trans-Border Institute, 2006. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Justice in Mexico Working Paper Series, Issue Number 9, 2006: Accessed April 9, 2012 at: http://justiceinmexico.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/11-mobilizing_across_borders_the_case_of_the_laguna_san_ignacio_saltworks_project.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://justiceinmexico.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/11-mobilizing_across_borders_the_case_of_the_laguna_san_ignacio_saltworks_project.pdf Shelf Number: 123176 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime (U.S.)Wildlife Protection |
Author: World Growth Title: A Poison, Not a Cure: The Campaign to Ban Trade in Illegally Logged Timber Summary: Environmental groups, such as WWF and Greenpeace, have a global goal of halting commercial forestry and forestry in native forests. One of their strategies to advance this campaign is to generate global concern that illegal logging is a major global problem. One presumption is that high volumes of illegally-sourced wood products are entering the global market. This presumption cannot be substantiated and is very likely to be untrue. The campaign urges trade bans on imports of illegal timber. It has also been driven by industrialized countries, in particular the UK. The campaign is also supported by protectionist interests in the timber and paper industry in the U.S., the EU and Australia, with the aim of limiting imports of more competitive products from developing countries. It is commonly alleged that commercial interests drive illegal logging and that this, in turn, causes severe deforestation. This contention is wrong. The causes of deforestation and illegal logging are complex: they include poverty, increased population growth, poor governance and weak property rights. In most cases, illegal logging represents a failure of developing economies to enforce the law. The Extent of Illegal Logging The extent of illegal logging is uncertain. Most studies and policies have been based on a 2004 study by Seneca Creek and Associates for the American Forest and Paper Association which finds between 8% and 10% of produced and traded timber may come from suspicious sources. Other research shows only 15% of globally produced timber is traded. Even if it were desirable to use trade controls to achieve non-trade purposes, the share traded is so small, that leveraging is negligible and prospects of success very small. Though the report is cited frequently in the literature, it suffers from significant flaws, including a lack of comprehensive and reliable data sources. These limitations are acknowledged by the study’s authors who state that there is limited information on illegal logging and that it is impossible to know the extent of illegal forest activity with any degree of certainty. The study is now outdated with the incidence of illegal logging decreasing in key countries in recent years. The 2004 global estimate is, for the most part, based on illegal logging in Indonesia, with global wood exports principally attributed to the country. Since the report, a briefing paper by Chatham House has demonstrated that incidence of illegal logging has decreased by between 50% to 75%, with estimates of illegal logging in Indonesia as low as 40% as compared with the 70% to 80% estimated by Seneca Creek. Details: Arlington, VA: World Growth, 2011. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2012 at: http://www.worldgrowth.org/assets/files/WG_Illegal_Logging_Report_5_11.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.worldgrowth.org/assets/files/WG_Illegal_Logging_Report_5_11.pdf Shelf Number: 125254 Keywords: Crimes Against the EnvironmentIllegal LoggingIllegal TimberOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: World Wildlife Fund Forest Programme Title: The Russian-Chinese Timber Trade: Export, Supply Chains, Consumption, and Illegal Logging Summary: Using statistical data from Russian government agencies and academic institutions, and field data and research by a great number of organizations, this report provides a comprehensive overview of the Russian-Chinese timber trade and illegal logging in Siberia and the Russian Far East (RFE). The report is part of a series of analyses and case studies prepared by WWF-Russia devoted to these issues. The report is based on data collected from 2002 to 2004. The text was finalized at the end of 2006, before the new Forest Code was enacted. Details: Moscow: World Wildlife Fund, 2007. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2012 at: http://www.wwf.ru/resources/publ/book/eng/234 Year: 2007 Country: Romania URL: http://www.wwf.ru/resources/publ/book/eng/234 Shelf Number: 125255 Keywords: Crimes Against the EnvironmentForestsIllegal Logging (Russia)Offenses Against the EnvironmentSupply Chains |
Author: Trevin, Jorge Title: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance and Forest Practices in Guyana Summary: The Republic of Guyana is the only English speaking country in South America. Located on the Guianas Region of northeastern South America, it comprises about 215,000 km2, with a population of 750,000. Tropical forests cover 18.6 million hectares or about 76 percent of its territory and represent a highly valuable asset. The deforestation rate is one of the lowest in the world, with no significant forest change evidenced for the 2000-2005 period (FAO 2005). Most of these forests have not been affected by extractive uses, and the vast majority of those woodlands that have had some harvest intervention, generally through selective logging methods, retain their productive capacity and other major ecosystem functions. Guyana and Norway have agreed to work toward the establishment of a REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanism. Within this context, the objective of this study is to arrive at an independent assessment of Forests Law Enforcement and Governance and forest practices in Guyana. The importance of this assessment stems from the significance of effective and legitimate governance of forest resources to achieving REDD. In order to reach this objective, several aspects of the broad area of forest governance have to be considered. They include the state of forest policies and legislation, production and export of forest products and government revenue, border and trade issues, legal compliance in the forest sector, management of concessions and protected areas, status of land claims and demarcation of indigenous territories, and the participation of forest dependent populations in the design and implementation of forest policies. The assessment is based on information from existing sources, including governmental sources, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders. Gaps in information are identified, allowing for an evaluation of the robustness of the analysis. Both along the complete document and within individual sections, data and general descriptive aspects are for the most part introduced firstly. The discussion and analysis of issues is generally presented afterward. Details: Bogor Barat, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), 2009. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/MD/Vedlegg/Klima/klima_skogprosjektet/Guyana/CIFOR%20report%20final.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Guyana URL: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/MD/Vedlegg/Klima/klima_skogprosjektet/Guyana/CIFOR%20report%20final.pdf Shelf Number: 125275 Keywords: Environmental ConservationForest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: White, George Title: Illegal Logging: Cut It Out! The Uk's Role in the Trade in Illegal Timber and Wood Products Summary: Illegal logging exists because enormous profits can be made. These profits are most easily realised in countries with endemic corruption, lax law enforcement and poor social conditions, where there is little incentive to change forestry practice. Many of the countries supplying timber and wood products to the UK have high levels of foreign debt, poor governance systems, high levels of poverty and unsustainable forest management, and are experiencing loss of some of the world’s most biodiverse forests at an alarming rate. These factors – which by no means comprise an exhaustive list – contribute to the illegal and unsustainable trade in timber and wood products. Arguably the problems associated with illegal activities are most acute in developing countries, those countries with emerging economies and in the transitional economies of Russia and eastern Europe. These are areas of the world where weak political institutions and weak regulatory enforcement in the forested regions are often the norm, and where corruption is common. This report attempts to estimate the volume of illegal wood entering the UK and to identify which sectors of the UK market utilise this wood and fibre. It identifies various processes involving the UK government as a purchaser or specifier, as well as national and international governmental processes and market-based mechanisms that are in place to counter illegal logging. It identifies their effectiveness and weaknesses and makes a series of recommendations. Details: Godalming, Surrey, UK: WWF-UK, 2007. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/logging_full_report01.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/logging_full_report01.pdf Shelf Number: 125278 Keywords: Illegal ImportsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Banerjee, Onil Title: Socioeconomic and environmental impacts of forest concessions in Brazil a computable general equilibrium analysis Summary: Understanding the forces that drove policy in the past can inform our expectations of the effectiveness of policy implementation today. Historical analysis suggests that forest policies of countries with significant forested frontiers transition through stages reflecting the orientation of governments toward economic development on the frontiers, namely: settlement, protective custody and management. With respect to Amazonian forests, Brazil’s path is no exception from this trend. This dissertation begins by following the trajectory of forest policy in Brazil to identify its path through the stages of policy development. Brazil is on the cusp of a transition toward the management phase of policy development. As such, the question of whether this phase will represent a break from the historical tendency of largely ineffectual forest policy is addressed. For society to accept and support a forest policy, it should generate positive socio-economic and environmental benefits. Brazil’s Public Forest Management Law (2006) and specifically the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of implementing forest concessions, are taken as a proximate indicators of whether the transition to management will in fact increase the relevance of forest policy. To evaluate these impacts, two quantitative experiments are conducted. In the first, a static computable general equilibrium model is developed to evaluate the short-run policy effect on welfare, the forestry sector and levels of legal deforestation. Given the economic importance of illegal logging and illegal deforestation in Brazil, the second experiment explicitly models these sectors. A recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium modeling framework is employed to consider the medium-term implications of the policy, to shed light on the resulting economic transition path, and to assess the short-term costs and longer-term gains resulting from policy implementation. Results of this analysis can provide important insights on forest sector and deforestation dynamics to policy makers, industry and civil society such that complimentary policies and programs may be developed to maximize benefits and minimize any negative impacts resulting from the implementation of forest concessions. Details: Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 2008. 216p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0022324/banerjee_o.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Brazil URL: http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0022324/banerjee_o.pdf Shelf Number: 125285 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Brazil)Natural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Kostov, Georgi Title: Illegal Logging in Bulgaria Summary: This report analyses the aspects and extent of illegal logging in Bulgaria. WWF shows that the volume of illegally logged timber amounts to 3.7 million cubic metres per year, or 45% of the annual harvest. Most of this is used as fuelwood, but about 1 million cubic metres are processed by the timber industry. The authors point to an urgent need to improve law enforcement and prosecutions for violations, to increase motivation for forest staff by removing obstacles to their work and increasing salaries, to assess logging companies and exclude those violating legislation, and to improve the cooperation between the National Forestry Board and revenue and customs authorities. Details: World Wildlife Fund, European Forest Programme and the Danube Carpathian Programme, 2005. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://www.forestconsulting.net/Downloads/Publications/finalillegalloggingbulgariafebr05.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Bulgaria URL: http://www.forestconsulting.net/Downloads/Publications/finalillegalloggingbulgariafebr05.pdf Shelf Number: 125304 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Bulgaria)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Newell, Josh Title: Plundering Russia's Far Eastern Taiga: Illegal Logging, Corruption and Trade Summary: In the past year, Russia has come under increased scrutiny for widespread corruption within its government and private sector. Capital flight, spotlighted by the 1999 scandal at the Bank of New York, has crippled Russia’s economic development. At the same time, Russia’s economic welfare – especially in the vast regions of Siberia and the Russian Far East – has been based on its exploitation of natural resources. Timber, fish, oil, and gold have been the backbone of Russia’s industrial development during the twentieth century. In the last decade, as Russia has struggled through economic reforms, “mafias” that control these resources in Siberia and the Russian Far East gained power and wealth, while Russia’s industrial sectors stagnated. Responding to a deepening economic crisis and the rules of the international market economy, regional governments across Siberia and the Russian Far East have facilitated large-scale extraction and export of natural resources in order to generate short-term, hard currency revenues. Private companies – both Russian and foreign – have moved quickly to obtain concessions of timber, minerals, and oil and gas at bargain prices. And the Russian President’s shocking decision (in May, 2000) to dissolve the Committee on Ecology and the Federal Forest Service, transfering their functions to the Ministry of Natural Resources, was the latest alarming demonstration of efforts by the industrial lobby to remove the last obstacles to uncontrolled, predatory exploitation of Russia’s forest resources. The Siberian taiga includes many of the world’s last forest frontiers – large, intact forest and wildland ecosystems that are under threat of exploitation. Representing more than half of the world’s coniferous forests, the Siberian taiga is vitally important for several reasons. Levels of biological diversity within the taiga are globally significant, and taiga forests store huge amounts of carbon which would otherwise exacerbate current levels of global warming. Despite growing interest worldwide in the conservation of Siberian and Russian Far Eastern forests, illegal logging and trade practices have also continued to increase. Responding to concerns about growing corruption in Russia and its relation to the exploitation of natural resources, the Vladivostok-based Bureau for Public Regional Campaigning, Tokyo-based Friends of the Earth – Japan, and California-based Pacific Environment undertook an investigation to show the extent of illegal logging and trade in the region. In the last stage, Greenpeace Russia took an active role in the work and provided substantial support to the authors and a significant amount of fresh information. This report provides the results of the investigation, along with specific recommendations for correcting those practices. Details: Vladivostok, Russia: Bureau for Regional Oriental Campaigns, Oakland, CA: Friends of the Earth–Japan, Tokyo, Japan and Pacific Environment & Resources Center,, 2000. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/plundering.pdf Year: 2000 Country: Russia URL: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/plundering.pdf Shelf Number: 125305 Keywords: CorruptionIllegal Logging (Russia)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Greenpeace Brazil Title: Broken Promises: How the Cattle Industry in the Amazon is Still Connected to Deforestation, Slave Labour and Invasion of Indigenous Land Summary: Following a three-year investigation, Greenpeace published a report in 2009 that revealed the cattle sector’s role as the key driver of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. "Slaughtering the Amazon" shows how national and international companies unwittingly participate in this destruction. The three largest companies processing meat and tanned leather in Brazil -JBS/Friboi, Minerva and Marfrig - signed a public agreement in October 2009 committing to no longer purchase cattle from ranches that have recently deforested or that are located on indigenous lands. Just two years later, Greenpeace analyzed government trade data from the Amazonian state of Mato Grosso and found that the supply chain of the largest of these companies, despite its commitments, still has connections to illegal deforestation, slave labour and invasion of indigenous land. In this publication, the authors present cases where JBS purchased cattle from properties in contravention of their agreement: properties situated within indigenous lands, on the slave labour blacklist compiled by the Labour Ministry or embargoed by IBAMA, which have supplied cattle to JBS from January 2011 to May 2011 (page 8). This discovery demonstrates weaknesses in the supply chain for responsible leather and meat products. Consumers buying products originating from JBS’ supply chain cannot be assured their products are responsibly sourced, meaning not contributing to deforestation and slave labour. Details: Sao Paulo, Brazil: Greenpeace Bracil, 2011. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.illegal-logging.info/item_single.php?it_id=1204&it=document Year: 2011 Country: Brazil URL: http://www.illegal-logging.info/item_single.php?it_id=1204&it=document Shelf Number: 125309 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Brazil)Offenses Against the EnvironmentSlave Labor |
Author: Oliva, Roberto V. Title: Philippine Forest and Wildlife law Enforcement: Situationer and Core Issues Summary: The Philippines is one of the 18 mega diverse countries in the world. The country has more than 52,170 described species, about half of which are found nowhere else in the world. Studies show that on a per unit area basis, the Philippines is the top mega diversity country. However, unsustainable logging operations and illegal timber trade continue to pose serious threats to the country’s species richness. In 1917, the country still had 17 million ha, or more than 50% of her 30 million ha land area. Today, the latest estimate shows that only about 7.168 million ha of Philippine forests remain (Philippine Forestry Statistics, 2003). In the 60’s and 70’s the forestry sector was a major contributor to the country’s economy. The Master Plan for Forestry Development of the Philippines (1991) indicated that for almost two decades, agriculture, logging, mining and fisheries together contributed annual almost P15 billion to the country’s gross value added. Although this was almost doubled in 1988 (P25 billion), the share of forestry and logging dramatically plummeted from 12.5% in 1970 to only about 2.3% in 1988. In the 2003 Annual Report of DENR, it was reported that the Philippines—from being a major tropical timber exporter up to the 70’s has become a net importer of forest products (65%-70% of wood requirements). About 18-20 million Filipinos live in the uplands under abject poverty. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2007. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADL681.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Philippines URL: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADL681.pdf Shelf Number: 125311 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Philippines)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Fagan, Chris Title: An Investigation of Illegal Mahogany Logging in Peru’s Alto Purús National Park and its Surroundings Summary: Illegal logging of bigleaf mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla) in Peru’s Alto Purús National Park and adjacent lands continues despite Peruvian laws and international regulations intended to protect mahogany, indigenous people and conservation areas. This illegal logging is detrimental to the ecosystem of the Alto Purús region, indigenous communities in the area, uncontacted indigenous groups and global biodiversity. We recommend: • removing immediately loggers operating in the park • constructing and staffing control posts on the primary access routes into the park • monitoring closely the logging operations in the indigenous communities northeast of the park and the forestry concessions along its western border • creating an independent research team to investigate mahogany logging in the region and the legality of Peru’s mahogany exports • pressuring importing countries to reject shipments of illegal mahogany from Peru We were also prepared to recommend the creation of the Alto Purús National Park in what was formerly the Alto Purús Reserved Zone, a move being considered by the Peruvian government at the time of our investigation. However, the recommendation became immaterial in November 2004, when the government announced the creation of the Alto Purús National Park, covering 2.5 million hectares, 93% of the former reserved zone. Our findings and recommendations are based on an investigation conducted in the fall of 2004 in the Alto Purús National Park (the Alto Purús Reserved Zone, at the time), as well as forestry concessions and indigenous communal lands adjacent to it. The investigation involved two overflights and four weeks of river travel. Data were collected through personal observations and a combination of informal and structured interviews with indigenous leaders, government officials, non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, loggers and local inhabitants. Details: Durham, NC: ParksWatch, Center for Tropical Conservation, Duke University, 2005. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.parkswatch.org/spec_reports/logging_apnp_eng.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Peru URL: http://www.parkswatch.org/spec_reports/logging_apnp_eng.pdf Shelf Number: 125312 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Peru)MahoganyOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Global Witness Title: Forest Carbon, Cash & Crime: The Risk of Criminal Engagement in REDD+ Summary: Corruption in the forest sector has until now been overwhelmingly linked to logging, both illegal and legal, which in many countries has led to significant depletion of valuable tropical forests. But today incentive mechanisms such as REDD+, intended to compensate governments, communities or other groups in developing countries for reducing forest loss, are beginning to change the face of corruption in the sector. While corruption and illegality in logging continue to be a significant international problem, the potential for future REDD+ earnings is bringing about new corrupt practices, starting with cases of land grabs. REDD+ is also likely to lead to new forms of corruption not previously seen in the forest sector, such as questionable carbon accounting and manipulation of forest carbon measurements. The recognition of ‘carbon’ as a commodity to be measured and paid for creates a number of new opportunities for corrupt activities, since forest “carbon” is an intangible asset that is difficult to measure and relies on complex calculations that can be manipulated. Alongside the familiar risks of criminal activity encountered with such large financial flows – for example fraud, bribery and tax evasion – REDD+ poses some specific risks. These include increased illegal logging, linked to law enforcement capacities being stretched by the need to police additional forest protection efforts, illegal land grabbing, the theft and misappropriation of REDD+ funds, the manipulation of carbon measurements to exaggerate results and increase payments, and poor regulation of carbon markets. With the right national and international frameworks, plus sufficient funding, REDD+ is an unprecedented opportunity to address climate change, as well as protect natural forest ecosystems and biodiversity and deliver development benefits, especially for forest communities. Governance is key to the effective implementation and delivery of the intended outcomes of REDD+ - from international to grass roots level. A well-designed governance system is also needed to address the substantial risks of corruption and criminal involvement that are posed by REDD+. Significant sums of money are involved: the REDD+ mechanism is expected to require an estimated US$17- 33 billion every year, equivalent to up to a quarter of OECD aid flows in 2010,1 much of which will be pumped into forest-rich developing countries.2 Some of this money is already being paid out for preparation and pilot activities. For the most part, however, these forest-rich countries suffer from weak regulation and governance. More than 80% of countries currently receiving REDD+ funds fall into the bottom half of countries assessed for Control of Corruption by the World Bank. Past attempts to tackle forest loss in these countries have mostly failed, undermined by policy failures, perverse incentives and corruption. Given the large sums of money involved, there is also a substantial risk that criminal elements, including state actors, will undermine REDD+ and prevent it from achieving its overall objectives. So far there is also a serious funding gap. Only US$5 billion has been pledged by rich countries3 and it is unclear where the rest will come from. Welldesigned national REDD+ programmes with proper safeguards and measures to minimise corruption risks will encourage better REDD+ projects and instil confidence in those who provide funding that REDD+ is worth investing in. To address these risks, this paper calls for clear and effective safeguards to ensure transparent financial flows, improvements to governance throughout national REDD+ processes, and for donors to provide financial and technical support to recipient countries to improve governance as preparation for REDD+. Similarly, donors should consider other ways that existing aid programmes can be used to ensure appropriate REDD+ implementation. Immediate and sustained investment in building governance capacity will help ensure that REDD+ funds, once flowing, have a much better chance of reaching where they are needed and achieving genuine results for the climate. Further, law enforcement agencies, both national and international, should be encouraged to contribute their expertise to Details: Holborn, UK: Global Witness, 2001. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.salvaleforeste.it/en/reports/file/806.html?start=600 Year: 2001 Country: International URL: http://www.salvaleforeste.it/en/reports/file/806.html?start=600 Shelf Number: 125313 Keywords: CorruptionForest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: FERN Title: Exporting Destruction: Export Credits, Illegal Logging and Deforestation Summary: Exporting Destruction is the conclusion of research that included fieldwork in China, desk studies, and a new financial review, all commissioned to shine a light on the role that export credit agencies (ECAs) play in financing global deforestation. Through detailed case studies and historical research, FERN has been able to produce a set of policy recommendations that would, if implemented effectively, bring export credits in line with other publicly-funded institutions and reduce their potential for negative social and environmental impacts. The paper suggests that while the primary, if not sole, remit of ECAs is to promote their country’s domestic industries in competitive and risky environments, particularly in poor emerging markets, the huge amounts of money involved mean that they also have an important effect on policies and actions in the countries in which they support projects. To put their size in context, ECAs underwrite around US$100 billion annually in medium and long-term credits and guarantees, compared with, for example, multilateral development banks, which have a combined total of US$60 billion in loans per year. ECA involvement in activities that have fuelled unsustainable, and often illegal, deforestation in a number of countries has been documented since the mid 1990s. Evidence in this paper, gathered from community groups around the world, suggests that a number continue to be centrally involved in the sector. Their significance is primarily the result of their 'door opening' public finance status, as well as their focus on countries that are a high-risk for commercial operators, usually those which also lack the institutional governance to regulate their industries effectively. Direct ECA support for logging or timber trading is minimal because they are not particularly capital-intensive sectors, but significant support from ECAs has been instrumental in aiding the infrastructure and pulp and paper sectors for the last fifteen years, particularly for controversial expansion projects in Indonesia. FERN’s report shows that this support was, and continues to be, ‘blind’, not taking environmental or social issues into account or investigating whether operators’ prospectus documents were based on realistic assessments of the nature or ownership of the forest resource. This lack of ‘ground-truth’ in assessing projects is shown to be one of the core problems of ECAs. Although taxpayers fund them, their remit is often limited to economic considerations, and they are not currently subject to the binding environmental, social, human rights or transparency standards by which other public sector agencies are governed. The case studies clearly show that this has led to increased illegal logging, corruption and the opening of previously isolated forests. Indeed, experience highlighted in the studies suggest that no ECAs have the relevant procedures in place to identify and address the flawed operating and expansion model that much of the pulp and paper sector has followed. What’s more, by aiming for very low-transaction costs, most ECAs have little internal capacity for assessing the environmental or social impacts of the operations the help to finance. This report calls on Governments to urgently address the negative impact that ECA-supported operators have internationally, particularly in sensitive sectors such as forestry, and to develop safeguards that would ensure that the operations of export credit agencies do not serve to undermine international commitments to sustainable development and good governance in some of the poorest countries in the world. Such policies should draw on those already in place in most multilateral banks and some of the largest commercial ones, and be resourced and monitored to an extent which ensures diligent implementation. More specific details on what these policies should look like in the forest sector and how ECAs could be brought into line with two decades of their national governments commitments to tackle illegal logging and unsustainable deforestation can be found in Chapter 7. Details: Moreton in Marsh, UK: FERN, 2008. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/FERNexportingdestruction.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/FERNexportingdestruction.pdf Shelf Number: 125314 Keywords: CorruptionForest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Rosander, Mikaela Nilsson Title: Illegal Logging: Current Issues and Opportunities for SIDA/SENSA Engagement in Southeast Asia Summary: This report provides an overview of the issues, root causes, and driving forces behind the crimes related to illegal logging. The report includes a comprehensive review of existing initiatives to address the challenges of illegal logging in Southeast Asia. The results are derived mainly from a literature review of various publications, websites, and project documents, but also from personal communication through interviews with people working on the issues of illegal logging in the region. The paper outlines illegal practices in the forest sector, including logging, timber smuggling, tax avoidance, illegal timber processing. Illegal logging can be seen as a symptom of wider problems. In order to combat illegal logging, it is important not only to target the symptom itself, but also to understand and address the underlying causes. Details: Bangkok, Thailand: Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific; Swedish Environmental Secretariat for Asia, 2008. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2012 at: Year: 2008 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 125259 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Asia)Offenses Against the EnvironmentTimber Smuggling |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers: How Wal-Mart's Shopping Practices Encourage Illegal Logging and Threaten Endangered Species Summary: Despite Wal-Mart’s newfound corporate emphasis on sustainability, undercover investigations in China by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) have found that Wal-Mart is turning a blind eye to illegal timber sources in its supply chain which threaten some of the world’s last great natural forests. Wal-Mart’s ‘no questions asked’ sourcing policy is having particularly dangerous consequences for the high conservation value forests of the Russian Far East and the endangered species dependent on them, including the world’s largest cat, the Siberian tiger. EIA’s investigators see Wal-Mart’s footprints around the globe, but nowhere more so than in China, which produces 84% of Wal-Mart’s wood products. The Chinese manufacturing sector relies on large quantities of high-risk timber imported from the world’s illegal logging hotspots. In the north, thousands of train cars of wood cross the Russian- Chinese border daily from Russia’s vast Far Eastern forests. Experts estimate that 35-50% of the logging in this region is illegal under Russian law. EIA investigations into Wal-Mart’s links to this highly criminalized trade have revealed the company’s inattention to the legality of its raw materials. During 2007, undercover investigators met with eight Chinese manufacturers that supply Wal-Mart with wood products ranging from baby cribs to toilet seats. All suppliers independently attested to Wal-Mart’s strong influence and their emphasis on price as the dominant consideration for raw material procurement. All of them used wood from the Russian Far East, most exclusively so. Details: Washington, DC: EIA, 2007. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2012 at: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/walmartreport.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Asia URL: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/walmartreport.pdf Shelf Number: 125317 Keywords: Endangered SpeciesIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife Crime |
Author: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Title: China's Imports of Russian Timber: Chinese Actors in the Timber Commodity Chain and Their Risks of Involvement in Illegal Logging and the Resultant Trade Summary: Since the end of the 1990s, the Sino-Russian border regions have witnessed a dramatic, unprecedented increase in cross-border timber trade that has made Russia the largest log supplier for China's expanding wood industry sector. Driving factors include: severe constraints in China's domestic wood supplies, the availability of rich forest resources in the Russian Far East and Siberia, liberalised trade policies and demand from both domestic and European, Japanese and US markets for low cost Chinese wood products. This study provides a contextual description and analysis of the cross-border timber trade boom and the actors involved. It examines the current challenges faced by a largely inefficient Russian forestry sector and decentralised Russian forest administration in the context of illegal logging and unsustainable forestry practices, both widely viewed as having reached serious dimensions. This study focuses on the involvement and role of Chinese actors throughout the supply chain. Chinese companies have entered the Russian forestry sector, introduced greater efficiency and proved competitive. This involvement has also opened doors for Chinese actors to inadvertently or intentionally participate in illegal activities throughout the supply chain. In addition to timber harvesting, Chinese actors are involved as intermediaries in the commercial log depots and control the wholesale timber market in some parts of Russia. Chinese actors have also increasingly invested in wood processing in Russia, partly in response to the adjustment of the Russian export tax on logs. Most recently, there has been a trend towards vertical integration for Chinese companies, with intermediaries and wood importers attempting to extend their business to every node of the trading network. On the Chinese side of the border, preferential tax policies and infrastructure investment have spurred a rapid development of the timber processing industry with private sector processing mills replacing state-owned timber processing factories. To promote responsible timber trade within this context of commodity chain transformation, the study recommends the following measures: - Establish inspection sites near the commercial depots; - Enhance the effectiveness of administrative inspection through technical improvement, harmonisation of regulations and setting-up of an integrated monitoring system; - Localise international forest certification schemes; - Chinese and Russian government agencies to provide joint guidance on documentation that could be used by traders to establish a chain of custody for forest products; - Establish a China-Russian multi-stakeholder working group to monitor the timber trade and exchange customs data in a timely manner; - Chinese government to revise its procurement policy to favour legal and sustainable wood. Details: Kanagawa, Japan: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) Forest Conservation, Livelihoods, and Rights Project, 2008. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Forest Conservation, Livelihoods, and Rights Project Occasional Papers No. 2: Accessed May 18, 2012 at: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/1569/attach/1569.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Asia URL: http://enviroscope.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/upload/1569/attach/1569.pdf Shelf Number: 125260 Keywords: Illegal Logging (Asia)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Crossroads: The Illicit Timber Trade Between Laos and Vietnam Summary: The land-locked country of Laos (officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic) lies at the heart of the Mekong region and has some of the largest tracts of primary rainforest left in mainland Southeast Asia. Home to large mammals such as the tiger and Asian elephant, and many ancient, endemic and endangered species, these forests retain a treasure trove of biodiversity. Laos’ forests also support the livelihoods of millions of rural and indigenous people. In 2008, 70 per cent of the country’s population was rural, equivalent to 4.2 million people.1 These communities rely on forests for a host of services and livelihoods, such as food, fuel, building materials and medicine. Yet Laos’ forests are seriously threatened by over-exploitation causing serious deforestation. One of the main threats is logging to feed the timber processing industries of neighbouring countries Vietnam, China and Thailand. As these countries have implemented strict controls of logging inside their own borders, exploitation of Laos’ forests has increased. Laos’ forest landscape is also increasingly denuded by infrastructure development, hydropower projects, mines and plantations, leading to further unsustainable and illegal logging. While forest cover statistics vary in accuracy, what is certain is that the rate of deforestation in Laos today is alarmingly high. Forest cover has fallen from an estimated 70 per cent in the 1940s to just 41 per cent by 2002. The annual rate of forest loss in the past two decades is more than 90,000 hectares.2 Much of the remainder is composed of seriously degraded forest with little biodiversity value.3 The implications of forest loss for Laos’ wealth of biodiversity are severe. Large mammal species are under pressure from the wildlife trade and now face a fragmentation and loss of habitat. Already, conservationists expect that Laos’ biodiversity might not be as abundant as commonly stated.4 The communities which rely on Laos’ forests are being increasingly marginalised by development policies which pay scant regard to their traditional livelihoods. According to the United Nations Development Programme, non-timber forest products provide 90 per cent of the income for the poorest families in Laos.5 Forests also play a vital role in supplying clean water supplies and in water resource management generally. Water, in turn, is particularly important for both hydropower, a key element of the Lao Government’s development strategy, and in irrigation systems, a key Government objective to guarantee food security for rural households. 3 As logging and infrastructure projects increasingly deprive these communities of their livelihoods, laws enacted to ensure they are compensated for forest exploitation are routinely ignored. Far from improving the plight of its rural people, Government policies on management of natural resources are making survival harder. Details: London: EIA, 2011. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.forestlegality.org/files/fla/eia_uk_crossroads_jul_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Laos URL: http://www.forestlegality.org/files/fla/eia_uk_crossroads_jul_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 125505 Keywords: DeforestationForestsIllegal Logging (Laos, Vietnam)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Lambrechts, Christian Title: Aerial Survey of the Destruction of the Aberdare Range Forests Summary: In 2002, Rhino Ark requested UNEP, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Forests Working Group (KFWG) to undertake an aerial survey of the Aberdare Range forests, similar to the survey undertaken on Mt. Kenya in 1999 and on Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2001. The survey responded to increasing public outcry about widespread forest destruction in the Aberdares. Over the past few years, a number of civil society organizations have been reporting on illegal destructive activities in the Aberdare Range forests, in particular on the southern and western slopes. In November 2000, KFWG sent a fact-finding mission to Kieni, Ragia and South Kinangop forests on the south-western slopes. The mission revealed extensive indigenous forest destruction in critical catchment areas, large scale encroachments, as well as rampant charcoal production. Although some few localised actions were taken, the overall situation on the ground did not show any significant improvement. Illegal activities went on unabated in many areas. Since its inception in 1987, Rhino Ark has launched a number of initiatives aimed at conserving the Aberdares, its habitats and wildlife. These initiatives include the construction of 320 kilometres of fence around the Aberdare Range forests to reduce human-wildlife conflict and protect the natural ecosystem from illegal exploitation. To date some 160 kilometres of fence have been erected and country-wide fund-raising activities are under way to secure the necessary funds for the completion of the fence. In this regard, the survey was to provide Rhino Ark’s donors with an accurate appraisal of the situation on the ground and the impact of the fence on the state of conservation of the Aberdares. It is expected that the information generated through the aerial survey will help all stakeholders to identify appropriate intervention measures to address the threats to the Aberdares. The survey report and the maps can also be powerful awareness-raising instruments that, hopefully, will catalyze the required support at local, national and international levels to ensure the conservation of this invaluable natural ecosystem. Details: Nairobi, Kenya: Division of Early Warning and Assessment, United Nations Environment Programme, 2003. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2012 at: http://www.unep.org/expeditions/docs/Aberdares-report-english_Aerial%20survey%202002.pdf Year: 2003 Country: Kenya URL: http://www.unep.org/expeditions/docs/Aberdares-report-english_Aerial%20survey%202002.pdf Shelf Number: 125624 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingNatural Resources (Kenya)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Miller, Frank Title: Keep It Legal: Best Practices for Keeping Illegally Harvested Timber Out of Your Supply Chain Summary: This manual has been developed by WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) for use by organizations wishing to extend a program of responsible purchasing to further address difficulties arising from possible trade in “illegal” forest products. The manual has been developed to add detail to legality issues encountered by companies adopting a responsible purchasing program. The Keep It Legal manual is a living document, so it will be regularly updated using feedback from users to provide new information about what is happening in major exporting countries and in the critical supply regions, developments in supply chain management, and the wider global debate on the prevention of illegal logging. The Keep it Legal Manual is presented in five parts: Introduction—describes the purpose of this manual and its relationship to the GFTN guide to Responsible Purchasing of Forest Products. The illegal logging problem—describes the nature and magnitude of the illegal logging problem and the threat it poses to forests and the people and businesses that depend on them. Developing policies on legal compliance— explains the challenges involved in developing a clear, fair, and realistic policy on legal compliance. Reducing the risk of trading illegal timber— details a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating the risk of illegal wood entering your supply chain. Appendices—various practical tools that you can adapt for use in your company. The principles outlined in this manual are in line with WWF Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) participation requirements, and the manual will support GFTN trade participants in meeting those requirements. WWF has produced this manual with the intention that it should become the first point of reference for all parts of the timber supply chain seeking to establish what represents current best practice with respect to buying, processing, and selling legal timber and timber products. It consolidates the efforts of many different parties, including those companies at the forefront of efforts to avoid use of illegally harvested timber. The manual is aimed at any medium-size or large enterprise that purchases forest products, including processors, importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. It may also be useful to smaller enterprises. The manual outlines the various ways in which purchasing organizations can demonstrate compliance with best practice and ultimately their own purchasing policies. It combines tried and tested mechanisms and new approaches and definitions, based upon on GFTN’s exetensive experience in the development of responsible purchasing programs. These approaches are designed to make the process of “keeping it legal” easier. Details: Gland, Switzerland: World Wildlife Fund, 2006. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2012 at: assets.panda.org/downloads/keep_it_legal_final_no_fsc.pdf Year: 2006 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 125625 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Robinson, Elizabeth J.Z. Title: Insiders, Outsiders, and the Role of Local Enforcement in Forest Management: An Example from Tanzania Summary: Typically both local villagers (“insiders”) and non-locals (“outsiders”) extract products from protected forests even though the activities are illegal. Our paper suggests that, depending on the relative ecological damage caused by each group, budget-constrained forest managers may be able to reduce total forest degradation by legalizing “insider” extraction in return for local villagers involvement in enforcement activities. We illustrate this through the development of a game-theoretic model that considers explicitly the interaction between the forest manager who can combine a limited enforcement budget with legalization of insider resource extraction and livelihood projects such as bee keeping, insider villagers, and outsider charcoal producers. Details: Washington, DC: Resources for the Future, 2012. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper Series, EfD DP 12-07: Accessed July 18, 2012 at: http://www.rff.org/Publications/Pages/PublicationDetails.aspx?PublicationID=21871 Year: 2012 Country: Tanzania URL: http://www.rff.org/Publications/Pages/PublicationDetails.aspx?PublicationID=21871 Shelf Number: 125661 Keywords: Forest Management (Tanzania)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Felbab-Brown, Vanda Title: Not as Easy as Falling Off a Log: The Illegal Logging Trade in the Asia-Pacific Region and Possible Mitigation Strategies Summary: This article analyzes the pervasiveness of illegal logging in the Asia-Pacific region, the numerous threats it generates, and the effectiveness of various policies adopted to mitigate it. In doing so, it also explores the following contradictions and challenges that governments and forest policy designs face: the trade-off between economic interests in logging and environmental imperatives in preserving natural forests; the surprisingly frequent lack of complementarity between legal timber and sustainable timber and the paradox that assuring timber legality may even compound its lack of sustainability; and the challenge of designing carbon pricing mechanisms in such a way to increase not only forested land but also to preserve natural forests and biodiversity. The various governments, because of local economic and political pressures, are bound to prioritize these objectives differently. Effective designs need to be informed by local case-by-case assessments. It is not the province of this article to prescribe exactly how this should be done country-by-country. It is appropriate to insist, however, that forestry policies be pursued with full cognizance of the trade-offs and with a determination to cause as little value loss as possible in each of the realms. Such policy deliberations need to accord full weight to the less urgent, but nonetheless crucial, need to preserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems. This article provides best-practices guidance to that effect. Details: Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, 2011. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper, No. 5: Accessed July 18, 2012 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2011/3/illegal%20logging%20felbabbrown/03_illegal_logging_felbabbrown.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Asia URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2011/3/illegal%20logging%20felbabbrown/03_illegal_logging_felbabbrown.pdf Shelf Number: 125671 Keywords: ForestsIllegal Logging (Asia-Pacific Region)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Robinson, Elizabeth J.Z. Title: To Bribe or Not to Bribe: Incentives to Protect Tanzania´s Forest Summary: Where participatory forest management has been introduced into Tanzania, “volunteer” patrollers take responsibility for enforcing access restrictions, often receiving a share of the fine revenue that they collect as an incentive. We explored how this shared revenue and alternative sources of forest products for villagers determine the effort patrollers put into enforcement and whether they choose to take a bribe from illegal harvesters rather than honestly reporting the illegal activity. Using an optimal enforcement model, we show that, without transparency or funds to pay and monitor the volunteers undertaking enforcement, policymakers face tradeoffs between efficiency, enforcement effectiveness, and revenue collection. Details: Tanzania: Environment for Development, 2009. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper Series::, Efd DP 09-17: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: http://www.efdinitiative.org/research/publications/publications-repository/to-bribe-or-not-to-bribe-incentives-to-protect-tanzanias-forest Year: 2009 Country: Tanzania URL: http://www.efdinitiative.org/research/publications/publications-repository/to-bribe-or-not-to-bribe-incentives-to-protect-tanzanias-forest Shelf Number: 125689 Keywords: Forest ManagementForests (Tanzania)Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentVolunteers in Law Enforcement |
Author: Title: Black Gold in the Congo: Threat to Stability or Development Opportunity? Summary: Although it should provide development opportunities, renewed oil interest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) represents a real threat to stability in a still vulnerable post-conflict country. Exploration has begun, but oil prospecting is nurturing old resentments among local communities and contributing to border tensions with neighbouring countries. If oil reserves are confirmed in the east, this would exacerbate deep-rooted conflict dynamics in the Kivus. An upsurge in fighting since the start of 2012, including the emergence of a new rebellion in North Kivu and the resumption of armed groups’ territorial expansion, has further complicated stability in the east, which is the new focus for oil exploration. New oil reserves could also create new centres of power and question Katanga’s (DRC’s traditional economic hub) political influence. Preventive action is needed to turn a real threat to stability into a genuine development opportunity. Potential oil reserves straddle the country’s borders with Uganda, Angola and possibly other countries and could rekindle old sensitivities once exploration commences. In the context of a general oil rush in Central and East Africa, the lack of clearly defined borders, especially in the Great Lakes region, poses significant risk for maintaining regional stability. Clashes between the Congolese and Ugandan armies in 2007 led to the Ngurdoto Accords establishing a system for regulating border oil problems, but Kinshasa’s reluctance to implement this agreement and the collapse of the Ugandan-Congolese dialogue threaten future relations between the two countries. In the west, failure to find an amicable solution to an Angolan-Congolese dispute about offshore concessions has worsened relations between the two countries and led to the violent expulsion from Angola of Congolese nationals. Instead of investing in the resolution of border conflicts with its neighbours before beginning oil exploration, the Congolese government is ignoring the problem, failing to dialogue with Uganda and officially claiming an extension of its maritime borders with Angola. The abduction in 2011 of an oil employee in the Virunga Park, in the Kivus, is a reminder that exploration is taking place in disputed areas where ethnic groups are competing for territorial control and the army and militias are engaged in years of illegally exploiting natural resources. Given that the Kivus are high-risk areas, oil discovery could aggravate the conflict. Moreover, confirmation of oil reserves in the Central Basin and the east could feed secessionist tendencies in a context of failed decentralisation and financial discontent between the central government and the provinces. Poor governance has been the hallmark of the oil sector since exploration resumed in the east and west of the country. Even with only one producing oil company, the black gold is the main source of government revenue and yet, with exploration in full swing, oil sector reform is very slow. Instead of creating clear procedures, a transparent legal framework and robust institutions, previous governments have behaved like speculators, in a way that is reminiscent of practices in the mining sector. Reflecting the very degraded business climate, they have allocated and reallocated concessions and often acted without considering the needs of the local people and international commitments, especially regarding environmental protection. The official division of exploration blocks includes natural parks, some of which are World Heritage Sites. It also directly threatens the resources of local populations in some areas. Initiatives to promote financial and contractual transparency are contradicted by the lack of transparency in allocating concessions. The state’s failure to adequately regulate the diverging and potentially conflicting interests of companies and poor communities is clearly causing local resentment, which could easily flare up into local violence that could be manipulated. In a context of massive poverty, weak state, poor governance and regional insecurity, an oil rush will have a strong destabilising effect unless the government adopts several significant steps regionally and nationally to avert such a devastating scenario. Regionally, it should draw on the close support of the African Union (AU) and the World Bank Group to design a management model for cross-border reserves and help facilitate a border demarcation program. Nationally, the government should implement oil sector reform, declare a moratorium on the exploration of insecure areas, especially in the east where the situation is again deteriorating, until these territories are made secure, and involve the provinces in the main management decisions concerning this resource. Details: Brussels: International Crisis Group, 2012. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Africa Report No. 188: Accessed July 30, 2012 at: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/central-africa/dr-congo/188-black-gold-in-the-congo-threat-to-stability-or-development-opportunity Year: 2012 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/central-africa/dr-congo/188-black-gold-in-the-congo-threat-to-stability-or-development-opportunity Shelf Number: 125797 Keywords: Corruption (Congo, Democratic Republic)Offenses Against the EnvironmentOil Reserves |
Author: Global Witness Title: Coming Clean: How Supply Chain Controls Can Stop Congo's Minerals Trade Fuelling Conflict Summary: Global Witness research in eastern Congo highlights efforts by companies and Congolese officials to lay the foundations of a conflict-free minerals trade in the shadow of entrenched military control and impunity. For nearly 15 years abusive armed groups, including factions of the Congolese national army, have preyed on the trade in tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold to fund a brutal war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The region’s natural resource wealth is not the root cause of the violence, but competition over the lucrative minerals trade has become an incentive for all warring parties to continue fighting. The local population in North and South Kivu provinces have borne the brunt of a conflict characterised by murder, pillage, mass rape and displacement. The metals mined in eastern DRC enter global markets and make their way into products such as mobile phones, cars, planes and jewellery. Recent international efforts to tackle the trade in conflict minerals have focused on getting companies sourcing from Congo to do checks on their supply chains – known as due diligence – to make sure they are not supporting abusive armed groups through their purchases. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has facilitated the development of comprehensive due diligence guidance for companies using tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold and the UN Security Council has issued similar guidelines. In 2010 the US Congress passed the Dodd Frank Act, which contains a provision requiring US-based companies using minerals from DRC to carry out supply chain due diligence. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not yet issued the final rules to accompany the law’s section on conflict minerals, however, and as a result the law’s implementation has now been delayed for over a year. While the failure of the SEC to complete Dodd Frank has hampered moves to clean up supply chains internationally, Global Witness field research carried out in March 2012 in eastern DRC highlights some significant progress on the ground. Building on reforms introduced last year, the DRC government passed a law in February requiring all mining and mineral trading companies in Congo to carry out due diligence in line with OECD standards. In May 2012 the Congolese government began implementing this law with the suspension of two export houses which it claims have failed to comply. Private sector attitudes in North and South Kivu appear to be changing; one example is how local traders have recently launched an initiative to train those working in the mining sector in how to carry out due diligence. These positive moves by the Congolese authorities and some local companies come against the backdrop of continued military and militia control of mining areas and a new insurgency led by an army general who has been running a major minerals smuggling racket. Bosco Ntaganda, nicknamed ‘Terminator’, previously fought with the CNDP rebel group until his defection to the government in 2009 and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. In recent years he has exercised de facto control over all Congolese army operations in eastern DRC. In April 2012 General Ntaganda and other poorly integrated ex-insurgents staged a mutiny. The fighting which followed has displaced tens of thousands of people. Details: London: Global Witness, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2012 at: http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/120531_Coming%20Clean_lowres.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/120531_Coming%20Clean_lowres.pdf Shelf Number: 125992 Keywords: Minerals and Armed ConflictNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Joab-Peterside, Sofiri Title: Green Governance: The Case of Akassa Community Forests Management And Development Plan Summary: For over a decade, there are raging development crises revolving around environmental degradation, legal regimes and institutional frameworks governing oil and other natural resources all of which jeopardize the region’s development. Policies regarding land tenure and resource access are of great significance for assuring the sustainable management and use of natural resources in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria where majority of the people still rely heavily on their natural resources to provide income, employment and livelihoods. Customary tenure systems remain the predominant means through which people manage and gain access to land and other natural resources. These systems are based on the values of the local people to the extent that these values confer legitimacy on the decision making process. The general characteristics of customary tenure systems include the inalienability of land so that families have secure and inheritable land holdings that cannot be traded freely on the market. Inhabitants of the Delta depend on natural resources for livelihood, thus their main economic activities are fishing and farming. This means much dependence on productivity of land and water. In context, natural resources refers to any material in its natural state that when extracted has economic value. This include not only timber, land, oil and gas, coal, minerals, lakes and submerged lands, but also features which supply human need and contribute to the health, welfare and benefit of a community(Odje, 2003). Consequently, demand for resource control in the area is not limited to and synonymous with only oil and gas. It includes the ability to control, develop, explore and sell any natural resource located in the region. Environmental problems in the Niger Delta are enormous and growing. Consequently, environmental concerns are serious issues that can yield substantial development dividend. Thus, there are emerging pressures for improved environmental management arising from public awareness of linkage between environmental issues and natural resource management. The belief among development practitioners is that improved community-driven natural resources management by decentralized institutional structures could contribute to better resource governance and long-term poverty reduction. A successful management regime must derive from consensus among key stake holders and contending community forces, because governance failures in natural resources can lead to conflict and ultimately to violence. Details: Berkeley, CA: Institute of International Studies, 2007. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Niger Delta Economies of Violence Working Paper, no. 19: Accessed August 16, 2012 at: http://oldweb.geog.berkeley.edu/ProjectsResources/ND%20Website/NigerDelta/WP/19-Joab-Peterside.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Nigeria URL: http://oldweb.geog.berkeley.edu/ProjectsResources/ND%20Website/NigerDelta/WP/19-Joab-Peterside.pdf Shelf Number: 126048 Keywords: ForestsNatural Resources and Conflict (Nigeria)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: von Pfeil, Evy, ed. Title: FLEGT - Combating illegal logging as a contribution towards sustainable development Summary: Illegal logging and trade in illegally harvested timber constitutes a widespread phenomenon in many developing countries. Illegal logging contributes to the destruction of forests world-wide, and its far-reaching impacts go far beyond the confines of the forest sector. FLEGT is therefore a key field of action of international forest policy. Since the Plan of Implementation was adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg in 2002, there has been a fundamental global awareness of the urgent need to combat illegal activities in the forest sector. As far back as 1998, the G8 states made a commitment to promote measures to combat illegal logging. Since 2001, the World Bank has been assisting regional processes whereby participating countries undertake to implement FLEG measures. In 2003, the EU adopted its FLEGT Action Plan, cornerstones of which include a licensing scheme for timber and Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs)with timber-producing countries. Both the Foodand Agriculture Organization (FAO)and the International Tropical Timber Organization(ITTO) have incorporated FLEGT measures into their work programmes. Although there is akeen awareness at political level – also among many timber-producing countries – of the need to curb illegal logging and trade in illegal timber products, actual implementation is still difficult and results to date have been limited. The proposals for action to combat illegal activities in the forest sector outlined in this paper should be seen as an intermediate step towards achieving sustainable forest management. Development-policy measures to promote FLEGT aim to support the partners’ own commitment to introducing and implementing reforms relating to good governance, combating corruption and supporting law enforcement. Advisory services to partner countries and regions adopt a multi-level approach that incorporates all instruments of German development cooperation. FLEGT-relevant measures have already been integrated into many ongoing bilateral development cooperation projects and programmes. This strategy provides ideas on how to extend this commitment,taking account of the specific national and regional features of FLEGT policies. Details: Bonn, Germany: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2007. 19p. Source: Topics 180: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2012 at http://www.bmz.de/en/publications/topics/environment/Materialie180.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Germany URL: http://www.bmz.de/en/publications/topics/environment/Materialie180.pdf Shelf Number: 126085 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentTimber |
Author: Stoner, Sarah Title: Current Global Trends in the Illegal Trade of Tigers Summary: This is a presentation detailing the crime statistics on the illegal international trade of tigers and material from tigers, crime statistics, hotspot analysis and other information. Details: New Delhi, India: World Wide Fund (WWF) & Global Tiger Initiative, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2012 at http://www.globaltigerinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/TRAFFIC_Tiger_Trade_Analysis.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.globaltigerinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/TRAFFIC_Tiger_Trade_Analysis.pdf Shelf Number: 126098 Keywords: Crime AnalysisCrime HotspotsCrime StatisticsIllegal Wildlife TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeTigersWildlife Crime |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Title: Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit Summary: Wildlife and forest offences are a complex phenomenon with many layers and dimensions. Wildlife and forest offences often result from the interplay of a multitude of factors—cultural, economic, social and environmental—and can involve a wide variety of actors. Thus, to achieve an effective response, wildlife and forest offences need to be addressed via a coordinated and multisectoral approach. This complexity makes it challenging for governments and international organizations to identify the strengths and weaknesses of and gaps in existing legislative, administrative, enforcement, judicial and preventive systems. Additionally, the fundamental difference between wildlife and forest offences and other forms of crimes should be acknowledged. Most property crimes, such as robbery, theft, arson and vandalism, are criminalized because they inflict harm on people or man-made property by creating uncertainty, diminishing confidence, and harming commerce and economic growth. All of these reasons apply for criminalizing the same acts against natural resources. However, there is an additional dimension to the fight against wildlife and forest crime; legislation to protect wildlife and forests also aims to ensure the sustainability of natural resource systems. This sets a different dynamic for wildlife and forest law enforcement, which should lead to the analysis of uses and users of wildlife resources taking into consideration the sustainability and promotion of compliance with good resource management policies. This Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit is intended to serve as an initial entry point for national governments, international actors, practitioners and scholars to better understand the complexity of the issue, and to serve as a framework around which a prevention and response strategy can be developed. The Toolkit provides an inventory of measures that can assist in the analysis of the nature and extent of wildlife and forest offences and in deterring and combating these offences. It is also intended to contribute to an understanding of the various factors that drive wildlife and forest offences to integrate the information and experience gained from such analysis into national, regional and international strategies. The Toolkit has been developed based on (a) lessons learned from national and international efforts to curtail illegal trade in wildlife, plants, animal derivatives and plant material, (b) scholarly analyses and the examination of cases, and (c) consultations with key stakeholders and relevant experts. The causes, components and consequences of wildlife and forest offences vary among countries, regions and societies around the world. There is no “one size fits all” solution to this issue. In formulating effective countermeasures, it is important that local patterns of wildlife and forest offences and the concerns of local communities be recognized and integrated into policy and legislation. The Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit is intended to provide a range of options that, in various combinations, will enable each country to assemble an integrated strategy that will be as effective as possible in meeting the country’s own unique needs. The measures set out in this Toolkit have been grouped into five key parts: legislation, enforcement, judiciary and prosecution, drivers and prevention, and data and analysis. The tools are organized thematically to ensure ease of use and to assist users in understanding the key issues confronting the system being analysed. The Toolkit in its current form will be pilot-tested in partnership with three selected national governments and will be revised to ensure that it is a practical, applicable tool. Additional material will be added as future needs are identified. Details: Vienna, UNODC, 2012. 212p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed September 17, 2012 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/Wildlife/Toolkit.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/Wildlife/Toolkit.pdf Shelf Number: 126364 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Banerjee, O. Title: Modeling Forest Sector Illegality in a Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Framework: The Case of Forest Concessions in Brazil Summary: The Brazilian forest sector has undergone crisis due to complexities involved in investment in an insecure political environment, a regime of ambiguous property rights, forest sector illegality and enormous pressure for agricultural expansion. To address these challenges, Brazil’s Public Forest Management Law was approved in 2006 enabling private forest management on public forestland. By assessing the policy in a dynamic computable general equilibrium framework we find that household welfare improves and legal forestry grows at an accelerated rate. In the absence of improved monitoring and enforcement, however, forest concessions are shown to have a depressing effect on the price of forest land and accelerate illegal forestry operations. Details: Santiago, Chile: Twelfth Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis, 2009. 43p. Source: Conference Paper: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2012 at Year: 2009 Country: Brazil URL: Shelf Number: 126520 Keywords: DeforestationForest Management (Brazil)Illegal Logging (Brazil)Natural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Title: Illegal Trade in Environmentally Sensitive Goods Summary: Illegal trade in environmentally sensitive goods, such as threatened wildlife, timber, hazardous waste, and ozone-depleting substances, has been a long-standing issue in the international trade and environment agenda. The nature of such illegal trade makes it difficult to fully understand its extent and impact on the environment. Developing effective policies to reduce illegal trade requires a clear understanding of what drives this trade and the circumstances under which it thrives. In this report, evidence-based on customs data and information from licensing schemes is used to document the scale of illegal trade, as well as the economic and environmental impacts of such trade. National and international policies have an important role to play in regulating and reducing illegal trade and the report highlights a range of measures that can be taken at both levels. Details: Paris: OECD Publishing, 2012. 147p. Source: Internet Resource: OECD Trade Policy Studies, 2012. Accessed October 4, 2012 at: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/fulltext/9712051e.pdf?expires=1349355092&id=id&accname=oid006203&checksum=68038CFB2A32D76B27CB3A01C5E7955F Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/fulltext/9712051e.pdf?expires=1349355092&id=id&accname=oid006203&checksum=68038CFB2A32D76B27CB3A01C5E7955F Shelf Number: 126554 Keywords: Hazardous WasteIllegal LoggingIllegal Trade (Europe)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Nellemann, Christian, ed. Title: Green Carbon, Black Trade: Illegal Logging, Tax Fraud and Laundering in the Worlds Tropical Forests. A Rapid Response Assessment. Summary: This report – Green Carbon, Black Trade – by UNEP and INTERPOL focuses on illegal logging and its impacts on the lives and livelihoods of often some of the poorest people in the world set aside the environmental damage. It underlines how criminals are combining old fashioned methods such as bribes with high tech methods such as computer hacking of government web sites to obtain transportation and other permits. The report spotlights the increasingly sophisticated tactics being deployed to launder illegal logs through a web of palm oil plantations, road networks and saw mills. Indeed it clearly spells out that illegal logging is not on the decline, rather it is becoming more advanced as cartels become better organized including shifting their illegal activities in order to avoid national or local police efforts. By some estimates, 15 per cent to 30 per cent of the volume of wood traded globally has been obtained illegally. Unless addressed, the criminal actions of the few may endanger not only the development prospects for the many but also some of the creative and catalytic initiatives being introduced to recompense countries and communities for the ecosystem services generated by forests. One of the principal vehicles for catalyzing positive environmental change and sustainable development is the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation initiative (REDD or REDD+). If REDD+ is to be sustainable over the long term, it requests and requires all partners to fine tune the operations, and to ensure that they meet the highest standards of rigour and that efforts to reduce deforestation in one location are not offset by an increase elsewhere. If REDD+ is to succeed, payments to communities for their conservation efforts need to be higher than the returns from activities that lead to environmental degradation. Illegal logging threatens this payment system if the unlawful monies changing hands are bigger than from REDD+ payments. The World’s forests represent one of the most important pillars in countering climate change and delivering sustainable development. Deforestation, largely of tropical rainforests, is responsible for an estimated 17 per cent of all man-made emissions, and 50 per cent more than that from ships, aviation and land transport combined. Today only one-tenth of primary forest cover remains on the globe. Forests also generate water supplies, biodiversity, pharmaceuticals, recycled nutrients for agriculture and flood prevention, and are central to the transition towards a Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Strengthened international collaboration on environmental laws and their enforcement is therefore not an option. It is indeed the only response to combat an organized international threat to natural resources, environmental sustainability and efforts to lift millions of people out of penury. Details: United Nations Environment Programme, GRID Arendal. 2012 Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 4, 2012 at: Year: 2012 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 126558 Keywords: Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime |
Author: Brooke, Sandra Title: Surveillance and Enforcement of Remote Maritime Areas (SERMA): Surveillance Technical Options Summary: Some of the most pristine marine ecosystems remaining on earth are in remote areas far from human population centers, both within national jurisdiction or beyond, on the high seas. Unfortunately even these areas are under pressure from the effects of human activities. Recognizing this, many countries have begun to manage activities in remote maritime areas as well as seeking to conserve areas of high ecological value through the establishment of marine protected areas. In recent years some very large offshore protected areas have been established within national EEZs and in addition some are now also being established on the high seas, through the efforts of several international organizations. Without effective enforcement however, these remote managed areas will remain no more than paper management plans and paper parks. Surveillance and enforcement is more challenging in large, remote areas than for near‐shore MPAs as they are often far from populated land, and therefore difficult to reach with traditional manned patrols, radar or other short‐range monitoring tools. Advanced technologies have been used successfully for surveillance of large areas, and there is great potential for expansion; however an associated response by law enforcement personnel is still essential to confirm and prosecute violations. Combining surveillance technologies into a single enforcement package has considerable cost‐saving potential and is emphasized throughout this report. Additionally, the obvious and targeted presence of law enforcement reduces attempted infractions since there is a perceived significant risk of being caught. This document reviews and evaluates a range of existing technological options for the surveillance of remote marine managed areas. Some of these technologies are currently in use by fisheries management agencies; some are currently the purview of groups like the military or security agencies; and others have hitherto been unexplored for such purposes. As commercial fishing (regulated or otherwise) is the single greatest pressure to most remote marine ecosystems, followed by vessel‐based pollution, we pay particular attention to technologies for the monitoring of such activities. The paper initially discusses surveillance technologies for cooperative vessels; that is, those that are participating in a managed activity where monitoring systems are obligatory. The majority of the paper however describes the range of sensors and platforms that can be applied to the more challenging task of monitoring non‐cooperative vessels. Surveillance technologies alone are insufficient to ensure compliance, but they are a necessary component. This first paper in the series does not look at questions of integrating surveillance technologies into an enforcement regime; neither does it consider issues improving compliance. These are clearly key issues, and we anticipate giving these issues the space they deserve in subsequent publications. Details: Seattle, WA: Marine Conservation Biology Institute, USA, 2010. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2012 at http://www.marine-conservation.org/media/filer_public/2011/09/19/serma_tech-options_v12.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.marine-conservation.org/media/filer_public/2011/09/19/serma_tech-options_v12.pdf Shelf Number: 126691 Keywords: Environmental CrimeMaritime SecurityOffenses Against the EnvironmentSurveillance |
Author: Wells, Adrian Title: Public Goods and Private Rights: the Illegal Logging Debate and the Rights of the Poor Summary: This briefing paper applies a rights perspective to understanding legal and institutional reform of the tropical forest sector. The sector is characterised by strongly competing interests, and massive differences in the power of stakeholders to influence the application of the law. The regulatory regime governing the sector often discriminates against the poor. This is of particular concern in the context of donor- and industry-led initiatives to combat illegal logging. Upholding legal frameworks which already fail to accommodate local rights could compound injustices. A rights perspective focuses attention on the channels by which the poor can contest and uphold their claims in the face of national and international interests in the forest sector. Details: London: Overseas Development Institute, 2006. 5p. Source: Forestry Briefing Number 9: Internet Resource: Accessed October 14, 2012 at http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/800.pdf Year: 2006 Country: International URL: http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/800.pdf Shelf Number: 126700 Keywords: Environmental CrimeForest ManagementHuman Rights, Rights of the PoorIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Stewart, James G. Title: A Pragmatic Critique of Corporate Criminal Theory: Atrocity, Commerce and Accountability Summary: Corporate criminal liability is a controversial beast. To a large extent, the controversies surround three core questions: first, whether there is a basic conceptual justification for using a system of criminal justice constructed for individuals against inanimate entities like corporations; second, what value corporate criminal liability could have given coexistent possibilities of civil redress against them; and third, whether corporate criminal liability has any added value over and above individual criminal responsibility of corporate officers. In this paper, I use examples from the frontiers of international criminal justice to criticize all sides of these debates. In particular, I harness the latent possibility of prosecuting corporate actors for the pillage of natural resources and for complicity through the supply of weapons, to highlight the shortcomings of corporate criminal theory to date. Throughout, I draw on principles derived from philosophical and legal pragmatism to reveal a set of recurring analytical flaws in this literature. These include: a tendency to presuppose a perfect single jurisdiction that overlooks globalization, the blind projection of local theories of corporate criminal responsibility onto global corporate practices; and a perspective that sometimes seems insensitive to the plight of the many who have fallen victim to corporate crime in the developing world. To begin anew, we need to embrace a pragmatic theory of corporate criminal liability that is forced upon us in a world as complex, unequal, and dysfunctional as that we presently inhabit. Details: Vancouver, British Columbia: UBC Faculty of Law, 2012. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2012 at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2152682 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2152682 Shelf Number: 126742 Keywords: Corporate CrimeDestruction and PillageOffenses Against the EnvironmentProsecutionTheft of Natural Resources |
Author: Nellemann, Christian Title: Protecting the Environment and Natural Resources in Conflict Areas Summary: This report offers photographs and diagrams, interspersed with text, related to the problem of protecting the environment and natural resources in conflict areas. Details: Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme, 2012. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 17, 2012 at http://www.interpol.int/content/download/6397/51451/version/1/file/ChristianNellemann%5B1%5D.pdf2Fdownload%2F6397%2F51451%2Fversion%2F1%2Ffile%2FChristianNellemann%5B1%5D.pdf&ei=fJXPUMqbDILC0QHdooC4DA&usg=AFQjCNGm1Eiy2ToEhGdoN-0zoU3QU7X2Gg&bvm=bv.1355325884,d.dmQ&cad=rja Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.interpol.int/content/download/6397/51451/version/1/file/ChristianNellemann%5B1%5D.pdf2Fdownload%2F6397%2F51451%2Fversion%2F1%2Ffile%2FChristianNellemann%5B1%5D.pdf&ei=fJXPUMqbDILC0QHdooC4DA&usg=AFQjCNGm1Eiy2ToEhGdo Shelf Number: 127235 Keywords: Armed ConflictNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Dalberg Title: Fighting Illicit Wildlife Trafficking: A Consultation with Governments Summary: This report summarizes the views of a number of governments and international organizations on illicit wildlife traffi cking. These views were collected through a series of structured interviews, and this report is the fi rst to provide a snapshot of current governmental and intergovernmental opinions on this topic. The current global approach to fi ghting illicit wildlife trafficking is failing, contributing to the instability of society and threatening the existence of some illegally traded species. The governments and international organizations consulted on this issue agree that the current approach is not suffi cient. However, opinions on the responsibility of different actors vary: countries that are primarily associated with demand are concerned with enforcement on the supply side, while countries that are primarily associated with supply are concerned with education and enforcement on the demand side. International organizations and government representatives point out that while there are individuals within governments and international organizations who are passionate about halting illicit wildlife trafficking, it is not a priority for governments. There is general agreement among governments and international organizations that the commitments made and the actions taken are uncoordinated and fail to address the issue effectively. There is broad recognition that the absence of an effective response threatens iconic species such as the rhinoceros, the tiger and the elephant and has far-reaching implications for society as a whole. Governments are in agreement that: • Illicit wildlife traffi cking compromises the security of countries. Much of the trade in illegal wildlife products is run by criminal groups with broad international reach, and the profi ts can be used to fi nance civil confl icts and terrorist-related activities. Illicit wildlife traffi cking is also linked to other forms of illegal traffi cking and money-laundering. • Illicit wildlife traffi cking hinders sustainable social and economic development. The corruption that is associated with illicit wildlife traffi cking, and the security threat posed by the often violent nature of illegal wildlife product sourcing, deter investment and hinder growth in source, transit and demand countries. They reduce the effectiveness of governments, deter civil engagement, erode the rule of law, harm the reputation of and trust in the state, and affect the growth of local communities. • Illicit wildlife traffi cking destroys natural wealth. Wildlife is considered an important asset by many communities – often the poorest – in the developing world. The illegal exploitation of wildlife is capable of heavily depleting species and, in some cases, of bringing a species close to extinction. • Illicit wildlife traffi cking poses risks to global health. Illicit wildlife traffi cking can represent a disease transmission mechanism that threatens the health of humans, livestock and ecosystems, and such trade prevents more effective, regulated and legitimate treatments for disease being sought. The representatives of governments and international organizations interviewed for this study pointed out that, to be successful, the approach to fi ghting illicit wildlife traffi cking needs to get to the core of the issue, changing the behaviour of those people who demand, supply and otherwise profi t from illicit wildlife traffi cking. The momentum is building, with commitments made at Rio+20, recent CITES meetings and other global platforms. The next step is for governments and the international community to deliver on their commitments and be held to account for their action or, crucially, their lack of action. Details: Gland, SWIT: World Wildlife Fund, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 24, 2013 at: http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwffightingillicitwildlifetrafficking_lr_1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwffightingillicitwildlifetrafficking_lr_1.pdf Shelf Number: 127394 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crimes |
Author: Bradshaw, Elizabeth A. Title: Deepwater, Deep Ties, Deep Trouble: A State- Corporate Environmental Crime Analysis of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Summary: The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill was one of the worst environmental disasters of all time. Using the concept of state-corporate environmental crime, this project applies a case study analysis of secondary data sources including publicly available government reports, corporate documents, academic sources and journalistic accounts to examine the causes of the blowout and the response to the spill. Building on Michalowski and Kramer’s Integrated Theoretical Model of State-Corporate Crime, this study introduces an additional level of analysis- that of the industry- between the organizational and institutional levels. The causes of the Deepwater Horizon explosion are rooted both in the history of federal development of the offshore oil industry, and the organizational actions of the corporations most directly involved: BP, Transocean and Halliburton. Undertaken in close coordination between the federal government and BP, alongside privately contracted oil spill response organizations, the response to the spill can be classified as a state-facilitated corporate cover up of the environmental crimes in the Gulf. This was accomplished through scientific propaganda and censorship of images and information. Working together, BP and the Obama administration sought to downplay the size of the spill and its effects. An unprecedented amount of toxic chemical dispersants were applied at the surface and directly at the wellhead in an effort to conceal the amount of oil. Federal restrictions blocked access to cleanup operations, beaches and airspace, thereby limiting public visibility of the spill. Policing the media blackout was an intricate matrix of federal and local law enforcement, and private security companies hired by BP. Suppression of images and information helped to contain public outrage while allowing BP and the federal government to carry out dangerous response measures with little oversight. As this study demonstrates, the most recent spill is not an isolated instance of state-corporate environmental crime, but rather is the result of the criminogenic structure of the deepwater oil industry. Details: Kalamazoo, MI: Western Michigan University, 2012. 274p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 14, 2013 at: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1078&context=dissertations Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1078&context=dissertations Shelf Number: 127613 Keywords: Corporate Crime (U.S.)Offenses Against the EnvironmentOil IndustryOil Spills |
Author: Levin, Marc A. Title: Engulfed by Environmental Crimes: Overcriminalization on the Gulf Coast Summary: Overcriminalization along the Gulf Coast has become a threat to liberty and economic growth. The five Gulf states—Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida—have nearly 1,000 environmental laws criminalizing activity along the coast. This report presents the following recommendations to address this issue: • Review environmental laws to determine whether criminal sanctions are appropriate. • Identify environmental criminal laws containing weak or nonexistent mens rea protections and either eliminate them, or amend them so that an appropriate culpable mental state is included. • Codify and apply the Rule of Lenity to environmental criminal prosecutions. • Eliminate provisions that delegate the power to agencies to create environmental criminal offenses through rulemaking. • Establish a “Safe Harbor Provision” whereby if an environmental criminal offense is unintentional and no harm has been done to human health, the offender is given the opportunity to mitigate the harm and to come into compliance. Details: Austin, TX: Texas Public policy Foundation, 2012. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2013 at: http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2012-12-PP32-EngulfedInEnvironmentalCrimes-CEJ-MarcLevinVikrantReddy_0.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2012-12-PP32-EngulfedInEnvironmentalCrimes-CEJ-MarcLevinVikrantReddy_0.pdf Shelf Number: 127638 Keywords: Environmental Crime (U.S.)Environmental LawsOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: White, Rob Title: The Policing Hazardous Waste Research Project Summary: This research project involves a scoping of the extent of and problems associated with hazardous waste disposal and a review of national environmental enforcement agencies and practices in Australia, with a view to building capacity for agency collaboration. The specific exemplar for this process is the policing of hazardous waste disposal. The major focus of this study is to examine how Australia regulates and polices the disposal of hazardous waste. The project has released the following briefing papers: The Policing Hazardous Waste Research Project; Whas is Hazardous Waste and What Makes it Hazardous?; Key Vulnerabilities & Limitations in the Management of Hazardous Waste and Its Disposal; Hazardous Waste in Australia: What is the Scale of the Problem?; Prosecution and Penalties for Illegal Dumping of Hazardous Waste; Legislation, Regulatory Models and Approaches to Compliance and Enforcement; and Policing Hazardous Waste Disposal: Key Trends and Issues. Details: Hobart: School of Sociology and Social Work, University of Tasmania, 2011-12. 7 Briefing Papers. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2013 at: http://www.utas.edu.au/sociology-social-work/centres/criminology-research-unit/ Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.utas.edu.au/sociology-social-work/centres/criminology-research-unit/ Shelf Number: 127639 Keywords: Environmental CrimesHazardous Waste (Australia)Illegal DumpingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN) Title: Parks and Reserves of Ghana: Management Effectiveness Assessment of Protected Areas Summary: Ghana is endowed with diverse ecosystems, which results in a relatively high degree of diversity of plant and animal species. The network of protected areas is a fair representation of all these ecosystems namely: Guinean savannah woodland, transition between dry forest and guinea savannah, dry semi-deciduous forest, moist evergreen forest, transitional zone between moistevergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest types, and dry evergreen forest. The diversity of Ghana Wildlife Protected Areas (WPAs) protects a very wide variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, vascular plants and butterflies. Some WPAs are part of the upper Guinean rain forest which is very rich in biodiversity. The transboundary nature of other parks like Kyabobo makes it possible for buffalos and elephants to move between Ghana and Togo (Fazao-Malfakassa National Park). In Ghana, the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission is responsible for the protection and management of wildlife protected areas (WPAs). Until 1999 the Wildlife Division was known as the Wildlife Department, a single, centralized government institution directly under the Ministry of Lands and Forestry, now Lands and Natural Resources. Since its creation in 1967, WD has been severely under-resourced and unable to perform its mandate effectively. This has led to a serious reduction in management capability and, as a result, the conservation of a lot of PAs has suffered. There are twenty one (21) WPAs in Ghana totalling 1,347,600 ha or 5.6% of the country. The protected area network includes 7 National Parks, 6 Resource Reserves, 2 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 1 Strict Nature Reserve and 5 coastal wetlands. These PAs are of economic importance as they contribute to improving standards of living of communities surrounding them. Livelihood support programmes exist in some communities surrounding the park, as well as community based tourism programmes. Some plant species are used for wood production and some of the PAs contain medicinal plants. Some PAs also have cultural, religious or spiritual significance with shrines and sacred grooves, for example, and some have aesthetic attractions such as the Bamboo Cathedral and Rapids in Ankasa; Waterfalls, Magnificent Caves in Bomfobiri, and Kakum. WPAs in Ghana are subject to pressures and threats, the main pressures being poaching, bush fires and land conversion due to farming or grazing around or within the PAs. Illegal gathering of wild plants and animals (poaching) is present in all PAs at different degrees of severity. There is a high demand for bush meat, rattan and chewing stick. Rattan is poached for craft; elephants are hunted for their tusks, and leopard for skin. But killing of animals is also a result of human/wildlife conflict. Poaching is less severe in some PAs because of better law enforcement or the setting up of community initiatives that regulate harvesting of non-timber forest products, which contributes to reduction in poaching. Land conversion is mainly due to cocoa farming outside the parks in southwestern Ghana. In Shai Hills, illegal grazing by livestock affects the overall productivity of the reserve. These pressures increase the PAs' vulnerability, which is an issue in most of the PAs. Indeed, there is high demand for resources for cultural and economic purpose; in some parks like Mole, group hunting is a cultural practice, and bush fires are sometimes caused by fire festival, and for the installation of a chief, part of some key species like elephant or lion are sometimes needed. Details: Ouagadougou, BF: UICN/PACO, 2010. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2010-073.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ghana URL: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2010-073.pdf Shelf Number: 128007 Keywords: Animal PoachingEnvironmental CrimesNatural Resources (Ghana)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: The Inside Story: Environmental criminals’ perceptions of crime, corruption and CITES Summary: The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and partners conduct on the ground investigations engaging environmental crime offenders. Investigations document illegal trade, what facilitates it and the emerging trends, which is then presented to international decision-makers. Over the years, EIA’s direct engagement with active environmental offenders has yielded rich insights into their attitudes and perceptions: about what helps them do business and what deters them; the market trends and how these compare to previous years; how they perceive the criminal justice system; what they anticipate for their future business, and for the future of the species which they trade. In source, transit and destination countries, individuals operating at different stages of the illegal trade chain describe similar dynamics: corruption (bribes and payoffs), weakly enforced legislation, the ability to exploit parallel legal markets and loopholes, even how domestic policies stimulate demand for protected species. As valuable as they are, offenders’ perceptions are not currently being taken into account by all the stakeholders in environmental crime. This is compounding a situation where environmental crime is not being fully or effectively addressed. Knowing how and what environmental criminals are thinking should not be the sole domain of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), undercover journalists, individual law enforcement officers or the communities living in areas where crime happens. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), with a membership of 178 Parties, seeks to regulate trade so it does not threaten species, but it does not exist in a vacuum. EIA’s investigations have found environmental criminals are not ignorant about CITES, or about domestic legislation. A species’ protected status or scarcity can mean that criminals ‘bank on extinction’, exploiting higher demand or higher financial ‘value’. Details: London: EIA, 2013. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2013 at: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Inside-Story-lo-res.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Inside-Story-lo-res.pdf Shelf Number: 128161 Keywords: Endangered SpeciesEnvironmental CrimesIllegal TradeNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Bystrom, Marie Title: Responsible Trade in the Shadow of Illegal Logging: Swedish Import of Latvian Timber and Wood Products Summary: Swedish imports of timber and wood products from Latvia have increased considerably over the last five years, reaching 4.2 million m≥ in 2001; this increasing trend in import is expected to continue. Latvian forests are high in ecological value, providing habitat to a number of threatened and endangered species. The forestry sector is also highly important to the Latvian national economy. Sweden’s position as a major importer of Latvian timber and wood products in conjunction with their reputation as actors taking responsible forest management seriously, warrants closer scrutiny of the origin and impact of the Swedish import from Latvia. Swedish timber and wood product import was first investigated by TRN and WWF Sweden in 2000, resulting in the report entitled, Towards Responsible Timber Trade? – A Survey of Actors and Origin of Timber from Russia and the Baltic States. As a follow-up investigation to this report and taking into account the problem of illegal logging in the Baltic States, Taiga Rescue Network, WWF Sweden and WWF Latvia have undertaken extensive research. The research, compiled in the following report, has sought to highlight the specifics of current Swedish imports through analysis of the level of knowledge of Swedish companies as to the origin and impact of their trade. Current mechanisms mean that a significant amount but not all of the Swedish import from Latvia can be traced back to its origin. However the impact on forests is less clear. Additional active steps need to be taken by Swedish companies to improve their knowledge of impact if they aim to achieve a level of responsible timber trade. A gap does remain in tracing the origin of timber procured due to the growing problem of illegal logging in Latvia. Such illegal activities have only recently been uncovered and documented across Latvia, the Baltic States at large and Russia. When considered together with guidelines for responsible trade and current mechanisms to trace timber origin, Swedish companies have a unique position and very important role to play in the campaign to eliminate illegal logging. Swedish companies have the capacity to fully develop programs establishing systems to trace timber, specify and enforce company environmental and purchasing policies to the ecological and socio-economic conditions of Latvia and obtain FSC chain-of-custody certification. Furthermore, it is our hope that this report will provide the basis for and encourage openness and dialogue among all stakeholders in Sweden and Latvia alike. Thus, developing transparent trade channels, eliminating illegal forestry activities and promoting the exchange of environmentally and socially sustainable forest management within the region. Details: Jokkmokk, Sweden: Taiga Rescue Network; Solna, Sweden: WWF Sweden; Riga, Latvia: WWF Latvia, 2002. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.taigarescue.org/_v3/files/pdf/3.pdf Year: 2002 Country: Latvia URL: http://www.taigarescue.org/_v3/files/pdf/3.pdf Shelf Number: 128216 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Latvia)Natural Resources ConservationOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Banks, Debbie Title: Environmental Crime: A threat to our future Summary: Since its inception in 1984 the Environmental Investigation Agency has been exposing environmental crime around the globe and has sought greater political support for strong enforcement action against these crimes. Yet despite the fact that environmental crime poses a growing threat, it remains a low priority for the international enforcement community. This report shows the scale and impacts of environmental crime and calls for strong political will to tackle it as a matter of urgency. Environmental crimes can be broadly defined as illegal acts which directly harm the environment. They include: illegal trade in wildlife; smuggling of ozonedepleting substances (ODS); illicit trade in hazardous waste; illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; and illegal logging and the associated trade in stolen timber. Perceived as ‘victimless’ and low on the priority list, such crimes often fail to prompt the required response from governments and the enforcement community. In reality, the impacts affect all of society. For example, illegal logging contributes to deforestation. It deprives forest communities of vital livelihoods, causes ecological problems like flooding, and is a major contributor to climate change – up to one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions stem from deforestation. Illicit trade in ODS like the refrigerant chemicals chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), contributes to a thinning ozone layer, which causes human health problems like skin cancer and cataracts. Environmental crime generates tens of billions of dollars in profits for criminal enterprises every year, and it is growing. In part, this is due to the proliferation of international and regional environmental agreements, leading to more controls on a range of commodities. It is also due to mutations in the operations of criminal syndicates, which have been diversifying their operations into new areas like counterfeiting and environmental crime. Environmental crimes by their very nature are trans-boundary and involve cross-border criminal syndicates. A tiger skin or an ivory tusk passes through many hands from the poaching site to the final buyer. A tree felled illegally can travel around the world from the forest via the factory to be sold on the market as a finished wood product. In the era of global free trade, the ease of communication and movement of goods and money facilitate the operations of groups involved in environmental crime. The development of statutory enforcement agencies has struggled to keep pace with such change, and issues such as jurisdiction restrict efforts to foster better cross-border cooperation against crimes like illegal logging. These factors lead to a situation where environmental crimes offer high profits and minimal risk. It is time for the international community to wake-up to the menace of environmental crime and show the necessary political will to tackle the criminal gangs plundering our planet for a quick profit. Details: London: Environmental Investigation Agency, 2008. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 9, 2013 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/NGO/EIA_Ecocrime_report_0908_final_draft_low.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/NGO/EIA_Ecocrime_report_0908_final_draft_low.pdf Shelf Number: 128333 Keywords: Environmental CrimesHazardous WastesIllegal FishingIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Testing the Law: Carbon, Crime and Impunity in Indonesia’s Plantation Sector Summary: Systemic law enforcement failings threaten to make a mockery of Indonesia’s pledge to reduce deforestation and carbon emissions by enabling plantation companies to destroy carbon-rich peatlands with impunity, a report released today reveals. Testing the Law, jointly produced by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Indonesian NGO Telapak, highlights how a well-connected oil palm firm has been allowed to continue operating in Central Kalimantan in clear breach of the law for almost five years. Evidence gathered by EIA/Telapak shows that Government officials have been aware of the activities of PT Suryamas Cipta Perkasa (PT SCP) for years and, despite statements to the contrary, have failed to take action. The crimes committed by PT SCP, part of the BEST Group, have led directly to the destruction of the habitat of hundreds of endangered orangutans and local livelihoods, generating millions of tonnes of carbon emissions in the process. In March this year, EIA/Telapak submitted a dossier of evidence to a range of authorities in Indonesia, detailing how PT SCP had broken numerous laws governing land allocation, access to resources and environmental management. The dossier provided the authorities with sufficient evidence to prompt a criminal investigation into the illegal conversion of more than 23,000 hectares of peatland and peat swamp forest, while giving notice to the Government that its response would be made public. Although the Government has openly admitted the concession is illegal, today the illicit proceeds of the crime continue to flow. Meetings between EIA/Telapak and the authorities have raised serious concerns over the likelihood of any prosecution. Details: London: EIA, 2012. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 9, 2013 at: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Testing-the-Law-final-version.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Testing-the-Law-final-version.pdf Shelf Number: 128335 Keywords: Corporate CrimesDeforestationEnvironmental CrimesIllegal Logging (Indonesia)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Title: Transnational Organized Crime in East Asia and the Pacific A Threat Assessment Summary: East Asia and the Pacific have experienced rapid economic and social changes during the past few decades and faced the considerable regulation challenges these changes create for public authorities. This report takes a look at the manner in which criminal enterprises have developed alongside legitimate commerce in recent years. Drawing on official statistics, academic studies, and interviews with law enforcement officials, it attempts to outline something about the mechanics of illicit trade: the how, where, when, who, and why of selected contraband markets affecting the region. It also endeavours to give the best reading of the available data on the size of these markets. Though the list of contraband markets discussed is not comprehensive and it is impossible to quantify the value of these markets with any precision, these estimates are offered to prompt public debate on areas of great public policy significance. The mechanics of trafficking are discussed for a nonexhaustive list of 12 illicit flows, which themselves are organized under four headings: 1. Human trafficking and smuggling of migrants 2. Illicit drugs (heroin and methamphetamine) 3. Resources (wildlife, wood products) and pollution crime (e-waste, ozone-depleting substances) 4. Products (counterfeit goods, fraudulent medicines). Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2013. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 1, 2013 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOCTA_EAP_web.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Studies/TOCTA_EAP_web.pdf Shelf Number: 128580 Keywords: Counterfeit GoodsDrug TraffickingFraudulent MedicinesHuman SmugglingHuman TraffickingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime (East Asia, Pacific)Wildlife Crime |
Author: Brack, Duncan Title: Combating Illegal Logging: Interaction with WTO Rules Summary: •Controlling international trade in illegal timber is an essential part of the effort to reduce illegal logging. Consumer countries are taking a range of measures including the EU's FLEGT licensing scheme and Timber Regulation, the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act, the US Lacey Act, and public procurement policies in several countries. •Since these measures are designed to alter the existing patterns of international trade in timber and timber products, concerns are often raised about their compatibility with World Trade Organization rules. •The outcome of any potential dispute case would rest on the interpretation of various clauses of the GATT and other WTO agreements, but there is no experience to date of WTO dispute cases dealing with even vaguely similar issues. •It is important to be aware of the broad constraints placed by WTO rules in designing such measures for controlling trade in illegal timber, which seem likely to be increasingly used. The more the measure diverges from the core WTO principle of non-discrimination in trade, and the more trade-disruptive it is, the more vulnerable it could be to challenge. •Within these constraints, governments have plenty of flexibility to adopt measures designed to exclude illegal timber from international trade. None of the main measures being pursued at present should experience any conflict with WTO rules. Details: London: Chatham House, 2013. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/papers/view/191299 Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/papers/view/191299 Shelf Number: 128849 Keywords: Illegal LoggingIllegal TradeNatural ResourceOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Turner, James Title: Implications for the New Zealand Wood Products Sector of Trade Distortions due to Illegal Logging A report prepared for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Summary: This study determined, for New Zealand, the production, trade and price effects of international trade distortions due to illegal logging. The study considered the effect of illegal logging on both the price and competitiveness of New Zealand wood products in domestic and foreign markets. Two complementary economic models, the Global Forest Products Model (GFPM) and Radiata Pine Market Model (RPMM) were used to view the New Zealand forest sector in its full international context. While the GFPM provides a global perspective, the RPMM provides a richer description of the New Zealand radiata pine forestry and sawmilling sectors. countries in the policies and institutions that govern forest utilisation, and hence the rules that apply in determining whether logs are legally sourced. Differences between government and NGO approaches to assessment explain much of the variation found in estimates of illegal logging. NGO assessments include issues such as logging concession award processes, whether forests are managed “sustainably”, and whether taxes and fees have been levied at a fair or market rate. Governmental organisations, on the other hand, focus on the extent that wood can be traced to an officially sanctioned logging operation. The most comprehensive, and widely quoted, review of illegal logging and trade is Seneca Creek (2004)1, which derived estimates that generally fell between the extremes of the NGO and governmental sources. Recognising the limitations of each source, this present study relied on the range of assessments to derive “low”, “most likely”, and “high” estimates (Table 1). Due to the scope of the review and its widespread recognition Seneca Creek (2004) was influential in our derivation of the “most likely” scenario. Potential for the recently announced increase in the Russian softwood log export tax to have significant repercussions for the global forest sector meant that an additional set of projections included the tax. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2007. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://maxa.maf.govt.nz/forestry/illegal-logging/trade-distortion-implications/Final_Report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: International URL: http://maxa.maf.govt.nz/forestry/illegal-logging/trade-distortion-implications/Final_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 128850 Keywords: Economics of CrimeIllegal LoggingNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Pink, Grant Title: Law Enforcement Responses to Transnational Environmental Crime: Choices, challenges, and culture Summary: This paper considers the issue of law enforcement responses to transnational environmental crime with a particular focus on the role of environmental regulatory agencies. More specifically, it identifies and analyses the various operational and policy factors which inform and shape responses to transnational environmental crime. The aim of this paper is to furnish environmental regulatory agencies with information, options, and strategies so they can more effectively detect, deter, and disrupt this form of transnational crime. The paper outlines the different roles and functions of police agencies, customs and port authorities, and environmental regulatory agencies in terms of their efforts in the fight against transnational environmental crime. It also compares the use of administrative, civil, and criminal law enforcement responses by these response agencies. Details: Canberra: Transnational Environmental Crime Project, Department of International Relations, School of International, Political & Strategic Studies, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and Australian National University, 2013. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper 4/2013: Accessed July 23, 2013 at: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/IPS/IR/TEC/TEC%20Working%20Paper%204_2013_1_Grant_Pink_Law_Enforcement_Responses.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/IPS/IR/TEC/TEC%20Working%20Paper%204_2013_1_Grant_Pink_Law_Enforcement_Responses.pdf Shelf Number: 129496 Keywords: Crimes Against the EnvironmentLaw EnforcementNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes |
Author: Interpol. Environmental Crime Programme Title: Guide to Carbon Trading Crime Summary: Over recent decades there has been a growing scientific consensus that average global temperatures are rising as a result of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by human activities, particularly industrialization. In response to this scientific evidence, the global community agreed in 1992 to an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The treaty requires countries to cooperatively consider what they could do to limit average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change and to cope with whatever impacts were, by then, inevitable. As at June 2013, the treaty has been ratified by 195 parties.1 In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted as an international agreement under the UNFCCC and entered into force in February 2005.2 As at June 2013, there are 192 parties to the Protocol.3 The major feature of the Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries (the “Annex I” parties)4 and the European Community to reduce their emissions of six specified types of greenhouse gases – the three most important being carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The others being hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). While countries are encouraged to reduce emissions of all these greenhouse gases, for the purposes of standardising the measurements, the emissions of these other gases are converted into the equivalent “global warming potential” of CO2. For example, methane (CH4) has 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide (which is measured over a 100 year timescale).5 Therefore the emission of 1 tonne of methane is considered to be equivalent to the emission of 21 tonnes of carbon dioxide. While the Kyoto Protocol requires signatory countries to meet their targets primarily through domestic measures, it also provides for a number of flexible mechanisms that allows them to offset their emissions by purchasing reductions made in other countries. This is done by purchasing “units”, each unit being equivalent to one tonne of CO2 (emissions of other greenhouse gases being converted to the equivalent number of tonnes of CO2). Through the trading of these units to offset emissions of greenhouse gases, a new commodity has been created in the form of emission reductions or removals. Since carbon dioxide (CO2) is the principal greenhouse gas, this market is widely referred to as the “carbon market”,6 with each of the units traded commonly referred to as “carbon credits”.7 Under the Kyoto Protocol, countries are to keep precise records of the trades carried out. Transfers and acquisitions of carbon credits are tracked and recorded through the registry systems under the Protocol. The UN Climate Change Secretariat, based in Bonn, Germany, keeps an international transaction log to ensure secure transfer of carbon credits between countries and to verify that transactions are consistent with the rules of the Protocol. Emissions trading schemes may also be established as climate policy instruments at the national and regional levels. Under such schemes, governments set emissions obligations to be reached by the participating entities. The European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) is the largest in operation. INTERPOL, through its Environmental Crime Programme and the Economic and Financial Crimes sub-Directorate, recognize that emerging carbon markets, like any market, are at risk of exploitation through criminal means and therefore require proper monitoring and enforcement to ensure environmental and financial integrity. This guide is not intended to take a position on the value of carbon trading in either a general or specific form but is intended to assess the current vulnerabilities of the existing and emerging carbon markets and provide fundamental information necessary to establish adequate policing of these mechanisms. INTERPOL is the only international police organization with a trans-boundary mandate, with designated units addressing both environmental and financial crimes. Its mandate includes the exchange of criminal intelligence and sensitive information between law enforcement agencies amongst INTERPOL’s 190 member countries. INTERPOL recognizes carbon trading crime as a new and emerging type of environmental and financial crime. Before assessing the potential scope for criminal activity, this report offers a comprehensive overview of the carbon market and carbon trading in practice, for those unfamiliar with its operations and terminology. Details: Lyon, France: Interpol, 2013. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2013 at: www.interpol.int Year: 2013 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 129663 Keywords: Carbon Trading Crime (International)Environmental PollutionFinancial CrimesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Global Witness Title: Logging in the Shadows: How Vested Interests Abuse Shadow Permits to Evade Forest Sector Reforms Summary: Systematic abuse of small, poorly regulated logging permits in Africa by companies, forest officials and politicians is undermining efforts to fight deforestation and keep illegal timber out of the EU, says a new report by Global Witness. The new report, Logging in the shadows, identifies a largely hidden pattern of abuse across Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana and Liberia, in which permits designed to promote small businesses and meet local needs are being allocated in their hundreds to industrial logging companies. These "shadow permits" open the door to highly lucrative, large-scale logging operations which bypass oversight by the authorities. Details: London: Global Witness, 2013. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 13, 2013 at: http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/library/Shadow%20Permit%20Report%202013%20Final_Web_0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Africa URL: http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/library/Shadow%20Permit%20Report%202013%20Final_Web_0.pdf Shelf Number: 131652 Keywords: Environmental CrimeForests Illegal Logging (Africa)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Greenpeace Title: Licence to Launder: How Herakles Farms' Illegal Timber Trade Threatens Cameroon's Forests and VPA Summary: The oil palm plantation being developed by Herakles Farms in the southwest region of Cameroon - an area of great biodiversity surrounded by five protected areas - illustrates what happens when irresponsible companies are not held accountable to local laws and processes. The companies activities pose a serious threat to forested areas and the communities who rely upon the forest for their livelihoods. Herakles Farms was originally trying to acquire more than 70,000 hectares of forested land in the region in 2009. Its local subsidiary, SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC), began clearing forest despite the fact the project did not have a land lease signed by the president as required by Cameroon law. Greenpeace and other local and international NGOs have continued to exposed Herakles Farms' illegal operations and the threats its irresponsible project poses to local livelihoods, environment and global climate. In this report, Greenpeace reveals how the company is now colluding with the Cameroonian government to commercialise the timber - much of which was illegally felled - from its project, despite previously categorically stating that it had no intention to do so. This new development demonstrates the persistent illegalities at the heart of the Herakles Farms project, indicative of a wider problem in many land deals and the logging sector in Africa. If allowed to persist, it will also seriously undermine Cameroon's Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU to stop illegal logging. Finally, it sends the message that, if companies are allowed to behave as they wish, contravening national laws and ignoring the rights of local communities, then the forests and people of Africa will have no protection. Details: Amsterdam: Greenpeace, 2014. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 14, 2014 at: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/forests/2014/Licence-to-Launder.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Cameroon URL: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/forests/2014/Licence-to-Launder.pdf Shelf Number: 129600 Keywords: DeforestationForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Ayling, Julie Title: Harnessing Third Parties for Transnational Environmental Crime Prevention Summary: Because transnational environmental crime (TEC) can result in the demise of an environmental resource or irreversible damage to the environment, its prevention is a critical issue. Deterrence through law enforcement can go only a limited distance towards preventing TEC. However, there is a huge potential for third parties to be active participants, alongside governmental authorities, in crafting and implementing strategies for TEC prevention. This paper explores the ways in which the capacities of third parties - non-state, non-offending actors - are now, and could be, harnessed by states for this purpose. It draws together concepts and theories from policing studies, criminology, and regulatory studies to highlight changing relationships between the state and non-state actors in relation to crime control, and applies them to TEC. A more systematic approach to TEC prevention using third parties requires dedicated strategic analysis and planning on the part of states, working individually and together. Details: Canberra: Department of International Relations, Australian National University, 2013. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper 3/2013: Accessed September 11, 2014 at: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/IPS/IR/TEC/TEC_Working_Paper_3_2013_Ayling_Harnessing.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/IPS/IR/TEC/TEC_Working_Paper_3_2013_Ayling_Harnessing.pdf Shelf Number: 129898 Keywords: Environmental CrimesOffenses Against the EnvironmentThird Parties |
Author: Stakeholder Democracy Network Title: Communities not Criminals: Illegal Oil Refining in the Niger Delta Summary: An estimated 150,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen every day in Nigeria. The vast majority of this is sold internationally, but approximately 25% stays in the Niger Delta for refining and consumption. Illegal oil refining in the region comes with steep economic and social costs. Unless the problem is better understood and key drivers of the illegal economy are analyzed, the trade could come to undermine the stability of Nigeria's legal oil sector. Only five years ago, billions of dollars in oil revenue were effectively locked in because of instability and crime in the Niger Delta. The United Nations Environmental Program (UNDP) Environment Assessment of Ogoniland highlighted that in addition to poor pipeline maintenance by international oil companies, illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta is a major cause of environmental degradation. Whole communities have lost their traditional livelihoods as fisherman and farmers, as the effects of illegal refining, compounded by equipment failure, pollutes their water and land. The refining process may also pose serious health risks. The dangers notwithstanding, organized theft of crude oil and the illegal refining business it feeds also support the families, small businesses and social aspirations of many Niger Delta communities. Interviewees for this report described illegal oil refining as an entrepreneurial, free market response to local economic dysfunction, socioeconomic pressures, the Niger Delta's chronic fuel shortages and government's failure to deliver basic public services. The oil companies operating in the delta and the media regularly draw attention to this illicit industry, noting for instance that some illegal oil refining camps brazenly operate in broad daylight. In response, the military Joint Task Force (JTF), charged with patrolling on-shore oil fields, each year destroys thousands of illegal refineries. However, the set up costs are so low and returns so high that within weeks illegal refiners start up new camps. Some claim the problem is worsening, with suspicions that as the 2014/15 election gets closer, oil theft and the associated environmental damage it causes will get even worse. Evidence also suggests that rogue actors within the JTF actively participate in and profit from theft and illegal refining. This is the first ever study that explores how illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta operates and what is driving its rapid growth. The underlying research attempted to gain an in-depth quantitative and qualitative understanding of how the business works, and to analyze the political, economic and societal drivers, networks and impacts and nature of local oil refining. The findings of this report are based on 12 weeks of field research, undertaken over four months in early 2013. A team of researchers visited nine illegal refining operations across Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states. This was supplemented with 120 key informant interviews with oil companies, government representatives and members of civil society. To ensure the safety of those interviewed, identifies have been protected and this report does not ascribe any quotes to individuals. This is in keeping with SDN's operational research process which seeks to identify trends and solutions, without risks to those involved in the research process either as researchers or interviewees. Details: London: SDN, 2013. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2014 at: http://www.stakeholderdemocracy.org/uploads/SDN%20Publications/CommunitiesNotCriminals.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Nigeria URL: http://www.stakeholderdemocracy.org/uploads/SDN%20Publications/CommunitiesNotCriminals.pdf Shelf Number: 133938 Keywords: Illegal MarketsIllegal Oil RefiningIllicit GoodsOffenses Against the EnvironmentOil Theft (Nigeria)Organized CrimeStolen Goods |
Author: Lawson, Sam Title: Stolen Goods: The EU's Complicity in Illegal Tropical Deforestation Summary: Previous studies commissioned by the EU have shown that the EU has been leading the world in imports of 'embodied deforestation' in the form of agricultural and timber products. This study goes a step further, by showing that the EU is also one of the largest importers of products resulting from illegal deforestation. The study estimates that in 2012, the EU imported EUR 6 billion of soy, beef, leather and palm oil which were grown or reared on land illegally cleared of forests in the tropics - almost a quarter of the total world trade. The Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Italy and France are among the largest consumers of these illegally sourced deforestation commodities, being collectively responsible for two-thirds of EU purchasing by value and three-quarters in terms of the areas of forest destroyed. Details: Moreton in March, UK: FERN, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.fern.org/sites/fern.org/files/Stolen%20Goods_EN.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.fern.org/sites/fern.org/files/Stolen%20Goods_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 134949 Keywords: ForestsIllegal DeforestationOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Cabrejo le Roux, Amanda Title: Tightening the Net: Toward a Global Legal Framework on Transnational Organized Environmental Crime Summary: This report has been commissioned in the context of a collaboration between WWF and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. The two organizations joined forces as they are both convinced of the need to open a broad debate concerning legal strategies to address environmental crime as a form of transnational organized crime. This report draws upon two previous research papers which highlighted the necessity to conduct a global legal review, exploring existing international legal frameworks and cutting-edge legal answers. The first paper was the Global Initiative's Baseline Assessment report ("The Global Response to Transnational Organized Environmental Crime", June 2014). The second paper was an internal paper prepared for WWF by the Environmental Law Centre of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) written by Lydia Slobodian ("Addressing Transnational Wildlife Crime through a Protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. A Scoping Paper", November 2014). Large extracts of this internal paper are incorporated into the present report. In this context, a draft report was written by the lead author, Amanda Cabrejo le Roux, who is a legal consultant with the Global Initiative and a researcher in International and Comparative Criminal Law1. An expert consultation meeting was then held in Geneva on 11 March 2015 to discuss preliminary findings presented in the draft report. This report benefits from this fruitful discussion and incorporates experts' comments. To sum up, this report is the result of a cross-sectoral fertilization of ideas and it is envisioned as a thought-provoking starting point for examining legal frameworks currently available to combat transnational organized environmental crime, at the global, regional and national levels. The study seeks not to be prescriptive but to stimulate an open discussion and to explore potential avenues regarding means of moving this important dialogue forward. Details: Geneva: Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, 2015. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April2 4, 2015 at: http://www.globalinitiative.net/download/global-initiative/WWF-Global%20Initaitive%20-%20Towards%20a%20Global%20Legal%20Framework%20on%20Env%20Crime%20-%20April%202015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 135389 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimesWildlife Crime |
Author: Bondaroff, Teale N. Phelps Title: The Illegal Fishing and Organized Crime Nexus: Illegal Fishing as Transnational Organized Crime Summary: More than 90% of the world's fisheries are currently fully or over-exploited. A 2008 study estimated that the annual global illicit fishing catch was between 11 - 26 million tonnes, equal to more than 1,800 pounds of wild-caught fish stolen from the oceans every second. Despite this, illicit fishing is treated predominantly as a regulatory issue, a matter of different actors violating regulations, perhaps opportunistically or out of ignorance. However, as this report, "The Illegal Fishing and Organized Crime Nexus," commissioned jointly by the Global Initiative with The Black Fish, a Netherlands-based international organisation working to end illegal overfishing, now proves, illicit fishing practices are increasingly taking the form of a highly organized transnational crime. Rather than fishers accidentally violating regulations, this evidence-based account documents systematic and highly coordinated efforts to violate fishing laws and regulations around the world, putting the stability of marine ecosystems in serious jeopardy. We see how illicit fishers enable their activities through the violation of labour and environmental standards, corruption, bribery and violence. Case studies presented in the report also reveal an even darker side to illicit fishing - connected to human trafficking, illegal drug smuggling, serious violence and murder. It demonstrates the engagement of known mafia groups and criminal networks that profit from the practice. Despite this evidence, illicit fishing continues to be treated as a regulatory issue instead of as a form of transnational crime, and as such this practice is able to flourish with minimal enforcement or penalties. The report concludes that urgent and multilateral action is to be initiated to halt the growing multi-billion dollar illegal fish market. Recommendations advocate for the importance of urgently strengthening international regulations regarding shipping and vessels, creating domestic legislation designed to treat IUU fishing as a crime; dramatically increasing the punishments of offenders and significant enhancement of monitoring and enforcement are additional recommendations. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 25, 2015 at: http://www.globalinitiative.net/download/global-initiative/GI%20Black%20Fish%20-%20Illegal%20Fishing%20and%20Organized%20Crime%20Nexus%20-%20April%202015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.globalinitiative.net/download/global-initiative/GI%20Black%20Fish%20-%20Illegal%20Fishing%20and%20Organized%20Crime%20Nexus%20-%20April%202015.pdf Shelf Number: 135390 Keywords: Illegal FishingMaritime CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife Crimes |
Author: Ohlenschlaeger, Jens Peter Title: Reducing ship generated marine litter - recommendations to improve the EU port reception facilities directive Summary: Marine litter is an increasing threat to the health of European and global marine ecosystems, with costly environmental, economic and social consequences. One of the sources to this pollution comes from ships, which legally or illegally discharge their solid waste (waste) into the sea.The EU Port Reception Facilities (PRF) Directive (2000/59/EC) regulates how ships discharge their waste to port reception facilities in the EU. The PRF Directive pursues the same aim as the MARPOL Convention, namely to reduce the amount of pollution in seas and coastlines of Member States caused by ship generated waste and cargo residues discharged into the sea by shipping. The Directive came into force in 2002 and an EMSA study published in 2012 has shown an increase in waste delivery to Member State ports since then. Despite this increase, illegal discharges of ship generated waste into the sea still take place. There are several explanations for this. These include insufficient control and inspection of the ships, and the difficulties in doing so, and a lack of appropriate economic incentives for waste delivery, or indeed, perverse incentives for waste delivery. Little transparency regarding the operation of the waste handling facilities and a lack of clarity in some ports regarding the role and responsibilities of the various actors involved may also be responsible. It has become apparent that the Directive is not prescriptive enough in these respects and clearer guidelines and stricter requirements would be desirable and beneficial for the ports. This is especially true regarding the cost recovery system, as the Directive leaves a lot of room for interpretation, which has resulted in many different systems being implemented across European ports, thereby creating an uneven playing field and allowing less than optimal systems to be implemented. This study recommends that the Directive should be revised to put a stronger focus on: - The applied cost recovery system (degree of indirect fee); - The efficiency of the waste notification system; - The port authority involvement in ship waste handling (taking responsibility, control and monitoring); - The "one stop shop" approach, and - The inspection regime in the port regarding waste delivery. Details: London: Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2013. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 29, 2015 at: http://www.ieep.eu/assets/1257/IEEP_2013_Reducing_ship_generated_marine_litter_-_recommendations_to_improve_the_PRF_Directive.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.ieep.eu/assets/1257/IEEP_2013_Reducing_ship_generated_marine_litter_-_recommendations_to_improve_the_PRF_Directive.pdf Shelf Number: 135424 Keywords: Illegal DumpingLitterMaritime CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Newman, Stephanie Title: A case study on illegal fishing and the role of rights-based fisheries management in improving compliance Summary: This case study focuses on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. IUU fishing refers to fishing activities that do not comply with national, regional, or international fisheries conservation or management legislation or measures. IUU fishing activities may all have serious detrimental impacts on marine ecosystems, ecosystem services, and the societies that derive benefit from such services. IUU fishing exerts additional pressure on fish stocks, which may already be under pressure from unsustainable rates of legal fishing activities, and can thereby contribute to the depletion of fish stocks. In addition to these direct impacts on target fish species, fishing activities (and therefore IUU fishing activities) can have direct impacts on non-target commercial species and nonmarketable fish, on protected and vulnerable species, and on habitats. This case study focuses on the causes, motives and incentives for committing illegal fishing. It considers the role of rights-based fisheries management systems in incentivising or dis-incentivising illegal behaviour. Rights-based management programmes convey and manage exclusive entitlements to an entity - person, company, vessel, community - to fish in a particular place at a particular time. The European Commission defines rights-based management as "a formalised system of allocating individual fishing rights to fishermen, fishing vessels, enterprises, cooperatives and fishing communities". Rights-based systems of fisheries management exist in most EU Member States in some shape or form, and the Commission sought to introduce an EU system of transferable fishing concessions (defined as a revocable user entitlement to a specific part of fishing opportunities allocated to a Member State, which the holder may transfer) in its proposal for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Rights-based management is found to be a potential tool to deliver better fisheries management. The adoption of rights-based management can lead to better compliance with fisheries requirements due to the interest rights holders have, their ability to lease extra quotas, etc. However, the benefits of rights-based management depend entirely on the rights being adequately determined. If fishers consider their entitlements to be insufficient or unfairly distributed, then non-compliant behaviour may occur. Rights-based management is, therefore, a mechanism to be considered within the design of fisheries management. In taking such a system forward it is importance properly to design the catch share systems to ensure the incentives work for compliance as well - i.e. to address or limit social equity concerns. Details: London: European Union Action to Fight Environmental Crime, 2015. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Work Package 4 "Case Studies": Accessed April 30, 2015 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE_Illegal%20fishing%20and%20the%20role%20of%20rights%20based%20fisheries%20management%20in%20improving%20compliance_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE_Illegal%20fishing%20and%20the%20role%20of%20rights%20based%20fisheries%20management%20in%20improving%20compliance_0.pdf Shelf Number: 135438 Keywords: Fishing IndustryIllegal Fishing (Europe)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: World Growth Title: Wronging Indonesia -The EU's Bait and Switch Illegal Logging Policy and its Impact on Indonesian Enterprises Summary: The EU is delaying implementation of a 'Voluntary Partnership Agreement' (VPA) with Indonesia on illegal timber exports. Indonesia has complied with EU demands at significant cost, but the delays mean Indonesia's exporters will now have to comply with a different, more costly system of regulation. This report examines the implications. Illegal logging first emerged as a campaign issue in 1998. The illegal timber trade was linked to global concerns over deforestation. Action against illegal logging in developing countries was supported by Western industries that were facing increased competition from timber and paper producers, particularly in China. It was also supported by environmental campaign groups that made unsubstantiated claims about the levels of illegal logging taking place globally. However, there has been very little ground-based research on levels of illegal logging in many countries. Indonesia has often been considered a 'worst offender' for alleged exports of illegal timber. This has in part been due to high levels of administrative overlap during the country's transition into a democracy. Despite this, Indonesia has undertaken successful action to reduce levels of illegal logging and been a driving force in taking action against illegal logging internationally. In 2003 the European Union (EU) first announced it would attempt to prevent the sale of 'illegal' timber on European markets through a combination of domestic legal instruments and international agreements. They are the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) and Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA) respectively. These policy instruments have emerged following a long international campaign based on unsound data and emotive campaigning by Green groups and uncompetitive manufacturers in Europe. Voluntary Partnership Agreements were introduced as the key policy measure for Europe to take action against 'illegal' timber. The VPAs were ostensibly introduced as a means for exporting nations to 'fast track' timber products into Europe from nations that comply with European regulatory demands. The real purpose is to pressure developing countries that export timber products to apply standards determined by the EU to regulate exports, under the threat of import bans. VPAs require the implementation of a licensing system for exporters wishing to export timber products to Europe that verify the legality of the product. For many developing nations this is a costly exercise. VPA uptake has been slow. This has been in part due to a reluctance of developing nations to enter into trade agreements that propose conditions on non-trade items, such as environment and labour. The slow uptake and potential loopholes for non-VPA timber prompted European Greens to press for the introduction of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). The EUTR is set to come into effect in 2013. It threatens European operators with legal action if they sell 'illegal' timber in European markets and/or do not make efforts to mitigate the risk of selling 'illegal' timber on European markets. This risk can be mitigated with the implementation of tools such as independent third-party verification of timber being exported to Europe, distinct from the VPA licensing system. This is an expensive undertaking for many developing country exporters. Licensed VPA imports were supposed to be exempt from the EUTR and considered risk-free once VPAs were operational. In the case of Indonesia, a VPA has been completed and signed, but is yet to be ratified by the EU. According to Indonesian officials, the EU appears to have stalled the agreement completely. This means Indonesian timber exporters are effectively in policy limbo. They have chosen to have their products verified through the VPA-backed Sistem verifikasi legalitas kayu (SVLK - timber legality assurance system) with the promise of avoiding further costly verification under the EUTR. However, the VPA has stalled, and SVLK is not currently recognised under the EUTR. Indonesia's forest and forest-related industries are significant contributors to Indonesia's economy. There are many large and medium businesses exporting forest products to Europe. There are more than 18 million micro and small forest-based enterprises, producing wooden items, furniture and timber that also export to Europe. Most of these businesses are family enterprises comprising less than four people. For many Indonesian businesses, implementing the systems required under the VPA is prohibitively expensive. The EU's own modelling has indicated it will have a detrimental impact on Indonesia's industry. The new EU policies are likely to have a significant impact on trade with partner nations such as Indonesia. These impacts would ordinarily be obviated by legal obligations under international trade law and/or bilateral trade agreements. However, the legality of these policies under international trade agreements is questionable. The actions by the EU constitute a classic 'bait and switch' strategy. Indonesia has been promised a particular action by the EU; the EU has since reneged. It is now offering Indonesia an inferior agreement, despite securing significant and costly policy actions from Indonesia. Under bait and switch, customers are invited to purchase an item at a low price. The vendor then informs the customer that it is no longer available and must accept a more expensive item. Under European law this type of behaviour is illegal under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. Indonesia has taken leading action on illegal logging globally. It has negotiated in good faith with Europe. In this case, the 18 million-plus Indonesians dependent upon the forest industry are likely to consider themselves wronged by Europe. Given these grievances, Indonesia has solid grounds to consider action through the World Trade Organization Details: Arlington, VA: World Growth, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2015 at: http://worldgrowth.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/WG_FLEGT_2012_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Indonesia URL: http://worldgrowth.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/WG_FLEGT_2012_final.pdf Shelf Number: 135506 Keywords: ForestsIllegal Logging (Indonesia)Illegal TimberNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: World Growth Title: Cutting Down the Poor: How UK and EU aid is killing jobs in developing countries, wasting EU taxpayer funds and breaking international trade rules Summary: The government of the United Kingdom and the European Union have introduced measures against illegal logging with their trading partners that are currently costing approximately L22.4 million annually. By the EU-s own estimates these measures are likely to be ineffective and will: - cause job losses among the rural poor in developing countries, - have little impact on illegal logging; - have virtually no impact on deforestation, if any. The measures are also likely to put the EU in breach of international trade laws. Timber exporters to the EU should consider trade retaliation. EU taxpayers should demand an inquiry. Illegal logging first emerged as a campaign issue in 1998. The illegal timber trade was linked to global concerns over deforestation. Action against illegal logging in developing countries was supported by Western industries that were facing increased competition from timber and paper producers, particularly in China. It was also supported by environmental campaign groups that made unsubstantiated claims about the levels of illegal logging taking place globally. However, there has been very little ground-based research on levels of illegal logging in many countries. Details: Arlington, VA: World Growth, 2013. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2015 at: http://worldgrowth.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/WG_FLEGT_2013_revision_formatted.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Indonesia URL: http://worldgrowth.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/WG_FLEGT_2013_revision_formatted.pdf Shelf Number: 135507 Keywords: DeforestationForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Smit, Hans Title: Implementing Deforestation-Free Supply Chains - Certification and Beyond Summary: Deforestation and forest degradation result in biodiversity losses and are major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In an effort to delink agricultural production from deforestation, a growing number of companies and national governments are making public commitments to purchasing products which do not cause deforestation. SNV's REDD+ Energy and Agriculture Programme (REAP) published a report examining the role of agricultural certification standards in effectively halting forest conversion and explores some of the key ingredients which need to be in place in order to establish deforestation-free supply chains. Based on the findings, a toolkit is provided which can help to address identified challenges. The package consists of three components: a traceability and monitoring system, our Inclusive Business approach and the SNV Siting Tool. The toolkit is designed to assist companies and governments in going beyond certification standards in order to bring about the systemic changes needed to delink agricultural production from deforestation and forest degradation at a landscape level. Details: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: SNV REDD+ Energy and Agriculture Programme, 2015. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2015 at: http://www.snvworld.org/en/redd/publications/implementing-deforestation-free-supply-chains-certification-and-beyond Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.snvworld.org/en/redd/publications/implementing-deforestation-free-supply-chains-certification-and-beyond Shelf Number: 135776 Keywords: DeforestationForestsNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentSupply Chains |
Author: Tabib, Rafaa Title: Stealing the revolution: violence and predation in Libya Summary: The success of Libya's 2011 revolution has given way to political disarray, an institutional vacuum, and an extraordinary proliferation of non-state and quasi-state armed groups operating across the country. However, rather than pursuing political or ideological objectives, these groups increasingly focus on resource predation. Through an empirical study of various axes of violence in contemporary Libya, this report highlights the critical role played by criminal accumulation, land grabs, and protection rackets in the actions of tribal militias and jihadist groups, and in the fighting that has blighted one major urban hub. Whereas conventional representations of Libya's post-revolutionary period dwell on the political battle between Islamists and secular forces, the report suggests that the cause of the countrys increasing levels of armed violence can be found in the absence of a functional state and the fragmentation of local, tribal, ethnic and ideological forces, which together make the violent acquisition of material resources essential to group survival. Details: Oslo: Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Center, 2014. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2015 at: http://www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/Tabib_Clingendael_NOREF_Stealing%20the%20revoulution_Violence%20and%20predation%20in%20Libya_October%202014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Libya URL: http://www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/Tabib_Clingendael_NOREF_Stealing%20the%20revoulution_Violence%20and%20predation%20in%20Libya_October%202014.pdf Shelf Number: 135869 Keywords: CrimeCriminal ViolenceNatural ResourceOffenses Against the EnvironmentRadical Groups |
Author: INTERPOL. Environmental Security Sub-Directorate Title: Study on Fisheries Crime in the West African Coastal Region Summary: Illegal fishing and associated criminal activities, also known as fisheries crime, undermine the sustainability of marine living resources, and threaten the economic, social and political stability of coastal communities, especially in West Africa where small-scale or artisanal fishermen depend on sustainable near-shore fisheries for their source of revenue and survival. The INTERPOL Environmental Security Sub-Directorate, through its Project Scale, supports and assists member countries in the effective enforcement of national and international fisheries laws and treaties. Fisheries crime in West Africa is truly transnational in its scope and extends across many crime types. This report gives key recommendations for an international law enforcement response to this complex crime among the 190 INTERPOL member countries.1 It aims to guide INTERPOLs engagement on fisheries crime in this region, as well as globally, and inform the INTERPOL Fisheries Crime Working Group (FCWG) on avenues of engagement. The information used to develop this report consisted of a review of open sources together with consultations with the INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and other law enforcement agencies that oversee the harvest and trade in marine products, as well as the monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of national waters, and other experts from non-governmental and international organizations active in fourteen West African member countries. This report identifies major modi operandi enabling illegality in the fisheries sector in West Africa and the types of criminality that facilitate or accompany this illegality. It includes select cases that exemplify the types of illegality and criminality affecting the fisheries sector in West Africa. The common modi operandi identified in this report are: - Surveillance avoidance, such as interfering with electronic monitoring systems and intentionally obscuring vessel markings and identity; - Transhipment at sea which can facilitate the laundering of illegally caught fish by transferring catch to cargo vessels which then offload at distant ports; - Abuse of vessel registries within the region and elsewhere to facilitate illegal fishing activities globally (exacerbated by the lack of transparency in most vessel registries); - Licensing abuses such as fishing with fraudulent licenses (also exacerbated by the lack of transparency in the issuance of licenses in the region); - Collusion with the artisanal sector, including illegal transhipment from artisanal to industrial fishing vessels; - Industrial vessels fishing illegally in artisanal fishing zones. Details: Lyon, France: INTERPOL, 2014. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Environmental-crime/Resources Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Environmental-crime/Resources Shelf Number: 136274 Keywords: Fishing Industry Illegal Fishing Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Hoare, Alison Title: Tackling Illegal Logging and the Related Trade: What Progress and Where Next? Summary: This report is the culmination of the multi-year 'Indicators of Illegal Logging' project, in which Chatham House has sought to monitor and understand what progress is being made in global efforts to improve forest governance and address illegal logging. The first assessment, published in 2010, presented findings from 12 countries. For the second and current assessment, which is the subject of this Chatham House report, another seven countries have been added, with individual reports on all 19 countries published in 2014-15. The countries were selected on the basis of their relative importance in the world's forest sector. The nine producer countries account for about 10 per cent of global exports of wood-based products (in roundwood equivalent [RWE] volume), while the 10 processing and consumer countries account for approximately half of all global imports of wood-based products. Details: London: The Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2015. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Chatham House Report: Accessed August 3, 2015 at: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/field/field_document/20150715IllegalLoggingHoare.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/field/field_document/20150715IllegalLoggingHoare.pdf Shelf Number: 136280 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeNatural ResourceOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Criminal Justice Response to Wildlife and Forest Crime in Cambodia: A Rapid Assessment Summary: The Kingdom of Cambodia is a land rich in biological diversity, home to unique and rare species of flora and fauna. It is the most ethnically homogenous country in South East-Asia with 94% of its 15.5 million population made up of Ethnic Khmer. It is bordered by Vietnam, Thailand and Lao PDR and it is a royal monarchy governed by the Cambodian People's Party. The Cambodian government and people have made tremendous advances rebuilding the social infrastructure that was so devastated by decades of war. This growth has been fuelled by international aid and the exploitation of their natural resources, both flora and fauna. In particular the Cambodian forests have undergone extensive commercial logging over the last 30 years with forest cover dropping from 72% in 1973 to 46% in 2013. The percentage of timber products in 2011 was an estimated production volume of 50,000m3 of sawn-timber minus 25,000m3 of reported export timber, which clearly indicates that the domestic market consumes about 50% of the total production. Companies exporting wood products must obtain an export license usually valid for one year based on the sales contract. The export systems adopted in Cambodia, also, include the inspection of products that can be ultimately traced to the exporter and production mill, through export documentation such as PC-IMEX, export permits and export licenses. This exploitation has resulted in the extinction of some species and the reduction in others to such a degree as to make any trade in them illegal. Several flora and fauna species indigenous to Cambodia are now afforded protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). These species include high value timber species such as Dalbergia cochinchinensis commonly known as Siamese Rosewood (Appendix II) and fauna species such as the Tiger (Appendix I), Leopard (Appendix I), Clouded Leopard (Appendix I) Elephant (Appendix I), Sun Bear (Appendix I), Banteng (Appendix I), Pangolin (Appendix II) and the iconic Irrawaddy Dolphin (Appendix I). Despite protection under CITES, national laws, Royal Decrees and Prime Ministerial Sub Decrees there is growing evidence that transnational organised crime groups are continuing to target high value timber species in Cambodia and adjoining countries, particularly Thailand. Illegal logging and timber smuggling are a high reward but risky criminal activity which have resulted in armed confrontations, casualties and several deaths among rangers and smugglers. It is not only Cambodia's forests that have been exploited. Many of Cambodia's fauna species have also been targeted and continue to be subjected to illegal trafficking to feed markets in China and Vietnam. Recent seizures point to transnational organised crime groups targeting Cambodia as a transit point for ivory and rhino horn from Africa. The objective of this study therefore is to determine what role the criminal justice system in Cambodia plays in combating the illegal trade in timber and wildlife. In order to coherently achieve this goal, this report relayed primarily on qualitative research methods applying an inductive interpretivist approach, by adopting a series of methods of data generation. This information, empirical and statistical, has been obtained through a variety of sources which include both primary - in the form of structured interviewing techniques - and secondary sources, i.e. publications, articles, government documents. Although a variety of sources, and consequently conclusions and recommendations, will be presented at the end of this study, this report aspires to analyse the role of the criminal justice system in combating the illegal trade in timber and wildlife with a view to engage the Government of Cambodia to improve its performance. There has been careful consideration in the selection of the studied documents with regards to the origins in order to obtain a diverse range of material and at the same maintain a constructive dialogue with the Government. Ultimately, one must also acknowledge that establishing a methodology with the aim of assessing the criminal justice system in Cambodia is problematic within itself and a process susceptible of bias as influenced by numerous assumptions. The political commitment to use criminal justice resources to target the illegal exploitation and trade in timber and wildlife crime is one of the starting points for this country analysis. Criminal justice systems deal with multiple crimes and face considerable public and political pressure on a range of issues. Prioritising interventions is in practice the mechanism that criminal justice actors use to meet large demands with limited resources. The issue of political will is of great relevance too given on-going accusations of wide spread corruption and the protection of wildlife and timber smuggling by those, including political leaders and senior officials, who profit from it. For the purposes of this report "Wildlife and Forest Crime" refers to the taking, trading (supplying, selling or trafficking), importing, exporting, processing, possessing, obtaining and consumption of wild fauna and flora, including timber and other forest products in contravention of national or international law. This study has analysed the framework of responses to crime as defined by national laws. Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2015. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2015 at: https://www.unodc.org/southeastasiaandpacific/en/regional-programme/toc/environmental-crime.html Year: 2015 Country: Cambodia URL: https://www.unodc.org/southeastasiaandpacific/en/regional-programme/toc/environmental-crime.html Shelf Number: 136295 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Criminal Justice Responses to the Illegal Trade in Timber in Vietnam Summary: A third of South East Asia is covered by forests and Asia as a whole accounts for 18 per cent of total global forested areas. This substantial resource has attracted considerable attention from national and international institutions, civil society and analysts, all concerned by the rate at which the forest is legally and illegally felled. Most discussions have focused on these threats from an ecological standpoint while, until recently, less attention has being given to assessing this depletion as a result of criminal activity. There is however growing evidence that sophisticated criminal operations are contributing to a significant degree to forest exploitation. As more laws and regulatory frameworks are applied to manage the remaining forests in a sustainable way, and in the context of the on-going demand for timber, this is a challenge which is likely to grow rather than diminish. The objective of this study therefore is to determine what role criminal justice system in Viet Nam is playing in the struggle against the illegal trade in timber. It is based on a series of field visits to the country, a review of the available primary and secondary data, as well as interviews with key interlocutors. Interviews were mainly conducted with key players of the criminal justice system such as prosecutors, police, customs and environment/forestry officials involved in law enforcement. Whenever possible interviews were conducted at the level of officers in charge of investigations. In parallel, interviews were conducted with representatives of International Organizations and Civil Society. The results of the study were presented to the Government of Viet Nam during the workshop Good Governance and the threats of Transnational Organized Crime in the forestry sector, organized by UNODC in Hanoi on 14 October 2013. This report is primarily concerned with the illicit exploitation of timber within forest areas and its movement and then trafficking across borders for profit. These activities often exist in the grey area between clandestine and legitimate business activities. For the purposes of this report then the broad term "illegal timber trade" will be used to refer to the illicit movements (often transboundary) of illegal and quasi-legal timber and wood products. When used in the report, the term "forest crime" refers to a broader set of criminal activities against flora and fauna in forest areas. In this formulation, the illegal trade in timber is a subset of forest crime. For the purpose of this study no specific analysis has been conducted to identify a common and internationally acceptable notion of "illegal timber". This study has simply analyzed the framework of responses to crime as defined by national laws. The political commitment to use criminal justice resources to target the illegal exploitation and trade in timber is one of the starting points of the country analysis. The criminal justice system deals with multiple crimes and face considerable public and political pressure on a range of issues. Prioritising interventions is in practice the mechanism that criminal justice actors use to meet large demands with limited resources. The issue of political will is of great relevance too given on-going accusations of level corruption and the protection of illicit logging by those, including political leaders and senior officials, who profit from it. While criminal justice systems are designed in theory to respond to all crimes, the purpose of this report is to map out as far as possible the processes in which forest crimes are detected, investigated and prosecuted - and by whom. The latter question is critical: the crime of timber exploitation and trafficking falls in the purview of multiple departments and effective coordination between them is crucial for success. Examining the different inter-linkages between the agencies involved, the report aims at stimulating a wider debate as to how the system may be assisted by external actors. The recommendations of the report are aimed at national policy makers, but also at generating a wider discussion as to how criminal justice interventions could play a more effective role in curbing the illegal exploitation and trafficking of timber. The opening section of the report introduces briefly the extent of the illicit timber trade in South East Asia and some of the challenges that have been associated with controlling it. It then provides a short overview of the key issues and mechanisms through which the criminal justice system could play a more important role in the response to the illicit timber trade. The main body of the report is constituted by the country study. This is followed by a series of concluding recommendations. Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2013. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2015 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific//Publications/wildlife/CJS_Response_-_VIETNAM_01_13_Dec_201.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Vietnam URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific//Publications/wildlife/CJS_Response_-_VIETNAM_01_13_Dec_201.pdf Shelf Number: 136297 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime |
Author: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Title: Organized Crime: A Cross-Cutting Threat to Sustainable Development Summary: The international community has become increasingly aware of the extent to which organised crime serves as a spoiler of sustainable development. This realisation has been enshrined in a number of seminal reports. In 2005, the report of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, "In Larger Freedom," which identified the challenges preventing the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), highlighted organised crime as one of the principle threats to peace and security in the 21st century. The 2010 "Keeping the Promise" report of the Secretary-General recognised that in order to achieve the MDGs, there would need to be capacity to respond specifically to organised crime. The World Development Report 2011 concluded that both conflict and organised crime have the same detrimental effect on development, resulting in 20% less development performance. As such, combatting organised crime and promoting greater economic and social resilience to its most deleterious impacts has become an integral part of the 2012 "Action Agenda" of the Secretary-General, as a priority for achieving a stable world. While organised crime is not a new phenomenon, the spread, impact and forms of organised crime in the modern world are unprecedented. The effects of organised crime are being felt in fragile and developed nations alike, and in many parts of the world, organised crime creates the very conditions that allow it to thrive, resulting in a self-perpetuating cycle of insecurity and diverted development. In fragile states and in situations of peacebuilding and state consolidation, organised crime is an increasing threat. In a number of theatres, criminal groups and illicit flows have been proven to fund conflict and perpetuate violence and insecurity. It is widely recognised, for example, that illicit trafficking and organised crime played a pivotal role in reducing the credibility of the government and financing armed groups that prompted the collapse of the state in Mali in 2011. More recently in Libya, organised crime and the armed groups that perpetrate it are having a decisive impact on the country's development, undermining transitions to stability, obstructing the functioning of central state institutions, holding the democratic process hostage, disenfranchising citizens and increasing the insecurity and life chances of communities. Organised crime and related corruption have been seen to reach up to the highest levels of government and the state, impacting stability, governance, development and the rule of law. Even in what are considered strong and prospering states, organised crime has a serious corrosive effect. A number of recent studies in Africa, for example, have demonstrated that while much of the continent is admired for its active civil society and free media, there is a very real danger of internal decay as organised crime and the associated corruption undermine state institutions. Weaknesses in public and private structures can result in the diversion of resources away from critical infrastructure and governmental services, including the provision of health, education and social welfare. Poverty and inequality are associated with increases in organised crime, not least in relation to human trafficking, smuggling of counterfeit goods, the production of illicit crops, and everyday extortion and bribery. Prominent examples of these insidious relationships are visible in Central and South America; South, West and North Africa; and areas of Eastern Europe, where a combination of drug cartels, transnational gangs, money laundering entities and public entities are colluding with critical effects on human security and development. Moreover, there is a growing body of anecdotal evidence of the myriad ways organised crime negatively impacts the environment, such as by destroying biodiversity, threatening key species, or reducing the sustainability of ecosystems. In dealing with fisheries and marine ecosystems, addressing the problem of large-scale illegal fishing has become more urgent than other research priorities. In fields like sustainable forestry, a substantial proportion of development assistance is being diverted through illegal logging. Drug trafficking has also been a cause of deforestation of large portions of the Amazon and the Isthmus of Panama. Details: Geneva, SWIT: The Initiative, 2015. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 7, 2015 at: http://www.globalinitiative.net/download/global-initiative/Global%20Initiative%20-%20Organized%20Crime%20as%20a%20Cross-Cutting%20Threat%20to%20Development%20-%20January%202015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.globalinitiative.net/download/global-initiative/Global%20Initiative%20-%20Organized%20Crime%20as%20a%20Cross-Cutting%20Threat%20to%20Development%20-%20January%202015.pdf Shelf Number: 136348 Keywords: CorruptionIllicit GoodsOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePovertySustainable Development |
Author: Farmer, Andrew Title: Qualitative and monetary analysis of the impacts of environmental crime: Overview Summary: The survey of data sources within earlier work within EFFACE showed that the data on environmental crime are usually highly dispersed with limited detailed data collations. The most likely sources of consolidated data are international institutions (such as Conventions and the EU). However, even here data are often limited. As a result it is not possible to provide a robust estimate of the overall impacts of environmental crime as a total figure. There are simply too many gaps for this to be done with any confidence. Therefore, it is important to focus on quantifying the impacts of environmental crime in areas where there are sufficient data for this to be done robustly and with confidence. As a result, the quantitative and monetary analysis has been undertaken for the following five subjects: - The impacts of arson events - The impacts of illegal wildlife trade in rhino and elephant - The impacts of marine pollution - The impacts of illegal WEEE shipments from the EU to China - The impacts of illegal wildlife trade in Horsfieldii Tortoise A common framework to guide data collection, analysis and presentation was agreed. This framework involved three analytical steps on the quantitative assessment of levels of illegal activity, the quantitative assessment of the impacts of that illegal activity and the economic valuation of the impacts of the illegal activity. The results identified good examples of information that can be used to understand impacts of environmental crime. The most useful are good, coherent databases with information about the scale of illegal events (a fires database being a clear case). Another is the linking together of good data from different sources, such as that on illegal elephant and rhino poaching and that on population changes - thus enabling conclusions to be drawn on whether the criminal activity is affecting populations in the wild. Data from different types of sources can help paint a picture of different types of impacts (as seen with the waste shipment case). The work had variable success in determining the quantitative impacts of environmental crime. Problems encountered in doing this have included: - Barriers to determining what level of crime is occurring, where, trends, etc. In some cases there is poor recording of criminal events. However, in other cases it may be difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal activity. - Information about impacts may prove difficult to move from anecdotal to quantitative. - Where crime levels are known, the impacts from such crimes may be mixed with those from legal activities, so that distinguishing impacts is difficult. - There is poor monitoring and recording of changes to environmental quality, health, etc., so that quantitative impacts of criminal activities are not known. As a result, for much of the work here, assessments of quantitative impacts are limited to specific areas where there is sufficient data (or data of sufficient confidence) to provide those estimates. The analyses in this study present different approaches to economic analysis. In some cases the quantitative information is insufficient to develop further economic assessments to any degree of confidence. Some used valuations of the natural environment (e.g. on natural capital loss due to poaching) or to health (e.g. for waste shipment). The fires case has sought to estimate the value of assets lost. Several cases have included information on the financial losses and benefits from those engaged in or affected by the illegal activity. In all cases, the economic analysis does not provide a total value for the impact of the type of environmental crime covered, but economic values for specific impacts. Details: London: Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2015. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: A study in the framework of the EFFACE research project. Accessed August 21, 2015 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20D3.2a%20-%20Quantitative%20and%20monetary%20analysis%20-%20overview.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20D3.2a%20-%20Quantitative%20and%20monetary%20analysis%20-%20overview.pdf Shelf Number: 136516 Keywords: Costs of CrimeEconomics of CrimeEnvironmental CrimeIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Veening, Wouter J. Title: Mining gold and mercury pollution in the Guiana Shield: A case study on the role of the EU in fighting environmental crime Summary: This brief report first identifies mercury pollution as a serious and growing threat to global environmental security and the health of the community of life. It then details this threat in the biologically important Guiana Shield ecoregion located in the North East Amazon, bordering the Caribbean, where it is caused by wide-spread informal gold mining. Therefore, the European Union's relevent legal arrangements, lacunae and dilemmas are summarised, also from a criminal law perspective and, finally, conclusions and policy implications for the EU are suggested. Details: The Hague: Institute for Environmental Security, 2015. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: A study compiled as part of the EFFACE project. Accessed August 21, 2015 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Mining%20gold%20and%20mercury%20pollution%20in%20the%20Guiana%20Shield_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: South America URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Mining%20gold%20and%20mercury%20pollution%20in%20the%20Guiana%20Shield_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136518 Keywords: Environmental CrimeGold MiningOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Saunders, Jade Title: EUTR CITES and money laundering: A case study on the challenges to coordinated enforcement in tackling illegal logging Summary: This paper considers three EU policy mechanisms which have the potential to reduce incentives for illegal exploitation of forest resources in producer countries: the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), CITES and anti-money laundering legislation. Looking at four EU countries (the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and two producer countries (Ghana and Indonesia) it describes sanctions regimes and enforcement efforts, and identifies opportunities for improved cooperation by national and EU agencies. While the available data is limited, the paper finds that enforcement has been reasonably successful given the early stage of implementation. There are some synergies between EUTR and CITES, whereas anti-money laundering legislation is not generally relied on to address environmental crimes. The paper finds significant variance between enforcement systems in the EU member states, and concludes that European Commission leadership is essential to establishing the consistency necessary for effective enforcement in the EU market. With regard to the issue of environmental crime generally, the paper concludes that in the case studies, 'criminalization' of environmentally harmful activities has primarily been guided by the nature of the sanctions considered necessary to address the problem in question. Details: London: Chatham House, 2015. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: A study for the EFFACE project. Accessed August 21, 2015 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE_EUTR%20CITES%20and%20money%20laundering%20A%20case%20study%20on%20the%20challenges%20to%20coordinated%20enforcement%20in%20tacking%20illegal%20logging.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE_EUTR%20CITES%20and%20money%20laundering%20A%20case%20study%20on%20the%20challenges%20to%20coordinated%20enforcement%20in%20tacking%20illegal%20logging.pdf Shelf Number: 136522 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingMoney LaunderingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime |
Author: D'Alisa, Giacomo Title: Victims in the "Land of Fires": A case study on the consequences of buried and burnt waste in Campania, Italy Summary: The "Land of Fires" indicates an area in Campania, in the south of Italy were, systematically, since the end of the '80s, toxic wastes have been dumped by organized crime (i.e., camorra, the name for the Neapolitan mafia). Organised crime plays, as a matter of fact, a significant role in the waste management industry; however, organized criminals are not the only players. Although in the public opinion the mafia clans are the most important subjects involved in the illegal waste trafficking, a significant role is also played in this field by many businessmen and firms. Corruption is a crucial element that connects all these actors in the waste sector, characterized by the grant of public licenses and authorizations. Moreover, this sector needs large economic investments and has to face a huge bureaucratic machine, which makes the ground even more fertile for corruption. All these conditions hamper the competition and facilitate the creation and the development of oligopolistic forces, where the strength of mafia intimidation turns out to be particularly effective. The weak (or the absolute lack of) enforcement power at both national and regional levels has been used to explain this widespread illegal situation, but responsibilities actually lie at various governance levels, spanning from inefficient bureaucracy to political patronage and criminal malfeasance. Moreover, the lack of adequate (and effectively enforced) waste management policies has created institutional and regulatory uncertainty which fosters the illegal market of waste. On these premises, with the present case study report we aim to investigate how and why some associations and organizations become a reference point for the victims of those waste-related environmental crimes. The victims of the present analysis are not such ex-lege, but are those people who maintain the status of being victims of illegal waste disposal, and that were identified through several semi-structured interviews. An affiliation networks analysis was developed to study how the victims interacted over time with different associations; the findings obtained allows us to say that victims are strengthening their relationships with local associations in the network and are starting to play an important role to reinforce their socio-political and judicial actions and to combat the illegal practices that can considerably affect their lives. Details: Rome: University of Rome, 2015. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Case study compiled as part of the EFFACE project. Accessed August 21, 2015 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Victims%20in%20the%20Land%20of%20Fires_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Italy URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Victims%20in%20the%20Land%20of%20Fires_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136525 Keywords: Illegal WasteMafiaOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePollution |
Author: Downs, Fiona Title: Rule of law and environmental justice in the forests: The challenge of 'strong law enforcement' in corrupt conditions Summary: Widespread illegal forest activities have contributed to deforestation, forest degradation, economic losses to nations and injustices for forest communities in many countries. Promoting rule of law, particularly through 'strengthening law enforcement', is an important part of improving forest management and ensuring justice for forest dependent communities. This includes strengthening police and the courts to better detect and punish illegal forest activities. However, available evidence has shown that strong law enforcement activities often fail to address broader systems of illegal activities and can lead to further injustices. Corruption is one reason for these failures and is the focus of this U4 Issue Paper, which draws lessons from Cameroon and Indonesia. Efforts to strengthen law enforcement in the forests need to consider how corruption may interfere with successful detection and suppression of illegal activities. If they are to be successful, programmes promoting forest law enforcement in corrupt contexts also need to be sensitive to how they are implemented, with particular focus on the rights of forest dependent communities. Details: Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute, Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, 2013. 32 p. Source: Internet Resource: U4 Issues, 2013, no. 6: Accessed August 24, 2015 at: http://www.u4.no/publications/rule-of-law-and-environmental-justice-in-the-forests-the-challenge-of-strong-law-enforcement-in-corrupt-conditions/ Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.u4.no/publications/rule-of-law-and-environmental-justice-in-the-forests-the-challenge-of-strong-law-enforcement-in-corrupt-conditions/ Shelf Number: 136562 Keywords: CorruptionForest Law EnforcementForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Organised Chaos: The illicit overland timber trade between Myanmar and China Summary: The conviction and subsequent pardon of 155 Chinese nationals in July for illegal logging in Myanmar threw a spotlight on how massive volumes of timber stolen from the county's precious frontier forests have been flowing unhindered into China for decades. The murky trade is worth hundreds of millions of dollars every year, making it one of the single largest bilateral overland flows of illegal timber in the world. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today releases a new report following extensive undercover investigations into the trade in China and Myanmar, exposing the key actors and systemic corruption which drive and facilitate it. Organised Chaos: The illicit overland timber trade between Myanmar and China documents how in Kachin State all parties profit, from shady Chinese businesses paying in gold bars for the rights to log entire mountains to the official corruption which allows the timber to pass through various checkpoints. Kachin and Yunnan Province in China are at the heart of trade but stolen timber is increasingly being sourced from deeper within Myanmar to feed factories in south and east China. The bulk of the timber moving across the border is now high value species of rosewood and teak. Talks between Myanmar and China are due to take place in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on September 24 and EIA calls on both countries to take urgent effective action against the massive illicit timber trade. Faith Doherty, EIA Forest Campaign Team Leader, said: "At first glance, this cross-border trade looks to be both chaotic and complex, with most of the stolen timber trafficked through Myanmar's conflict-torn Kachin State, but the reality beneath the apparent anarchy is an intricate and structured supply chain within which different players have defined functions and collude to ensure the logs keep flowing." The trade appeared to have peaked in 2005 when one million cubic metres of logs crossed the border but, following a brief hiatus when Chinese authorities clamped down, the scale is once again nearing peak levels. This trade contravenes Myanmar regulations prohibiting overland export of wood and the country's log export ban introduced in April 2014. At stake are some of the most ecologically important remaining forests in South-East Asia. EIA's evidence shows that as intensive logging exhausts forests in the border area, Chinese-run operations are encroaching deeper into Myanmar. Doherty added: "Both Myanmar and China need to take urgent and effective action to stem the torrent of illicit timber flowing across their joint border or watch conflict, violence and forest destruction continue to escalate." Details: London: EIA, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 18, 2015 at: https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Organised-Chaos-FINAL-lr1.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Asia URL: https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Organised-Chaos-FINAL-lr1.pdf Shelf Number: 136814 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingIllicit TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentTimber |
Author: INTERPOL Environmental Crime Programme Title: Environmental Crime and its Convergence with other Serious Crimes Summary: The capacity for INTERPOL Member Countries to effectively respond to environmental crime when it intersects with other serious1 crimes is a common theme that arises when INTERPOL engages with its members. The nature of "crime convergence" (also referred to as "threat convergence") raises a number of complexities and challenges in all phases of enforcement, from detection and disruption to the dismantling of criminal syndicates. In fact, it is one of the greatest challenges cited by officers from environment and policing agencies at regional and international investigative meetings and one that they all seek to understand and address. Key INTERPOL partners are also aware of the challenges associated with convergence, and are calling for greater understanding of crime convergence and law enforcement countermeasures. To stimulate discussion on this topic, this report provides insight into the nature of crime convergence within the context of environmental crime, where it is becoming increasingly apparent and complex. An example is seen when poly-crime syndicates traffic in a range of illicit goods in addition to environmental products. The report also examines the types of significant crimes that Member Countries have brought to INTERPOL's attention through their environmental crime investigations. The nature of crime convergence is subsequently discussed in terms of its challenges as well as the opportunities it presents to law enforcement. The report makes a number of suggestions on how agencies can better respond to convergence in transnational and national operations. In doing so, it promotes an integrated multi-disciplined and multi-agency law enforcement approach that is both strategic and operational in nature. The report concludes with a number of practical strategies for consideration by enforcement agencies. Details: The Hague: INTERPOL, 2015. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Environmental-crime/Resources Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Environmental-crime/Resources Shelf Number: 137366 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationsEnvironmental CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Dougherty, Michael L. Title: By the Gun or by the Bribe: Firm Size, Environmental Governance and Corruption Among Mining Companies in Guatemala Summary: This U4 Issue discusses the corruption risks faced by mining companies in Guatemala, with a particular focus on the risks faced by small, "junior" mining companies primarily engaged in exploration. Several factors make such companies highly prone to engaging in corrupt behavior, especially when operating in weak institutional contexts: the highly competitive nature of the mining industry, the risky dynamics of the exploration stage, and the specific characteristics of junior companies - their short operational timelines, low reputational risks, highly mobile and flexible nature, and reliance on fickle venture capital. Additionally, public environmental governance, and in particularly the approval of the environmental impact assessment, represents a moment of acute vulnerability to corruption, particularly for junior companies. In order to mitigate corruption risks among junior mining companies, donor agencies should help to build community capacity to monitor mining operations, build central state government capacity for environmental governance, work with countries to improve the rigor for environmental impact assessment processes, increase the visibility and reputational risks for junior companies, and build cultures of compliance in junior companies' countries of origin as well as within companies. Details: Bergen, Norway: Chr. Michelsen Institute, 2015. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Chr. Michelsen Institute, U4 Issue Paper 2015:17 : Accessed December 3, 2015 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2668030 Year: 2015 Country: Guatemala URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2668030 Shelf Number: 137438 Keywords: BribesCorruptionMining IndustryOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Sundstrom, Aksel Title: Understanding Illegality and Corruption in Forest Management: A Literature Review Summary: This review synthesizes the literature studying illegality and government corruption in forest mangement. After discussing the theoretical connections between different types of corruption and illegal forest-related activities it describes the major trends in previous studies, examining cross-national patterns as well as local in-depth studies. Both theory and available empirical findings pro-vide a straightforward suggestion: Bribery is indeed a "door opener" for illegal activities to take place in forest management. It then discusses the implications for conservation, focusing first on international protection schemes such as the REDD+ and second on efforts to reduce illegality and bribery in forest management. Key aspects to consider in the discussion on how to design monitoring institutions of forest regulations are how to involve actors without the incentive to engage in bribery and how to make use of new technologies that may publicize illegal behavior in distant localities. The review concludes by discussing avenues for future research. Details: Goteborg: University of Gothenburg, QOG The Quality of Government Institute, 2016. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Series 2016:1: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: http://qog.pol.gu.se/digitalAssets/1558/1558576_2016_1_sundstrom.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://qog.pol.gu.se/digitalAssets/1558/1558576_2016_1_sundstrom.pdf Shelf Number: 137736 Keywords: BriberyCorruptionDeforestationsForest ManagementForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: WildAid Title: Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve: Control and Vigilance System Design Summary: This assessment represents the work of a multi-national team and was carried out in Belize over a 2-week period in March 2013. Research methods were developed and applied by WildAid in cooperation with the Belize Fisheries Department. Interviews were carried out with the following actors: Fishery officials, Belize Coastguard, Port Honduras MPA Administrators, TIDE, WCS, Belize Audubon Society, oak Foundation, members from both Northern and National Fishing Cooperatives, two Turneffe tourism operators, and Turneffe Atoll fishermen. The 2012-2017 Turneffe Atoll Management Plan proved invaluable as well. Despite both resource and time constraints, we are confident that sufficient information was collected to create a practical, yet versatile C&V system. The main objective of this assessment is to design a cost effective control and vigilance system for the newly created Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR). The specific objectives are: 1. Develop a practical control and vigilance system for the TAMR based on interviews of local enforcement actors, analysis of existing co-management strategies, and a comprehensive site visit of the Turneffe Atoll. 2. Prioritize a series of recommendations to optimize patrol costs as well as increase detection efficacy using Electronic Monitoring Systems (EMS). The final recommendations will include the surveillance system design including potential electronic systems, patrol vessels, human resource requirements, energy supply needs, and overall cost estimate: Capital Expenses (CAPEX) and Operating Expenses (OPEX) for a five-year investment plan Details: San Francisco: WildAid, 2010. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: http://www.wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/TurneffeAtoll_Assessment.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Belize URL: http://www.wildaid.org/sites/default/files/resources/TurneffeAtoll_Assessment.pdf Shelf Number: 137740 Keywords: Crime PreventionFisheriesOffenses Against the EnvironmentSurveillanceWildlife CrimeWildlife ManagementWildlife Protection |
Author: Wood, Jonathan Title: Overcriminalization and the Endangered Species Act: Mens Rea and Criminal Convictions for Take Summary: The Endangered Species Act makes it a crime to "knowingly" take any member of an endangered species. The government has generally interpreted this to require a defendant to have knowledge of each of the elements of the offense, i.e. that his actions will result in take and what species will be taken. However, it has not been consistent in this interpretation. In several cases, it has argued that the defendant need only have knowingly engaged in an act; knowledge of its consequences for a particular species is unnecessary. When challenged, this interpretation has been upheld by the Fifth and Ninth Circuits. This article argues that the statute requires knowledge of all of the facts constituting the offense, including the identity of the species. The Supreme Court generally presumes that knowledge of the facts constituting an offense is required, out of a fear of criminalizing ordinary, apparently innocent conduct. The breadth of the Endangered Species Act's take provision and the number and obscurity of the species subject to it counsel strongly in favor of interpreting the statute consistent with this general rule. Policy objections to this interpretation are better addressed through other provisions of the act. Details: Sacramento, CA: Pacific Legal Foundation, 2016. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Series, No. 13-514: Accessed February 24, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2731292 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2731292 Shelf Number: 137945 Keywords: Endangered Species ActGuilty MindMens ReaOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crimes |
Author: Gilmore, Joanna Title: Report on the Policing of the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp: November 2013 - April 2014 Summary: In a collaboration between the University of York's Centre for Urban Research (CURB) and LJMU's Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion (CCSE), researchers investigated the policing of Barton Moss Community Protection Camp in Salford, Greater Manchester. From November 2013 to April 2014, the camp promoted a campaign of peaceful protest to raise awareness of the potential environmental dangers of exploratory hydraulic fracturing (fracking) taking place in the area. Protest activities included 'slow walking' in front of vehicles accessing the site and other forms of non-violent direct action, as well as rallies, hosting music events, and family days. Amid conflicting media accounts of violence attributed to both protestors and Greater Manchester Police (GMP), researchers at York and LJMU made a series of visits to the camp, conducted interviews with camp residents and analysed figures from ongoing criminal justice cases of those arrested. The research aimed to provide a rare insight into the experiences of anti-fracking protesters. The report is grounded in the experiences of camp residents and supporters, and the researchers concluded that independence from GMP in this research was essential to their gaining access to the camp and the lawyers involved in the ongoing cases. Documenting concerns about the nature, function and proportionality of the policing operation at the camp, and the deployment of policing methods, the peer-reviewed report provides a range of findings and recommendations. These include: - The protest at Barton Moss was overwhelmingly peaceful and non-violent - The nature and scale of the policing operation was found to be disproportionate to the activities of the camp. Policing tactics had the effect of undermining the rights of those protesting peacefully, meaning GMP failed in their obligation to facilitate peaceful protest as stated by the European Convention on Human Rights. - GMP officers - from planning stages to conclusion - prioritised the commercial interests of the fracking company over the right of local residents and supporters to exercise their right to protest - The communication strategy of GMP focused primarily on justifying the policing operation and questioning the legitimacy of the protest rather than providing the public with clear information about the protest and policing operation. - The overwhelming majority (98 percent) of arrests made at Barton Moss were for non-violent offences. These figures cast doubt on the legitimacy of GMP's characterisation of the protest in public statements made during the policing operation. - Two thirds (66 percent) of arrested protesters have had their cases dropped, dismissed or been found not guilty by the courts. This conviction rate is significantly lower than that occurring within the criminal justice system as a whole. - Police bail powers were routinely abused in order to restrict the right to protest - Overall, the cumulative impact of these processes showcases the routine abuse of police powers at the expense of protesters' civil liberties Details: Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion, Liverpool John Moores University Centre for URBan Research (CURB), University of York, 2016. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2016 at: https://curbyork.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/bm_final_170216_email.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://curbyork.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/bm_final_170216_email.pdf Shelf Number: 138244 Keywords: Crowd ControlOffenses Against the EnvironmentProtestsPublic DisorderPublic Order Management |
Author: European Parliament. Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Policy Department A Economic and Scientific Policy Title: Wildlife Crime Summary: Wildlife crime poses not only a real threat to biodiversity, but has also come to be regarded as a security issue in some source countries. While the latter is also relevant to the EU as part of the international community, the EU is first and foremost one of the main global markets for wildlife trade. The present study gives an overview over the state of wildlife crime in Europe based on available documents, data from the EU-TWIX database which centralises data on seizures reported by the EU Member States, and empirical research including interviews with experts. It has to be noted that any overview on this topic is limited by the fact that comprehensive data on illegal activities are not available; even where data on wildlife crime could be obtained they are not always reliable and coherent. Illegal wildlife trade within the EU The EU is both a destination and a transit region for wildlife products. Although European countries seem to have become less important consumers in the trade with African mammals, many countries still seem to have a very important role as a trading hub in that trade. This trade is conducted via the major trade hubs (airports and ports) but new trade hubs (e.g. smaller European airports with direct connections to Africa and Asia) are also emerging. On the other hand, European countries still seem to be very important consumers and importers of pets, especially of reptiles and birds. As this trade is often not conducted via the main trade hubs, but via the Eastern European land borders and the Mediterranean and Black Sea, enforcement is even more challenging. Moreover, the demand for alternative medicinal products very often produced in Asia from endangered wildlife appears to have increased in Europe. The available information on trade routes is not very detailed, but the following four important trade routes could be identified: - Large mammals like elephants, rhinos and big cats from Africa and South America to major trade hubs and for further transit to Asia - Coastal smuggling of leeches, caviar, fish, as well as reptiles and parrots for the pet trade in Europe - Endangered birds from South Eastern Europe to Southern Europe - Russian wildlife and Asian exports via Eastern European land routes. The overall trend in wildlife crime measured in the number of seizures has been roughly constant in recent years. Seizures are concentrated in countries with large overall trading volumes like Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and France. Overall the UK, Germany and Netherlands are responsible for more than 70% of seizures in 2007-2014. The high number of seizures may also be attributable to well developed enforcement in these countries. The most frequently seized species are reptiles, mammals, flowers and corals. About half of the seizures are carried out at airports (e. g. London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt a. M. and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol). Mailing centres are expected to become more important in the coming years. Most of the products confiscated are reported as imports in the EU-TWIX database although it is not clear whether parts of these imports are destined for re-selling to other countries. For the illegal trade in wildlife and its products the internet is becoming an increasingly important place. Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2016. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2016: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/570008/IPOL_STU(2016)570008_EN.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/570008/IPOL_STU(2016)570008_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 138414 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeMoney LaunderingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimeWildlife CrimeWildlife SmugglingWildlife Trafficking |
Author: McSweeney, Kendra Title: The Impact of Drug Policy on the Environment Summary: Across the world, cultivators and traffickers of illicit drugs are wreaking ecological havoc-clearing fields from primary rainforest, piggy-backing drug smuggling with traffic in illegal hardwoods and endangered species, and laundering money in land deals that devastate protected forests. The international drug control system must share the blame for this devastation. Forty years of dogged adherence to drug crop eradication and drug interdiction policies have been instrumental in hounding drug farmers and traffickers into increasingly fragile landscapes. Although these policies have arguably done little to stem the cultivation and traffic of illicit drugs, it has done much to amplify the environmental devastation and degradation that accompanies them. Moreover, prohibitionist drug control policies keep the price of drugs high, ensuring that those involved in their traffic make good profits-profits that are speculatively laundered in the transformation of bio-and agro-diverse landscapes into cattle ranches and oil palm plantations. New research-much of it using newly available real-time satellite imagery of forest loss-is bringing into sharp focus the devastating ecological costs of conventional drug policies, and how these can profoundly undermine international policies designed to protect forests, mitigate climate change, and promote rural development. The Impact of Drug Policy on the Environment explores the environmental costs of conventional drug policies using the latest science, and provides recommendations for governments to recognize this problem, review current strategies, and explore new approaches to lessen this collateral environmental damage. Details: New York: Open Society Foundations, 2015. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2016 at: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/impact-drug-policy-environment Year: 2015 Country: International URL: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/impact-drug-policy-environment Shelf Number: 20 Keywords: Drug ControlDrug EnforcementDrug PolicyOffenses Against the EnvironmentWar on Drugs |
Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Title: Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendent Communities and Natural Resources: Human Rights Protection in the Context of Extraction, Exploitation, and Development Activities Summary: The report seeks to highlight the breadth and complexity of the problems caused by extractive and development activities in the region, and to set forth a comprehensive framework of Inter-American Human Rights standards on the subject. Extractive, exploitation, and development activities, which are increasing in the hemisphere, are generally implemented in lands and territories historically occupied by indigenous and Afro-descendent communities, which host a great wealth of natural resources. The Commission does not discourage these projects and recognizes the importance of these initiatives for the economic development of countries in the Americas. However, economic development of Member States cannot be undertaken in disregard of their ineluctable obligations to respect and guarantee human rights. Host States (where the project takes place) and foreign States (where the business has its headquarters) have specific obligations in this context. The report spells out each of these obligations with a view to making sure that the economic development of countries in the hemisphere is not attained at the expense of the fundamental human rights of indigenous peoples and Afro-descendent communities. Host States must adopt appropriate and positive steps with due diligence to prevent, investigate, punish and redress human rights violations that result from the execution of these projects. Additionally, they must comply with international human rights standards through the adoption and implementation of effective policies, legislation, regulations and through measures to ensure adequate access to justice. This State obligation includes the prevention of human rights violations, thus it is enforceable prior to the authorization of the project or the granting of permits, as well as during the implementation and the life-cycle of the project, via supervision and oversight methods. This duty includes the obligation to properly identify and assess the inherent impacts these activities would generate on internationally-recognized human rights prior to authorization. In addition, the duty to act with due diligence requires States to adopt an appropriate regulatory framework for the protection of the environment and human rights which adequately contemplates the operation of foreign companies in a state's jurisdiction, with an extraterritorial approach to human rights. Said duty also includes the fundamental obligation to consult potentially affected indigenous and afro-descendent communities, to ensure their effective participation and access to information; the obligation to supervise and monitor the activities of companies and other non-state parties; the duty to prevent illegal activities and forms of violence; and the duty to ensure access to justice and adequate reparation of human rights violations in these contexts. This broad duty also entails taking into account the differentiated impacts and adverse effects of these initiatives on specific groups such as indigenous leaders and authorities, women, children, elderly people and people with disabilities. The report ends with a list of practical recommendations, ranging from general recommendations to ones specifically tailored to the protection of indigenous peoples and afro-descendent communities. The ensemble of recommendations aims generally at setting in place a framework for States to undertake their duty of due diligence, taking all the appropriate steps to prevent, investigate, punish and redress human rights abuses through effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication. The Commission insists especially on the drafting and implementation of domestic legislation to protect human rights, and on the setting in place of monitoring, control and supervision systems of the activities of extractive or development companies. The Report includes recommendations geared specifically towards host States as well as States of origin. Details: Washington, DC: IACHR, 2015. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 8, 2016 at: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/ExtractiveIndustries2016.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Africa URL: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/ExtractiveIndustries2016.pdf Shelf Number: 138611 Keywords: DevelopmentHuman Rights AbusesIndigenous PeoplesNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Fajardo Del Castillo, Teresa Title: Organised Crime and Environmental Crime: Analysis of EU Legal Instruments Summary: Organised environmental crime is a serious crime committed by organized crime groups that often has a transnational dimension that requires the cooperation of the EU institutions and their Member States with Third countries and international organisations.. This organised environmental crime challenges the traditional definition of organised crime since it is now responding to a new market order. Organised crime criminals act as brokers providing highly specialized services to customers throughout the world, communicating through new technologies of information and escaping the traditional forms of crime prevention and repression. At the same time, these criminals are easily replaceable and not their structures that are challenging criminal and administrative approaches to dismantle their networks. Even though the EU has not yet adopted concrete measures to combat organised environmental crime, the new Article 83 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union allows the EU to adopt directives in areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension. In the future, the Council may unanimously decide to add serious environmental crimes to the list of organised crimes. Until then, as the former Commissioner for the Environment has put it: the main responsibility for fighting organised environmental crime is with the Member States. The adoption of a legal instrument addressing organised environmental crime is not on the EU legislative agenda even though the European Parliament has made some proposals. A package of non-binding instruments on organised crimes adopted by EU institutions is establishing the basic concepts for organised environmental crime. Moreover, it could be the basis for a future EU criminal policy on organised environmental crime, especially for those iconic crimes such as illegal trafficking of endangered species that have been the object of resolutions of the European Parliament and also of international institutions. Despite the fact that the principal EU instruments dedicated to fighting organised crime do not address directly the specific organised environmental crime, they have left some room for an extensive interpretation of the goals to be achieved and have detailed in annexes the "other serious crimes" that could be addressed when required. In the case of organised crime, the EU institutions are dealing with legal problems at the domestic and international levels that have hampered the enforcement of the legal instruments fighting against this type of criminality. There is a problem of conceptualization of organised crime that also affects the way the EU approaches environmental crime and organised environmental crime. The proximity between them leads the instruments and institutions to refer to both with the same terminology, the most general environmental crime prevailing over the specific forms of organised crimes, such as the illegal waste trafficking. The European institutions are also considering adopting an administrative approach to prevent and combat organised crime complementary to the criminal system to overcome the new challenges that the flexible structures of organised crime poses to traditional proceedings. Details: Granada: University of Granada, 2015. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Study in the framework of the EFFACE research project, Accessed April 25, 2016 at: http://ecologic.eu/sites/files/publication/2015/efface_organised_crime_and_environmental_crime_eu_level.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://ecologic.eu/sites/files/publication/2015/efface_organised_crime_and_environmental_crime_eu_level.pdf Shelf Number: 138807 Keywords: Criminal Networks Environmental Crimes Offenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime |
Author: Ferguson, Alan Title: Final Evaluation of the Cardamon Mountains Protected Forest and Wildlife Sanctuaries Project Summary: The Cardamom Mountains Protected Forest and Wildlife Sanctuaries Project in southwest Cambodia comprises two sub-projects: - Central Cardamom Protected Forest (CCPF) project, funded by United Nations Foundation (UNF) and Conservation International (CI) and implemented by CI and the Forestry Administration from July 2001 to September 2004; and - Cardamom Mountain Wildlife Sanctuaries (CMWS) project in Phnom Aural and Phnom Samkos sanctuaries, funded by UNF, GEF and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) and implemented by FFI and Ministry of Environment from April 2003 to April 2007. The CMWS Project had five major planned Outcomes for the wildlife sanctuaries: - Improved planning, management and regulatory frameworks - Improved governmental operational capacity - Communities engaged in the protection, management and sustainable use of natural resources - Secured international recognition and increased national and local awareness - Established a long-term financing mechanism The Final Evaluation was undertaken from February 19 - March 16, 2007. It focused on the CMWS, with only general review of the CCPF. The evaluation involved individual and group interviews, an initial workshop to discuss project design issues, and a larger wrap-up meeting to discuss preliminary findings. In total, 95 people were consulted. The study method was guided by the evaluation Terms of Reference and included identifying Indicators, preparing Evaluation Questions to guide interviews and meetings, and undertaking participatory discussions. The challenging startup conditions for this project should be duly noted: the project area is a former stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, settlements of indigenous people and ex-Khmer Rouge families, the wildlife sanctuary designation was unknown, traditional use of forest resources was commonplace, the area is large and difficult to monitor, and both corruption and lack of respect for the law were widespread in government and the military due to the poor salaries and lack of institutional modernization. These baseline conditions presented major impediments to introducing conservation. The two-project concept of the CCPF and CMWS has involved separate sub-projects that have different clients, approaches, methods and databases The project was structured in accordance with the mandate and boundaries of the wildlife sanctuaries under DNCP-MoE jurisdiction, and those of the Central Cardamom Protected Forest under FA jurisdiction. The original idea of synchronizing the DNCP/MoE - FFI and FA-CI projects was constrained due to differences in start-up dates, and the limited overall coordination of the projects. The different time frames adversely affected results and potential synergies. A brief review of follow-up to the CMWS Mid Term Review concluded that the project has undertaken reasonable action to address most of the MTR recommendations. The lack of action on a project Steering Committee and institutional coordination are the major outstanding issues. Details: Phnom Penh, Cambodia: UNDP Cambodia, 2007. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2016 at: https://erc.undp.org Year: 2007 Country: Cambodia URL: https://erc.undp.org Shelf Number: 138841 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law Enforcement |
Author: Global Witness Title: Blood Timber: How Europe Held Fund War in the Central African Republic Summary: In 2013, the Central African Republic was plunged into a conflict that has cost over 5,000 lives and displaced more than a million people. When the insurgent group Seleka seized power in a bloody coup d'etat, Seleka rebels were dispatched to the country's rainforests. Here they struck lucrative deals with logging companies that helped bankroll a fierce campaign of violence against the country's population. Our new investigation, Blood Timber, reveals how these logging companies have paid millions of euros into the hands of rebels guilty of mass murder, kidnappings, rapes and the forced recruitment of child soldiers. Global Witness is calling on the EU and its member states to cut all trade and aid links to CAR's logging industry, which continues to be a source of instability as the African country struggles to restore peace. Europe is complicit on three counts: - Trade: European companies are trading with CAR logging companies, which in 2013 alone paid over 3.4 million euros to rebels so that they could continue logging illegally, at scale and for significant profit. - Illegal imports: Europe is the premier destination for CAR wood, meaning EU member states are failing in their legal obligations to keep illicit timber off European markets. - Donor aid: France has paid millions of euros in development aid to CAR's logging companies, based on the flawed assumption that CAR's logging industry contributes to local development. The EU is also pursuing a timber trade agreement with CAR that further benefits its logging industry. The logging companies under investigation - IFB from France, SEFCA from Lebanon, and Vicwood from China - preside over an area of CAR rainforest over two hundred times the size of Paris, and together account for 99% of timber exports from the country. Global Witness investigations found that all three made frequent payments to Seleka rebels - as bribes, to pass roadblocks, for armed escort, and for the protection of their logging sites, including a single transaction of nearly 381,000 euros by SEFCA to the new Seleka government right after the coup. Details: London: Global Witness, 2015. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 5, 2016 at: https://www.greenpeace.de/sites/www.greenpeace.de/files/publications/blood-timber-global-witness-20150715.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Central African Republic URL: https://www.greenpeace.de/sites/www.greenpeace.de/files/publications/blood-timber-global-witness-20150715.pdf Shelf Number: 138951 Keywords: DeforestationIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Dranginis, Holly Title: Grand Theft Global: Prosecuting the War Crime of Pillage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Summary: From the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to Al-Shabaab, many of the world's most infamous and destabilizing armed actors today finance their activities in part through the illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources. Theft in the context of armed conflict constitutes the war crime of pillage, which is punishable in most domestic jurisdictions and at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prosecuting armed actors and their facilitators for natural resource pillage can help reduce incomes for perpetrators of atrocities, combat resource exploitation, and end the impunity that enables illegal financial networks to thrive in conflict zones. Furthermore, investigating pillage can strengthen cases addressing violent atrocity crimes like rape and murder by uncovering critical information about command responsibility and criminal intent. Prosecutions are a direct, effective way to help disrupt conflict financing and improve accountability for economic crimes - like trafficking and money laundering - and the atrocities they fuel. Details: Washington, DC: Enough Project, 2015. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2016 at: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/GrandTheftGlobal-PillageReport-Dranginis-Enough-Jan2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/GrandTheftGlobal-PillageReport-Dranginis-Enough-Jan2015.pdf Shelf Number: 139285 Keywords: Illegal TradeNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentPillagingWar Crimes |
Author: Rucevska, Ivea Title: Waste Crime -- Waste Risks: Gaps in Meeting the Global Waste Challenge Summary: A staggering 1.3 billion tonnes of food is produced each year to feed the world's 7 billion people. Yet, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), around US$1 trillion of that food goes to waste. With 200,000 new people added every day, the world can ill afford to waste such a massive amount of food. Global waste, however, does not stop at food. Consumers are increasingly buying products that are wrapped in plastics and paper. Much of this packaging - and eventually the products themselves - will end up in landfills. This trend has both health and environmental consequences, especially given the rapid rise of hazardous waste such as electronics. Innovative solutions to combat "e-waste" are emerging. Recovering valuable metals and other resources locked inside electronic products, for example, can reduce e-waste. Not only can recycling reduce pressure on the environment, it can also create jobs and generate income. Indeed, the global waste market sector - from collection to recycling - is estimated to be US$410 billion a year, excluding a very large informal sector. As with any large economic sector, however, there are opportunities for illegal activities at various stages of the waste chain. In the rush for profits, operators may ignore waste regulations and expose people to toxic chemicals. On a larger scale, organized crime may engage in tax fraud and money laundering. About 41.8 million metric tonnes of e-waste was generated in 2014 and partly handled informally, including illegally. This could amount to as much as USD 18.8 billion annually. Without sustainable management, monitoring and good governance of e-waste, illegal activities may only increase, undermining attempts to protect health and the environment, as well as to generate legitimate employment. The evolution of crime, even transnational organized crime, in the waste sector is a significant threat. Whether the crime is associated with direct dumping or unsafe waste management, it is creating multi-faceted consequences that must be addressed. Details: United Nations Environment Programme and GRID-Arendal, Nairobi and Arendal, www.grida.no, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: UNEP Rapid Response Assessment: Accessed June 7, 2016 at: http://www.unep.org/delc/Portals/119/publications/rra-wastecrime.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.unep.org/delc/Portals/119/publications/rra-wastecrime.pdf Shelf Number: 139301 Keywords: Electronic WasteHazardous WasteOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePlastic WasteWaste |
Author: Daniels, Alfonso Title: Western Africa's missing fish: The impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and under-reporting catches by foreign fleets Summary: Overfishing in the world's oceans is at the centre of a crisis of sustainability. Nowhere is that crisis more visible than in western Africa. Current rates of extraction are driving several species towards extinction while jeopardising the livelihoods of artisanal fishing communities across a broad group of countries, including Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mauritania. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is at the heart of the problem. Drawing on a unique satellite tracking database, this report presents new evidence of the scale and pattern of IUU fishing. It focuses on 'reefers' - large-scale commercial vessels receiving and freezing fish at sea and at port - and the use of containers. We provide evidence of practices that compromise the effectiveness of multilateral governance rules aimed at curtailing IUU fishing and promoting sustainable, legal practices. Proposals set out in the report identify pathways for countries in sub-Saharan Africa to greater transparency and sustainable management of fisheries which avoids the irreversible depletion and possible extinction of species, as well as the preservation of the marine ecosystem where the fishing activities take place for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Details: London: Overseas Development Institute, 2016. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/10665.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/10665.pdf Shelf Number: 139591 Keywords: Fishing IndustryIllegal FishingMaritime CrimeOffenses Against the Environment Wildlife Crime |
Author: European Union Action to Fight Environmental Crime (EFFACE) Title: Evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities associated with EU efforts to combat environmental crime Summary: Since its inception in 2013, the EFFACE project has researched many different aspects of environmental crime. This report, 'Evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities (SWOT) associated with EU efforts to combat environmental crime,' brings together insights of the current approach of the EU and its Member States in combatting environmental crime, as a basis to later develop policy recommendations. The project identified nine relevant dimensions of the EU's current approach towards combatting environmental crime: The nine dimensions identified are: Data and information management (relevant for Member State and the EU level) Further harmonisation of substantive environmental criminal law at EU level (excluding sanctions) System of sanctions (administrative vs. criminal vs. civil proceedings (relevant for Member States/EU level) Functioning of enforcement institutions and cooperation between them (relevant for Member States/EU level) Trust-based and cooperation-based approaches: environmental crime victims and civil society External dimension of environmental crime - what can EU do (EU only) Use of environmental liability (relevant for Member States/EU level) Organised environmental crime Corporate responsibility and liability in relation to environmental crime Each theme is evaluated in a consistent way; the governance levels analysed include that of the Member States, the EU and the international level. In addition, the aspects above interact with each other; therefore the authors stress the importance of moving forward with policy recommendations that consider these different aspects as a whole and not in isolation. The final recommendations of EFFACE will build on the SWOT analysis. Details: Berlin: EFFACE, 2016. 131p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 12, 2016 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/publications/EFFACE_SWOT%20Analysis.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/publications/EFFACE_SWOT%20Analysis.pdf Shelf Number: 139619 Keywords: Corporate CrimeEnvironmental CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime |
Author: Gumbo, Davison J. Title: Dynamics of the charcoal and indigenous timber trade in Zambia: A scoping study in Eastern, Northern and Northwestern provinces Summary: This paper addresses the increasing concern over the contribution of charcoal production and commercial timber extraction to deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia. This scoping study notes that rural communities in Zambia are fully involved in forest management and do obtain direct incentives from these forests, a critical condition for realising sustainable forest management. With traditional systems for forest management under siege and resources allocation and control for both charcoal and commercial timber transferred to the state, the general failure of the heavily centralised top-down approach to arrest losses of forest resources in Zambia is imperilling the livelihoods of scores of rural households. Charcoal production is licensed by the Forest Department with limited inputs from local authorities especially in terms of monitoring. Arrangements for extraction of commercial timber fall under the same arrangement but differ with charcoal in that applicants have to travel to Lusaka. The contribution of charcoal to forest loss and environmental degradation is almost a given, but the study notes that this activity, now widely practised across the country, has several hidden social and economic benefits for rural households. It is likely to continue in the future but strong policies and legal frameworks which provide power and authority to local-level institutions are likely to address the problems associated with these activities. Rural communities and their associated local-level institutions should take an active part in the management of the key forest resources and should benefit as outlined in law. It is proposed that approaches be formulated that should not only be holistic but must also provide for institutional collaboration (local-to-local and local-to-national linkages) to manage the resources available. Details: Bogor, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research, 2013. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Occasional Paper: Accessed July 23, 2016 at: http://www.cifor.org/library/4113/dynamics-of-the-charcoal-and-indigenous-timber-trade-in-zambia-a-scoping-study-in-eastern-northern-and-northwestern-provinces/ Year: 2013 Country: Zambia URL: http://www.cifor.org/library/4113/dynamics-of-the-charcoal-and-indigenous-timber-trade-in-zambia-a-scoping-study-in-eastern-northern-and-northwestern-provinces/ Shelf Number: 139805 Keywords: Charcoal Deforestation Forests Offenses Against the EnvironmentTimber |
Author: Dibley, Arjuna Title: The Hidden Driver of Deforestation: Why Effecting Reform of Indonesia's Legal Framework is Critical to the Long-term Success of REDD+ Summary: In 2015, the state parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed a mechanism that could be deployed by developing country governments to create economic, social and environmental incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through avoiding deforestation and forest degradation, called REDD+. Countries around the globe have commenced the process of implementing REDD+, including Indonesia. Indonesia introduced a dedicated REDD+ Agency, regulations on the topic, and made policy progress in key areas of REDD+. The legal and policy framework supporting REDD+ is, however, in a state of flux, after the legal and bureaucratic infrastructure put in place to support it was recalibrated following the election of President Joko Widodo in 2014. Given this uncertainty, this paper assess Indonesia's existing legal framework for REDD+ and outlines some legal strategies that could be implemented to revive the REDD+ policy process in Indonesia. Details: Melbourne: Centre for Indonesian law, Islam and Society, 2016. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: CILIS Policy Paper no. 11: Accessed July 23, 2016 at: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1962167/CILIS-Policy-Paper-No-11-Dibley_Khatarina.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Indonesia URL: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1962167/CILIS-Policy-Paper-No-11-Dibley_Khatarina.pdf Shelf Number: 139815 Keywords: DeforestationEnvironmental CrimeForestsOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Bodega Zugasti, D. de la (ed.) Title: Illegal Use of Poisoned-Baits. Legal Analysis and Investigation Summary: Poisoned-baits have traditionally been used in Spain's countryside as predator control method. Initially used by livestock farmers to protect their animals from attack during their seasonal movements of short- or long-range transhumance, it has over the years been taken up mainly by the hunting community. Poisoning nowadays is commonest on improperly run hunting grounds, although there has also been another upsurge in the use of poisoned-baits in livestock farming. Recent convictions in criminal proceedings show that it has also spread into other activities like beekeeping and pigeon racing. The environmental effects of poison have been devastating and it has now become one of the main threats to biodiversity. Figures recorded from 2005 to 2010 show that poisoning is still a habitual practice, with grave consequences for both wildlife and domesticated animals. Its indiscriminate use against certain species considered until the eighties of last century to be "vermin" has led many of these species, even after the banning of the use of poisoned-baits, to be classified as in danger of extinction or vulnerable. Witness the Iberian lynx, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Red Kite or Cinereous Vulture. After centuries of indiscriminate use, Spanish Criminal Code categorised the use of poison for fishing or hunting purposes as a wildlife crime in 1995 on the grounds precisely of its environmental impact and non-selective nature. Practically all Spanish Regional Governments (hence- forth CCAA), moreover, have passed legislation to forbid and punish the illegal use of poison. This legal framework has been fleshed out by plans and strategies drawn up at regional and national level with varying degrees of participation, measures and actions for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of this crime. Pulling together all these strands, this text plans to work from the legal acquis and accumulated practice built up by various organisations and groups during years of concerted efforts to wipe out the illegal use of poison in Spain's countryside. Some of the chapters of this manual have been written by legal professionals and experts in the investigation of a crime that is often extremely difficult to clear up. It has also been favoured by effective impunity due to the sheer complexity of this investigation and the lack of forthright legal response. Details: Madrid: SEO BirdLife, 2016. 150p, Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2016 at: http://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/uploads/meetings/MIKT1/mikt-page-docs/ILLEGAL-USE-OF-POISONED-BAITS_SEO_BirdLife_March2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Spain URL: http://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/uploads/meetings/MIKT1/mikt-page-docs/ILLEGAL-USE-OF-POISONED-BAITS_SEO_BirdLife_March2016.pdf Shelf Number: 139973 Keywords: Illegal HuntingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPoisoningWildlife Crime |
Author: Anh, Cao Ngoc Title: Timber Trafficking and its Impacts on Human Security in Vietnam Summary: As with other forms of green crime, timber trafficking is frequently overlooked by traditional criminology. This research is an exploratory investigation into the problem of timber trafficking in Vietnam, which aims to obtain a detailed understanding of the typology of, victimisation from, and key factors driving this crime. To achieve this aim, 41 semi-structured interviews with seven different cohorts (environmental police, investigative police, forest protection officers, commune authorities, forest-based inhabitants, timber traders, and green NGO staff) were conducted. Over one hundred pages of official documents (criminal case records, operational reports, and conference papers), and more than two hundred relevant newspapers were collected and analysed to enhance and triangulate the primary data. This research reveals a multifaceted typology of timber trafficking in Vietnam, comprising five different components: harvesting, transporting, trading, supporting, and processing. Each of these components is further constituted by distinctive, parallel forms of illicit operation. There are, for example, three parallel forms of illegal timber harvesting, termed small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale (SSITH, MSITH and LSITH). While having certain overlaps, in general SSITH, MSITH and LSITH are fundamentally distinctive not only in terms of the volumes of illicit timber they produce and the methods of illegally felling trees they employ, as typically identified in the previous studies, but more importantly in terms of the harvesters' attributes, their motivations, and the sophistication and security implications of the criminal operations. It is thus argued that the typology of illegal timber harvesting in this research challenges the typical classification in the existing literature, and offers an alternative way of understanding more comprehensively the dynamic of illegal logging. Regarding the victimisation from timber trafficking, due to the employment of a broad conceptual framework of human security, it is revealed that timber trafficking has substantial harmful impacts on all seven elements of human security: economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community, and political. These impacts are closely interconnected, but vary between different groups of victims. These findings culminate in the proposal that there are three main typical characteristics of green victimisation: suffering hierarchy, victim-offender overlap, and multidimensionality. Additionally, the employment of a human security paradigm in this research leads to another proposal that it is highly achievable and productive to integrate perspectives from the field of security studies into the discipline of green criminology, for the purpose of systematically examining green victimisation. Finally, this research offers five solutions to control timber trafficking in the context of Vietnam, by refining the current policy framework of forest governance and improving the efficiency of law enforcement. Details: Newcastle, UK: University of Northumbria at Newcastle, 2016. 310p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed August 6, 2016 at: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/27316/ Year: 2016 Country: Vietnam URL: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/27316/ Shelf Number: 140025 Keywords: ForestsGreen CriminologyIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentTrafficking in Timber |
Author: Aulby, Hannah Title: Greasing the Wheels: The systemic weaknesses that allow undue influence by mining companies on government a QLD case study Summary: Between 2010 and 2015 the Liberal Party of Australia and the Queensland Liberal National Party accepted over 2 million dollars in political donations from mining companies seeking approval for six highly controversial mining projects in Queensland. While these companies sought approval and legislative changes primarily from the then Liberal National Party Queensland Government, most of the money donated by these companies went to the Liberal Party of Australia. The Queensland Liberal National Party accepted $308,000 dollars from companies associated with these projects, while the Liberal Party of Australia accepted $1.75 million. Although we know that over $3 million dollars was transferred from the Liberal Party of Australia to the Queensland Liberal National Party over this period, a lack of disclosure and transparency makes it impossible to discern the origin of these donations. At least one of the companies examined in this report made a substantial donation to the highly controversial Free Enterprise Foundation, the opaque Federal Liberal Party fundraising body that came under the scrutiny of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption ICAC for allegedly concealing the origin of illegal political donations to the New South Wales Liberal Party. These mining projects all gained extraordinary access to government ministers and extraordinary outcomes. These outcomes included legislative changes to remove environmental protections, federal and state government approval of projects despite serious environmental concerns, and even retrospective approval of illegal mining activities. The commendable commitment by the Queensland government to institute real time disclosure of political donations can easily be circumvented if donations are be made to federal political parties who then transfer the money back to the state branches without disclosing the origin on those donations. Political donations are the tip of the iceberg of mining industry influence on our democratic process. As well as political donations, this report documents the influence of the mining industry through cash for access schemes, third party fundraising vehicles, private meetings, lobbyists, gifts and the revolving door between the government, bureaucracy and the mining companies they are responsible for regulating. It also highlights the extraordinary lack of transparency in lobbying, with very few lobbyist in Queensland even covered by the lobbying register. Details: Canberra: Australia Institute, 2016. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2016 at: http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/P266%20Greasing%20the%20Wheels%20160726_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/P266%20Greasing%20the%20Wheels%20160726_0.pdf Shelf Number: 140125 Keywords: Fraud and CorruptionMining CompaniesNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentPolitical Corruption |
Author: Emordi, Kingsley Emeka Title: Victims, villains or heroes? : the local community perception of oil bunkering in the Niger delta Summary: Grounded on a political ecology approach, this study sheds light on oil bunkering activity that is done by local militants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Such oil bunkering is used as a euphemism for oil theft in Nigeria. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the perception of oil bunkering that is done by groups (militants) of the local communities of the Niger Delta. By collecting and comparing the narratives of the three actors linked to so-called illegal oil bunkering. The three actors are the locals of the Niger Delta, the Nigerian government and the multinational oil companies (MNOCs). Such Oil bunkering that is done by the local militants of the Niger Delta has dominated the local politics since the 1990s. Through narrative analysis I have identified three different stories from the three different actors. The government and the Multinational oil companies (MNOCs) operating in the Niger Delta perceives, such oil bunkering is seen as illegal activity that affects the nation's economy, as well as causing environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. However, oil have contributed enormously to the national economy since the inception of oil exploration in the Niger Delta. To many people, such as the government agencies and its allies, these growth have brought income opportunities and growth to the local communities of the Niger Delta. In contrast to the inhabitants of the Niger Delta such economic growth is yet to translate to economic development, and an appreciable increase in the standard of living. Despite being the goose that lays the golden egg. This is coupled with certain fundamental issues such as continuous neglect by state, political marginalization and the failure of state interventionist efforts at ameliorating the suffering of the inhabitants of the region. The consequence of this is reinforcing the option of resistance and violence, as against peaceful engagement with the state. This is manifested in the increasing violence and lawlessness epitomized by the incidence of kidnapping of oil workers, seizure of MNOCs oil facilities, destruction of oil installations, as well as oil bunkering which is the focus of this study. By using narrative analysis, I found that the local communities sees oil bunkering as an integral part of their protest against the state and the multinational companies operating in the Niger Delta. This is an approach within political ecology, and narrative analysis offers a way of obtaining a rich understanding of the main ways that locals of the Niger Delta experience and perceives oil bunkering. As well as the state and MNOCs approach towards the locals, by means of their presentations of relevant narratives. By doing this I also aim at contributing trend of political ecology to the Niger Delta region. The local communities of the Niger Delta have been 11 embroiled in resistance against the federal government and the multinational oil companies (MNOCs). Multilayered issues such as lack of control, participation, revenue allocation, resources control and more, institute the main grievances against the oil companies and the government. Cognizant of these issues, the state and MNOCs have not applied a more holistic approach, for this reason the local communities in the Niger Delta lost confidence in both the state and MNOCs. Hence these led to the issues the Niger Delta is facing today. Such Oil bunkering activities done by the local militants of the Niger Delta is a classic example of the perceived struggle and resistance of the Niger Delta militants over control of the natural resources in their region. The local's militants are indigenes of the Niger Delta, they represent the resistance group and they are the main figure in oil bunkering. This study carried a more in-depth analysis of the local communities' narratives on oil bunkering than other stakeholder's narratives. However, this study also presented extensive position of other actors narratives linked to oil bunkering in the Niger Delta. My reason for doing this is that, as a researcher for this study I find the local communities of the Niger Delta to constitute the most challenging task to understand. The locals are more challenging to understand, because my main interest is to understand the local's community's perceptions. Therefore deeper focus on these, whilst to understand the context of other narratives are pertinent to identify the narrative landscape to compare and contrast. This study further argues that oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta emerged due to grievances by the people of the Niger Delta, which is attributed to the failure of the state and the multinational oil companies (MNOCs) to comply with the demands of the local community of the Niger Delta. This thesis further shows that, the current oil bunkering activities in Niger Delta have become a mixture of genuine grievance and greed as well as opportunism. Details: As, Norway: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 2015. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 3, 2016 at: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/handle/11250/293819 Year: 2015 Country: Nigeria URL: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/handle/11250/293819 Shelf Number: 140143 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentOil IndustryOil TheftTheft of Natural Resources |
Author: Forest Trends Title: European Trade Flows and Risk Summary: Illegal logging, as defined in the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), is the harvesting of timber in contravention of the laws and regulations of the country of harvest. Illegal logging is a global epidemic with significant negative economic, environmental and social impacts. Recent studies indicate that illegal logging accounts for 50-90 percent of the volume of all timber production in key producer tropical countries in the Amazon Basin, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia, and 15-30 per cent globally. In economic terms illegal logging results in lost revenues from taxes and other duties that could be used by producer countries for sustainable development purposes and other benefits. In environmental terms illegal logging is associated with deforestation, water pollution, spread of disease, climate change and a loss of biodiversity due to habitat destruction. In social terms illegal logging can be linked to conflicts over land and other resources, the disempowerment of local and indigenous communities, the loss of lives and livelihoods, human rights violations, corruption, and armed conflicts. Illegal logging also undermines international security, supports organized crime and money laundering activities, and leads to unfair competition in the marketplace that negatively impacts the sincere efforts of responsible operators in Europe and other regions of the world to comply with the law. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Friends, 2013. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: http://forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4085.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Europe URL: http://forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4085.pdf Shelf Number: 140329 Keywords: DeforestationForestsIllegal LoggingMoney LaunderingNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Crime |
Author: Friends of the Earth Netherlands Title: Cana Bois: plundering protected areas in Cameroon for the European market Summary: The logging company Cana Bois has been plundering protected forest areas in Cameroon for the European timber market. This case has been researched and published in a 'log file' by Friends of the Earth Netherlands and France in June 2009. First some general information. The EU still accounts for 16 - 19% of global illegal timber imports. Illegal logging is one of the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation worldwide. Cameroon is no exception to this rule. Both the Cameronese government and European markets have taken first steps to prevent illegal logging and related trade. Within the framework of the EU FLEGT action plan, a voluntary partnership agreement is under way as well as legislation to prevent illegal timber trade. EU Member states and Cameroon have taken efforts to promote voluntary certification for sustainable forest management. However, progress is slow and illegal and destructive logging is still rife in many timber producing countries around the world. This logfile shows how unscrupulous companies continue to plunder protected areas in Cameroon for the European market with total impunity. This report describes the observations from Friends of the Earth research missions in the forest management unit of Cana Bois, nearly 34.000 hectares large and located in the Central Province of Cameroon. In the North, this forest management unit is bordered by another logging area and in the south and east by a forest reserve. In 2007, Cana Bois was given permission to log a strictly defined area of 2500 hectares within the forest management unit. During our missions we held interviews with the local population and ventured inside the forest management units and neighbouring forest reserve to record infractions. It appeared that Cana Bois had been logging outside its strictly defined area into the areas destined for next year's logging activities and outside the official boundaries deep into the forest reserve. We estimate that logging roads and paths in the forest reserve have a distance of over 150 kilometers. Cana Bois deliberately crossed a river to enter the forest reserve. Along the logging roads we found numerous abandoned logs, stumps and log parks. The timber from these illegal logging operations has been sold with the official marks from the forest management unit. This legalisation to facilitate transport and export is done by local forest control posts with hammer marks, even though they know that the timber is not coming from the forest management unit. The local population has sent a letter to the Independent Observer, Resource Extraction Monitoring, in Cameroon, asking for help and requesting a mission to establish the total impact of the infractions. This mission was prevented time after time by Cameronese government officials. Unhampered, Cana Bois has started logging operations again in 2009, showing that illegality continues to be profitable in the Cameronese logging sector. These illegal logging practices have severe impacts on the forest reserve. Amongst others, they result in forest degradation, loss of economic value of the forest, because commercially interesting species have been harvested, and they have negative impacts on the livelihoods of local people. The plundered forest is part of the Atlantic Equatorial Coastal Forests ecoregion which has exceptionally high levels of species richness and endemism. Alarmingly, Friends of the Earth has found numerous traces of poaching in the forest reserve. The roads opened up for logging make it easier for poachers and vehicles to get the meat out to nearby markets. In the harbour in Doula Friends of the Earth found piles of sawn wood from Cana Bois with destination Spain, the Netherlands and France. Cana Bois has been looting the Cameronese forests for the European market. Several companies in Cameroon have chosen the path of sustainable forest management and have invested in certification. Their business is being undermined by unscrupulous companies like Cana Bois. This flagrant case of illegal logging and related trade shows that European member states and the EU have a huge responsibility to combat illegal logging and related trade. Friends of the Earth therefore calls upon the EU ministers to step up the pace and decide on a strengthened legislative proposal to stop illegal timber trade during the Agriculture Council in June 2009. It is extremely important for the effectivity of the legislation that trade in illegal timber becomes an offence, that the scope of the applicable legislation is broadened, all timber products are included and the due diligence obligations extended to all operators placing timber and timber products on the EU market. Only with effective and strong legislation to combat illegal timber trade will the EU reduce its social and environmental footprint and will companies like Cana Bois lose their profitable illegal business. Details: Amsterdam: Friends of the Earth, 2009. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: https://milieudefensie.nl/publicaties/rapporten/cana-bois-plundering-protected-areas-in-cameroon-for-the-european-market Year: 2009 Country: Cameroon URL: https://milieudefensie.nl/publicaties/rapporten/cana-bois-plundering-protected-areas-in-cameroon-for-the-european-market Shelf Number: 147946 Keywords: DeforestationEnvironmental CrimesForestsIllegal LoggingNatural ResourceOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Forest Trends Title: Consumer Goods and Deforestation: Summary: As global populations increase and more people around the world rise out of poverty, the demand for agricultural products such as meat, rice, and palm oil will continue to rise. Increases in the efficiencies and productivity of food production around the world have helped to reduce the prevalence of hunger and improve the nutrition status of millions in recent decades. These successes, however, could be undermined by illegal practices that cause negative environmental or social impactsimpacts which could ultimately threaten longterm food security. In recent years, it has become apparent that the most significant threat to the worlds remaining forests is conversion for commercial agriculture and other non-forest use. Agriculture alone accounts for over 70 percent of all deforestation across tropical and sub-tropical countries, along with other smaller drivers, such as mining, infrastructure, urban expansion, and remaining activities (Hosonuma et al. 2012)all in response to unprecedented demands from a growing population on forestlands for food, fuel, and fiber. In August 2014, for example, the Government of Indonesia announced plans to clear 14 Mha of forests by 2020 to provide more space for infrastructure, energy, and food supply despite ambitious emissions reduction targets (Jakarta Post 2014). While economic development and food security is a clear priority for many of the countries with the worlds remaining tropical forests, inclusive and sustainable growth needs to be nested within strong social and environmental safeguards, a strong sense of rule of law, and clarity on the land rights of indigenous and local communities who have lived in, cultivated, and held customary rights to these forests for generations. As the world seeks affordable solutions to enhancing development and prosperity for billions, land for agriculture must be acquired legally, sensibly, and sustainably. Instead, we are operating with a flawed model. It is increasingly clear that much of the land conversion for large-scale agricultural projects is currently being undertaken in violation of some of the producer countries most basic laws and regulations and incurring high social and environmental costs: non-compliance with processes related to the issuance of rights to convert forests, within permitting processes, during the clearing of forestland, and/or in the implementation of social safeguards. This study has sought to estimate for the first time the proportion of recent tropical deforestation that is the result of illegal clearing for commercial agriculture and how much of this was driven by overseas demand. In addition, the study estimates for the first time the scale of primary tropical wood products now being traded globally and originating from forest conversion, as opposed to selective logging. Forest Trends has been involved in national and international policy initiatives aiming to combat the trade in illegally sourced wood products for close to 15 years, witnessing firsthand the exciting and dramatic changes that have taken place in both producer and consumer nations. Producer countriesparticularly those engaging in Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreements (FLEGT VPAs)are clarifying regulatory frameworks that improve their ability to demonstrate the legality of wood products to their public and discerning buyers. Demand-side measures in consumer nations have been shown to support the enforcement of producer countries own laws and regulations. The results of this report suggest that there are tremendous opportunities to draw lessons from the significant initiatives that have been developed to combat the trade in illegally sourced timber while promoting the trade in legally sourced timber. These include the development of standards, importing trade legislation (such as the EU Timber Regulation or the 2008 amendments to the US Lacey Act), public procurement policies, and voluntary private sector purchasing policies and investment standards. However, there has been limited analysis to date of how similar mechanisms could leverage credible legal compliance for land conversion, support for more rational and sustainable land use policies and laws, and how they could increase transparency in the implementation of laws and regulations benefiting both public and private interests. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2014. 158p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4718.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4718.pdf Shelf Number: 140340 Keywords: Deforestation Environmental Crimes Forests Illegal Logging Natural Resource Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Forest Trends Title: Combating Illegal Logging in Asia: A Review of Progress and the Role of the Asia Forest Partnership 2002-2012 Summary: Forests in Asia play a critical role in providing a variety of services that millions of people depend upon for their livelihoods and social stability. They also contain most of the Asia-Pacific region's terrestrial biodiversity. By the turn of the Millennium, the forests of the region, particularly in the tropics, were acknowledged to be in crisis. Deforestation and forest degradation were rising to unprecedented rates, often as a direct result of illegal activities. There was also a dawning recognition that illegal logging was not only an environment threat, but was also contributing to conflict, corruption, and disrespect for the rule of law. It was against this backdrop that the Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) was established in 2002 at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). AFP was established as a multi-stakeholder alliance to promote sustainable management of forests in the Asia-Pacific region. In practice, AFP's greatest strength turned out to be promoting dialogue and cooperation to combat illegal logging, and that is the topic upon which the Partnership largely focused. A decade of regional dialogues and other activities followed, drawing in thousands of participants, catalyzing countless partnerships on the ground, and making a significant contribution to changing the nature of dialogue and action on illegal logging. When AFP first began, governments, logging companies and environmental activists rarely sat down at one table for frank discussions on the illegal logging problem. Today, such dialogue is the norm and is a regular feature of meetings of hitherto government-only bodies such as the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), and the FAO Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission. Ten years ago, illegal logging was often characterized as a domestic law enforcement problem that was the responsibility of those countries to deal with, while those countries, companies, and consumers who processed timber and ultimately bought forest products, looked the other way with respect to the legality of the raw material. Today, consumer markets like the United States, the European Union, and Australia all have timber legality legislation in place, Indonesia has implemented its own Timber Legality Assurance System, and countries with major timber-processing and export industries, such as China and Vietnam, are working to put their own legality verification systems in place. At AFP's outset, environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were very active in alerting the world to the extent and impacts of illegal logging, but had not found productive ways to engage with timber companies to change their management and trade practices. During the course of the ensuing decade, NGO-backed programs like the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), the Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade initiative (RAFT), and the Forest Legality Alliance (FLA) have developed extensive cooperative programs with timber producers, processors, and consumers and have also played an important role in devising and disseminating practical tools to encourage legal trade in forest products. AFP cannot, of course, take sole credit for these considerable positive achievements of the past decade. AFP has, however, played an important and catalytic role. Perhaps most importantly, the multi-stakeholder approach to illegal logging that AFP pioneered has now become the "new normal" in addressing illegal logging throughout the region. This multi-stakeholder approach is now accepted and institutionalized in formal intergovernmental organizations like APEC and ITTO, trade arrangements like the EU Voluntary Partnership Agreements, and in various best practice codes of conduct adopted by the private sector. As the AFP now draws to a close, those that helped establish it and those who have been active members of the partnership have much to be proud of. The AFP set a standard from which other initiatives and partnerships can learn in the future. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2013. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_3529.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_3529.pdf Shelf Number: 140341 Keywords: DeforestationEnvironmental Crimes Forests Illegal Logging Natural Resource Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Hewitt, Daphne Title: Identifying Illegality in Timber from Forest Conversion: A Review of Legality Definitions Summary: FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) aim to verify and license legal timber for export to the EU in order to create a 'market access' incentive for legal operators and countries that wish to improve forest law enforcement and governance standards. Licensing is based on a Legality Assurance System (LAS), which is underpinned by a national Legality Definition. Beginning a credible domestic stakeholder process to identify appropriate laws and detailed verifiers for compliance are necessary pre-requisites to formal bilateral negotiations with the EU. VPAs were primarily conceived of with selective logging in production forests in mind, but recent data suggests that conversion timber (timber produced when land is cleared for other uses) is increasingly important in tropical production, and in some countries may represent a significant majority of wood production. In addition, agricultural conversion is now acknowledged as the most significant cause of deforestation and is closely associated with land/tenure conflicts with local communities. Assessing the legality of conversion timber requires that compliance with both the process of permit allocation and all relevant management requirements be examined. On this basis, in the countries reviewed in detail by Forest Trends, a significant majority of the conversion timber produced appears to be illegal. This paper therefore reviews the Legality Definitions of the six counties engaged in VPA implementation, with a view to determining the potential that they offer for identifying illegality in wood sourced from conversion of forest to non-forest uses. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2013. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4150.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4150.pdf Shelf Number: 140342 Keywords: DeforestationEnvironmental Crimes Forests Illegal Logging Natural Resource Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Woods, Kevin Title: Baseline Study 5, Thailand: Overview of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Summary: Thailand diverges from neighboring regional Mekong countries, with a decade or more experience of actively pursuing policies to combat domestic illegal logging and internal transportation. The 1989 logging ban, and the rise of grassroots social movements organizing around large-scale plantations and community displacement, has meant that Thai forestry institutions have needed to become more responsive to environmental and social concerns. Forest cover decline in Thailand has generally been stabilized in the last few decades, and forests are even increasing in extent in some areas. Decentralization and community-based natural resource management is now a mainstream policy theme in the country, although tangible implementation has been uneven. In general, Thai state institutions have been responsive to local stakeholders and forest sector enterprises, in terms of developing a dynamic and effective policy framework based on a long-term vision that links forests, communities, conservation and economic development. These are welcome developments - the question is whether the reforms will be implemented equitably and effectively. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2011. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_3180.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Thailand URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_3180.pdf Shelf Number: 145608 Keywords: Forest Law EnforcementForestsIllegal LoggingNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Brack, Duncan Title: Ending Global Deforestation: Policy Options for Consumer Countries Summary: Over the last decade, governments in timber-producing and timber-consuming countries have implemented a range of policies and measures aimed at improving forest governance and reducing illegal logging. One important category of measures has been attempts to exclude illegal (and sometimes unsustainable) timber products from international trade through the use of regulatory measures such as public procurement policy, licensing systems, and legal and company due diligence requirements. Yet illegal logging and the international trade in illegal timber is not the most important cause of deforestation. Clearance of forests (legal or illegal) for agriculture, often for export, is far more significant. The purpose of this report is to examine the potential applicability of the consumer-country measures used to exclude illegal timber to illegal or unsustainable agricultural products associated with deforestation: specifically, palm oil, soy, beef and leather and cocoa. The study primarily considers options open to the European Union (which is the main global importer of these commodities), but in principle they are open to other consumer-country governments too. Details: London: Chatham House; Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2013. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/Research/Energy,%20Environment%20and%20Development/0913pr_deforestation.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/Research/Energy,%20Environment%20and%20Development/0913pr_deforestation.pdf Shelf Number: 145605 Keywords: DeforestationForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal ProductsNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Wakker, Eric Title: Indonesia: Illegalities in Forest Clearance for Large-Scale Commercial Plantations Summary: This is the second in a series of case studies examining the nature, scale and extent of illegalities and irregularities in the process of forest clearance for large-scale agricultural estates and ranchlands, and the scale of the trade in commodities grown or reared on land illegally cleared of forests. Each country assessment examines the state of knowledge on the topic, and the recent history of relevant sectoral activity in each country, profiles key companies, outlines the legal and regulatory environment, and summarizes available evidence of illegalities and irregularities. This study focuses on oil palm and pulp and paper plantations, generally seen as the main drivers of deforestation over the past ten to twenty years. The past fifteen years have seen increased global public and political acknowledgement of the environmental, social and economic costs of illegal logging, but this discourse has largely focused on tree harvesting under selective logging forestry and associated timber trade. This study represents a first step towards broadening our understanding of the nature, scale and extent of illegalities and irregularities in deforestation for oil palm and tree plantation expansion in Indonesia. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2014. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4528.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Indonesia URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_4528.pdf Shelf Number: 145606 Keywords: DeforestationForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Woods, Kevin Title: Baseline Study 4, Myanmar Overview of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Summary: Myanmar remains one of the world's only countries with no prohibitions on log exports. The country provides much coveted teak and other hardwood logs to the region and beyond. Sawn wood, and to a lesser extent finished wood products, contribute a relatively small amount to Myanmar's total exports of wood products. As in the majority of Mekong countries, one of the most significant trends affecting forest lands in Myanmar relates to the considerable, and often times informal, foreign direct investments (FDI) in agribusiness plantations such as rubber, oil palm, timber plantation, cashew nut and other horticultural crops. FD are also being made in other resource sector developments, including hydropower and mineral extraction. These types of developments often require the clearing of natural forest areas and has led to land disputes with local communities. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2011. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_3159.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Burma URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_3159.pdf Shelf Number: 145609 Keywords: Forest Law Enforcement Forests Illegal Logging Natural Resources Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Barney, Keith Title: Baseline Study 2, Lao PDR: Overview of Forest Governance, Markets and Trade Summary: Over the past decade in Lao PDR, new regulations and policies related to logging and timber exports have aimed to conserve existing natural forests and promote a shift towards participatory, sustainable forest management. Still, the main challenge will be to implement these reforms effectively. In addition, over the past five to six years, considerable foreign direct investment has moved into Laos' forest-land sector, in the form of agribusiness plantations and infrastructure development. While a welcome development from a financial perspective, this situation has promoted natural forest conversion and is challenged by a number of regulatory uncertainties. This report finds that: 1) timber sales account for roughly 12% of overall government revenue; 2) Laos' forest product export markets are dominated by Vietnam and Thailand, and Laos' main export markets in turn are significant re-exporters of manufactured forest products, to markets which increasingly require legal verification such as the USA and the European Union; 3) community land tenure and forest zoning processes need to be clarified and implemented adequately in order to safeguard local livelihoods and environmental services. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2011. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 21, 2016 at: http://forestindustries.eu/sites/default/files/userfiles/1file/baseline_study_laos_report_en.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Laos URL: http://forestindustries.eu/sites/default/files/userfiles/1file/baseline_study_laos_report_en.pdf Shelf Number: 145615 Keywords: Deforestation Environmental Crimes Forests Illegal Logging Natural Resource Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Forest Trends Title: Logging, Legality, and Livelihoods in Papua New Guinea: Sythesis of Official Assessments of the Large-Scale Logging Industry Volume I Summary: Between 2000 and 2005, in response to a widely held view that forest management in Papua New Guinea was not providing long-term benefits to the country or its citizens, and to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the new governance regime introduced in the PNG Forestry Act of 1991, the Papua New Guinea government commissioned five separate reviews of the administration and practice of the logging industry. This report, Volume I in a three volume series, summarizes the key findings of the five reviews to present a clear and precise picture of the legal status, environmental sustainability and social impacts of current large-scale logging operations in PNG. We follow this synthesis of the existing studies with our own recommendations for steps that would move PNG toward legal and sustainable logging, provide satisfactory livelihood opportunities for forest dependent communities, and promote sustainable economic development for the nation as a whole. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2006. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/publication_details.php?publicationID=105 Year: 2006 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/publication_details.php?publicationID=105 Shelf Number: 145626 Keywords: DeforestationsForest Management Forests Illegal Logging Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Forest Trends Title: Logging, Legality, and Livelihoods in Papua New Guinea: Sythesis of Official Assessments of the Large-Scale Logging Industry Volume II Summary: Between 2000 and 2005, the Papua New Guinea government commissioned five separate reviews of the administration and practice of the logging industry: - Review of Forest Harvesting Projects Being Developed Towards a Timber Permit of Timber Authority (2000-01); - Review of the Forest Revenue System (2001-02); - Independent Review of Disputed Timber Permits and Permit Extensions (2003); - Review of Current Logging Projects (2004-05); and - Compliance Audits (2004-05) In addition, a sixth report from an Ombudsman Commission investigation into the allocation of one concession (Kamula Doso) was published in July 2002. The five Reviews were conducted under Terms of Reference agreed between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the 'World Bank'), by teams of experts that included lawyers, foresters, economists and environmental and social scientists. The review teams were given unique access to official records, logging sites and company documents and were able to conduct wide-ranging interviews with industry participants, landowners and government officials. The findings of the five government-initiated Reviews were presented in sixty-three individual reports that together provide a unique assessment of Papua New Guineas forest administration system and the sustainability of current and future large-scale logging operations. They provide a thorough examination of the whole timber harvesting process from initial project development through permit allocation to the actual logging operations and their long term impacts. The Reviews considered a range of different criteria for assessing the status of timber harvesting operations and analyzed their impact from the perspective of all the key stakeholders. Of the five Reviews, only some of the reports were made publicly available through the PNG Prime Minister's website. Copies of the other documents produced were circulated amongst government departments, industry and civil society organizations in PNG and subsequently distributed internationally. The Ombudsman Commission report was tabled in Parliament and can be viewed in the Parliamentary library In this Report (Volume II), we bring together all the reports from the five Reviews and the Ombudsman Commission investigation and present a complete summary of their findings. Maps and imagery in this publication were sourced from the UPNG Remote Sensing Centre via www.rsc.upng.ac.pg (and were not part of the Review Reports). Updates on any follow-up actions on the recommendations in the Review Reports have been added based on publicly available information as of January 31, 2006 (and were not part of the Review Reports). Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2006. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_161.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_161.pdf Shelf Number: 146045 Keywords: DeforestationForest Management Forests Illegal Logging Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Greenpeace Title: How Unilever Palm Oil Suppliers Are Burning Up Borneo Summary: In November 2007, Greenpeace released 'Cooking the Climate', an 82-page report summarising the findings of a two-year investigation that revealed how the world's largest food, cosmetic and biofuel companies were driving the wholesale destruction of Indonesia's rainforests and peatlands through growing palm oil consumption.This follow-up report provides further evidence of the expansion of the palm oil sector in Indonesia into remaining rainforests, orangutan habitat and peatlands in Kalimantan. It links the majority of the largest producers in Indonesia to Unilever, probably the largest palm oil corporate consumer in the world. Details: Amsterdam: Greenpeace, 2008. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2016 at: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/planet-2/report/2009/10/how-unilever-palm-oil-supplier.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Asia URL: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/planet-2/report/2009/10/how-unilever-palm-oil-supplier.pdf Shelf Number: 146050 Keywords: DeforestationForestsOffenses Against the EnvironmentPalm Oil |
Author: Pink, Grant Title: Law Enforcement Responses to Transnational Environmental Crime: Practical Considerations and Suggested Improvements Arising from an International Analysis Summary: his paper considers the issue of law enforcement responses to transnational environmental crime with a particular focus on the role of environmental regulatory agencies. More specifically, it identifies and analyses the various operational and policy factors which inform and shape responses to transnational environmental crime. The aim of this paper is to furnish environmental regulatory agencies with information, options, and strategies so they can more effectively detect, deter, and disrupt this form of transnational crime. The paper outlines the different roles and functions of police agencies, customs and port authorities, and environmental regulatory agencies in terms of their efforts in the fight against transnational environmental crime. It also compares the use of administrative, civil, and criminal law enforcement responses by these response agencies. Details: Canberra: Transnational Environmental Crime Project, Department of International Relations, Australian National University, 2013. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper 5/2013: Accessed October 15, 2016 at: http://ir.bellschool.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/uploads/2016-09/tec_working_paper_5-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://ir.bellschool.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/uploads/2016-09/tec_working_paper_5-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 130009 Keywords: Environmental Crime Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Assuncao, Juliano Title: DETERring Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon: Environmental Monitoring and Law Enforcement Summary: The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. In Brazil, the forest originally occupied over four million km2 an area equivalent to almost half of continental Europe. Amazon deforestation rates escalated in the early 2000s, peaking at over 27,000 km2 in 2004, but fell sharply to about 5,000 km2 in 2011 (INPE [2012]). Empirical evidence presented in a previous CPI/PUC-Rio study suggests that changes in Brazilian conservation policies helped address the challenge of protecting this immense area and significantly contributed to the recent deforestation slowdown. In this study, we take a step further and answer the question: Which specific policy efforts contributed most to the reduction in Amazon deforestation? Our analysis reveals that the implementation of the Real Time System for Detection of Deforestation (DETER), a satellite-based system that enables frequent and quick identification of deforestation hot spots, greatly enhanced monitoring and targeting capacity, making it easier for law enforcers to act upon areas with illegal deforestation activity. This improvement in monitoring and law enforcement was the main driver of the 2000s deforestation slowdown. We estimate that DETER-based environmental monitoring and law enforcement policies prevented the clearing of over 59,500 km2 of Amazon forest area from 2007 through 2011. Deforestation observed during this period totaled 41,500 km2 59% less than in the absence of the policy change. We also find that the policy change had no impact on agricultural production. Details: s.l.: Climate Policy Initiative, 2013. 36p; executive summary. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 13, 2016 at: https://climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/deterring-deforestation-in-the-brazilian-amazon-environmental-monitoring-and-law-enforcement/ Year: 2013 Country: Brazil URL: https://climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/deterring-deforestation-in-the-brazilian-amazon-environmental-monitoring-and-law-enforcement/ Shelf Number: 144911 Keywords: ConservationDeforestationEnvironmental Law EnforcementForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Eurojust Title: Strategic project on environmental crime: report Summary: Eurojust is pleased to present this report on the outcome of the Strategic Project (the 'Strategic Project') on Environmental Crime (the 'Report'). Eurojust launched the Strategic Project in spring 2013 on the basis of an intriguing paradox: there was growing evidence of an increasing understanding that environmental crime is a serious crime, often involving a cross-border dimension and organised crime groups (OCGs), while at the same time, statistics on prosecutions of environmental crime in the Member States did not appear to reflect the real impact of this crime. The number of cases referred to Eurojust, at that time, was also very low. A number of project activities carried out during the past year has enabled Eurojust to build significant expertise in the fight against environmental crime, to collect knowledge on the main obstacles as well as best practice when prosecuting environmental crime cases, and to look into possible solutions and the way ahead. This Report presents in its second chapter the project objectives, the methodology used to implement these objectives and the project activities undertaken to achieve these objectives. Based on the different sources of information available, the Environmental Crime Project Team (the Project Team) analysed the main issues in the prosecution and investigation of environmental crime, with a special focus on three topics: trafficking in endangered species, illegal trafficking in waste and surface water pollution. The first two are particularly important today at European Union level and are the focus of a number of EU and international initiatives. The analysis carried out on the three topics mentioned above is described in detail in three chapters. Two separate chapters are subsequently devoted to the national enforcement structure and access to expertise, and to possible solutions and best practice in tackling the challenges identified. In this context, it should be stressed that possibilities for enhanced cooperation among key stakeholders could assist Member States and Eurojust in supporting the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime cases more efficiently. Within this framework, it has already been proven that the partnership established through the Strategic Project between Eurojust and the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) is particularly successful. In the conclusions, the main findings and challenges identified by the Project Team are presented. Eurojust hopes that the present Report will be instrumental in supporting the current developments and initiatives undertaken at EU and international level in the fight against environmental crime. Additionally, Eurojust believes that this Report could also contribute to raising awareness among practitioners, legislators and policy makers about the serious impact of this important crime phenomenon Details: The Hague: Eurojust, 2014. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/doclibrary/eurojust-framework/casework/strategic%20project%20on%20environmental%20crime%20(october%202014)/environmental-crime-report_2014-11-21-en.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/doclibrary/eurojust-framework/casework/strategic%20project%20on%20environmental%20crime%20(october%202014)/environmental-crime-report_2014-11-21-en.pdf Shelf Number: 146122 Keywords: Environmental CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePollutionTrafficking in WasteTrafficking in Wildlife |
Author: Kleinschmit, Daniela Title: Illegal logging and related timber trade: dimensions, drivers, impacts and responses Summary: This report entitled "Illegal Logging and Related Timber Trade: Dimensions, Drivers, Impacts and Responses" presents the results of the fifth global scientific assessment undertaken by the GFEP initiative. The report set out to gain deeper understanding of the meaning of illegal logging and related timber trade, its scale, drivers and consequences. It provides a structured synthesis of available scientific and expert knowledge on illegal logging and associated timber trade while adding to existing studies and reports by sharing new insights, including a criminology perspective and new information about timber and timber product trade flows as well as exploring future policy options and governance responses. This assessment report and the accompanying policy brief provide an authoritative source of information for policymakers and stakeholders involved in the fight against illegal logging and associated timber trade, in order to support effective action in tackling this pressing global problem. Details: Vienna: International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), 2016. 148p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed IUFRO World Series Volume 35: Accessed December 20, 2016 at: http://www.illegal-logging.info/sites/files/chlogging/IUFRO_illegallogging.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.illegal-logging.info/sites/files/chlogging/IUFRO_illegallogging.pdf Shelf Number: 146000 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Treanor, Naomi Basik Title: China's Hongmu Consumption Boom: Analysis of the Chinese Rosewood Trade and Links to Illegal Activity in Tropical Forested Countries Summary: Over the past decade, Chinese demand for classic furniture made from slow-growing hardwood species collectively known as hongmu, encompassing rosewood species and others such as Padauk, has soared. The majority of furniture is both manufactured and consumed within China, as indicated by the trade balance reflecting high levels of log and sawnwood imports and lower levels of roundwood equivalent (RWE) furniture exports. China's rosewood log and sawnwood imports, on an unprecedented rise since 2010, hit an all-time high in 2014, while exports of rosewood products have declined severely. Unfortunately, much of the world's valuable rosewoods are being depleted at an alarming rate, with the global trade in rosewood suffering from high rates of illegal harvesting, transport, and trade. These illegal practices have exacerbated the destruction of complex ecosystems in some of the world’s most biodiverse forests and in many cases have negatively impacted the livelihoods of forest-dependent people who rely on hongmu as a source of fuel and medicine. China is in a unique position to take a leadership role to ensure that only legally and sustainably sourced rosewood enters the country, given the large role that Chinese traders,2 manufacturers, retailers, and consumers play in the global harvesting and trade of rosewood. The Chinese government has already put in place a system of rules and regulations for product quality assurance for the import and processing of rosewood that is enforced by a wide number of government agencies (Box 1), but does not address issues related to sustainable or legal harvesting, transportation, or import of hongmu species. This system could serve as the foundation for more direct action to ensure legality and sustainability. This paper analyzes recent trends in Chinese rosewood trade, using import data from China Customs from 2000 to 2014. It then synthesizes existing literature highlighting widespread violations of national laws and regulations in source countries that are occurring in the harvesting and trade of rosewood, particularly in key countries in Africa and Asia. It concludes with policy recommendations for Chinese policy-makers and other actors, which would foster the trade in legal hongmu species, mainly through use of existing mechanisms and guidelines, but also by increasing coordination with Hong Kong and ensuring better enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2015. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 23, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_5057.pdf Year: 2015 Country: China URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_5057.pdf Shelf Number: 146423 Keywords: Forest ProductsForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentRosewood |
Author: Global Witness Title: Honduras: The Deadliest Place to Defend the Planet Summary: Sandwiched between Guatemala and Nicaragua on the Caribbean coast, Honduras is blanketed in forest and rich in valuable minerals. But the proceeds of this natural wealth are enjoyed by a very small section of society. Honduras has the highest levels of inequality in the whole of Latin America, with around six out of ten households in rural areas living in extreme poverty, on less than US$2.50 per day. This report documents shocking levels of violence and intimidation suffered by rural communities for taking a stand against the imposition of dams, mines, logging or agriculture on their land – projects that are controlled by rich and powerful elites, among them members of the political class. The root causes of these abuses are widespread corruption and the failure to properly consult those affected by these projects. Details: Global Witness, 2017. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2017 at: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/honduras-deadliest-country-world-environmental-activism/ Year: 2017 Country: Honduras URL: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/honduras-deadliest-country-world-environmental-activism/ Shelf Number: 146985 Keywords: Environmental CrimesNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentViolence |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Title: System Failure: The UK's Harmful Trade in Electronic Waste Summary: Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the common term for electronic goods at the end of their 'useful life'. Computers, mobile phones and televisions are all types of electronic goods classified as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention, an international treaty regulating cross-border trade in harmful waste. Due to the proliferation of electronic devices and accelerated technology advances, an increasing amount of e-waste is created every year. It is the fastest-growing waste stream in the UK, with more than one million tonnes generated annually. Globally, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates annual production of e-waste to be 50 million tonnes, of which only 10 per cent is recycled. E-waste can be highly hazardous to both the environment and human health due to the substances it contains. A computer processor has an array of dangerous metals and chemicals such as antimony trioxide, polybrominated flame retardants, selenium, cadmium and mercury. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) found in older-style bulky TVs and desktop computers often contains large amounts of lead. As well as potentially harmful materials, e-waste may also contain small amounts of valuable metals such as gold and copper. A range of regulations at the international, regional and national levels govern trade in e-waste. The intent is to promote safe recycling of broken electronic equipment and to enable legitimate trade in used, working equipment. In reality, huge quantities of discarded e-waste end up being illegally traded around the world. The European Union, despite strong legislation, is a major source of e-waste which is illegally exported and dumped in developing countries. An estimated 75 per cent of e-waste generated in the EU, equivalent to eight million tonnes a year, is unaccounted for. The destination countries do not have the infrastructure to recycle e-waste safely. Instead, it is processed manually in scrap yards with no consideration for health and safety. The e-waste is stripped down to components by hand. Copper wires are bundled and set alight to remove flame-resistant coatings, emitting toxic dioxins; CRT monitors are smashed with hammers, releasing plumes of lead and cadmium dust. After the useful metals are taken out, leftover parts are often dumped in landfills or rivers, or simply burnt. Poverty in countries where e-waste is illegally dumped often leads to young children being involved in breaking down the electronic goods. The potential health consequences for those involved in this kind of work are dire-reproductive and developmental problems, damaged immune, nervous and blood systems, kidney damage and impaired brain development in children. Much of Europe's e-waste ends up in West Africa, especially Nigeria and Ghana. As developing nations' economies grow so does demand for electronic goods, especially good quality secondhand equipment; yet consignments of such equipment arriving in West African ports are mostly e-waste, with about 75 per cent of the electronic units arriving found to be broken. Importers seem willing to bring in containers mostly filled with e-waste because the demand for electronics is so high that buyers are prepared to purchase untested items. The scale of this trade is enormous; in Nigeria's capital, Lagos, half a million computers arrive every month.6 Much of this export from Europe is carried out by West African nationals, often termed 'waste tourists', with family or business contacts in countries such as the UK. Details: London: EIA, 2011. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2017 at: http://www.greencustoms.org/docs/EIA_E-waste_report_0511_WEB.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.greencustoms.org/docs/EIA_E-waste_report_0511_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 146294 Keywords: Electronic WasteEnvironmental CrimesIllegal TradeIllegal WasteOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Korwin, Sebastian Title: REDD+ and Corruption Risks for Africa's Forests: Case Studies from Cameroon, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe Summary: The link between corruption and deforestation and forest degradation has been almost universally recognised. Today, corruption continues to threaten new climate initiatives like Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). This report provides the summarised findings of corruption risk assessments (CRAs) in four African countries: Cameroon, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In each CRA, stakeholders, who include representatives from governments, academia, the judiciary, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), the media, international organisations and private sector, were selected to participate based on their experience in the forest sector. Details: Berlin: Transparency International, 2016. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2017 at: https://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/redd_and_corruption_risks_for_africas_forests_case_studies_from_cameroon_gh Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 141178 Keywords: CorruptionDeforestationEnvironmental CrimesForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Macqueen, Duncan Title: Boosting governance in Mozambique's forests: Options for more sustainable forestry among Chinese timber traders and Mozambican partners Summary: Mozambique is Africa's largest exporter of timber to China. Yet multiple published concerns over the sustainability and legality of that timber trade assert the rapid commercial depletion of future timber stocks, the marginalisation of local forest communities, and the loss of revenue to government estimated at US$146 million between 2007 and 2013 alone. This report takes a step back to explore what options exist for incentives to improve the forest practice of Chinese timber traders and concession holders and their Mozambican partners. Drawing on research in the forest sector, it identifies six potential areas of concern for those operators. It then outlines for each area possible incentives that might be developed to improve forest practice. The set of 18 incentive types may not be exhaustive, but the questionnaire survey of government, civil society and private sector actors did not reveal further major sources of incentive. Table 1 summarises our initial understanding about these areas of concern for operators and possible incentive types to improve their practice. Each incentive type is ranked in terms of its perceived potential for beneficial impact by 26 Mozambique forest experts (five private-sector experts, seven NGO forest experts, five government forest authority staff, and nine forest experts from research or teaching institutions). Many of these incentive types are generic, in the sense that they are applicable as much to Mozambican operators as to Chinese operators. But there are also some China - specific opportunities. These relate to the characteristics, preferred timber specifications and reputational sensitivities of the Chinese timber market, to emerging Chinese policies based on guidelines and a timber legality verification system, and to the organisational dynamics of Chinese traders and concession holders in Mozambique. In short, there are ways in which a useful China-Mozambique engagement could incentivise change above and beyond what might be possible by working with Mozambican operators alone. A summary of the multiple different incentive categories is presented below in Table 1. The pie charts summarise a sequential numerical ranking made by the 26 Mozambique forest experts described above. For each expert, their first six ranked options were afforded the status of high priority, the second six ranked options of medium priority, and the final six ranked options of low priority. The aggregate number of times an option was ranked high, medium or low priority forms the basis for the pie chart. In addition, the top six ranked options overall are highlighted in yellow with a description of their numerical ranking. Details: London: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2017. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2017 at: http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/17601IIED.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Mozambique URL: http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/17601IIED.pdf Shelf Number: 145243 Keywords: ForestsIllegal LoggingNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Chayes, Sarah Title: When Corruption is the Operating System: The Case of Honduras Summary: In some five dozen countries worldwide, corruption can no longer be understood as merely the iniquitous doings of individuals. Rather, it is the operating system of sophisticated networks that cross sectoral and national boundaries in their drive to maximize returns for their members. Honduras offers a prime example of such intertwined, or "integrated," transnational kleptocratic networks. This case thus illustrates core features of the way apparently open or chaotic economies are in reality structured worldwide - and some of the dynamics that are driving climate change, persistent inequality, and spiraling conflict. THE HONDURAN KLEPTOCRATIC OS IN ACTION - In this example, the three interlocking spheres are roughly co-equal in psychological impact if not in amounts of captured revenue. They retain a degree of autonomy, and are often disrupted by internal rivalry. - This system's operations devastate the environment-though Honduras is not a "resource" country. Most threats to biodiversity derive from deliberate "development" policies-whose primary purpose is actually to funnel rents to network members. - Modern renewable energy, as well as hydropower, is captured by the network. The migrant crisis is also fueled by this brand of corruption. - Repression is carefully targeted for maximum psychological effect. An example was the March 2016 assassination of environmental and social justice activist Berta Caceres, which reverberated through like-minded communities. _ The kleptocracy benefits from significant external reinforcement, witting or unwitting, including not just military assistance, but much international development financing. A DIFFERENT "CHIP" - The first step to disabling the kleptocratic OS is to acknowledge it, and outsiders' role reinforcing it. Western policymakers should invest in the candid study of these networks and to corruption as an intentional operating system, and evaluate whether their inputs are, on balance, enabling or challenging these structures. - Environmental protection is part of an awakening indigenous worldview that provides an integrated, positive vision many find worth fighting for. Community groups are establishing their own networks, in which cultural and environmental revival is linked to labor and land rights and autonomous education. But these groups receive proportionately little support from donor governments and institutions. - Community-supported alternative development models exist. Members of such organizations-who have faced death to combat network-controlled dams-readily identify micro-dams that meet their approval. They have helped design and construct some; others contribute to local well-being. Development implementers should study such projects and apply their principles. - Lessons from Honduras are applicable worldwide. Engaged Honduran community groups have valuable insights not just into how development assistance can produce better results in Honduras, but into ways the West might retool its economy to reduce inequality while preserving and cultivating natural resources. Details: Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2017. 174p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 20, 2017 at: http://carnegieendowment.org/files/Chayes_Corruption_Final_updated.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Honduras URL: http://carnegieendowment.org/files/Chayes_Corruption_Final_updated.pdf Shelf Number: 146322 Keywords: CorruptionCriminal NetworksEnvironmental CrimesNatural ResourcesOffenses Against The Environment |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Title: Repeat Offender: Vietnam's Persistent Trade in Illegal Timber Summary: Despite growing global attention to the problem of illegal logging over the past 15 years, Vietnam continues to rely on imports of illicit timber to supply its burgeoning wood processing sector, especially from the neighbouring countries of Laos and Cambodia. Since 2007, EIA has repeatedly documented flows of illegal logs across the land border between Laos and Vietnam, and more recently from Cambodia. Vietnam has made strenuous efforts to increase its own forest cover, including strict controls on the logging of natural forests. In 2016, a total ban on logging natural forests was announced. By 2015, the country's forest cover had increased to 14.7 million hectares (44.6 per cent of total land area), compared with nine million hectares in 1990. At the same time, the Vietnamese Government has promoted the rapid expansion of an export-oriented wood processing sector, which has become the sixth largest in the world. In 2017, the country's exports of wood products are predicted to be worth $8 billion, compared with $7.3 billion in 2016. Vietnam's wood processing industry is heavily reliant on imports for the supply of raw materials, principally round logs and sawn timber. Imports have been growing at about 10 per cent a year, reaching 4.79 million m3 in 2015. While timber imports come from over 100 countries, the biggest source region is Asia, especially Laos and Cambodia. Overall, Vietnam relies of imports for at least 80 per cent of the raw materials consumed by its factories. Analysis of Vietnam's imports by source country indicates that in 2013, 18 per cent were judged to have a high risk of illegality. It is neighbouring countries which have borne the brunt of this illicit trade. Until 2015, Laos - which has a log export ban - was the largest single supplier of timber to Vietnam by value. Due to stronger political will in the country to curb illegal logging, it has now been supplanted by Cambodia, another neighbouring country which bans the export of raw timber. In 2015, Vietnam imported timber worth $386 million from Cambodia, a 52 per cent increase on the previous year, and $360 million from Laos. Combined, the two countries provided Vietnam with illicit timber worth almost three quarters of a billion dollars in a single year. This shift in sourcing has been driven solely by supply-side measures. Rather than improve its regulatory controls over imports of illicit timber, Vietnam has actually introduced measures to ease the flow of timber from Cambodia, once again showing flagrant disregard for the forest laws of its neighbouring countries. Details: London: EIA, 2017. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 21, 2017 at: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Repeat-Offender.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Vietnam URL: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Repeat-Offender.pdf Shelf Number: 146336 Keywords: Deforestation Environmental Crime Forests Illegal Logging Illegal Trade Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Stakeholder Democracy Network Title: Building Bridges: Community-Based Approaches to Tackle Pipeline Vandalism Summary: Pipeline vandalism cost the Nigerian Government, oil-companies and communities an estimated $14bn dollars in 2014. The failure of the Nigerian state to provide basic public services and security in the Niger Delta has resulted in a significant breakdown of the social contract. In the void that remains, international and national oil companies are often seen as a Government proxy, spending millions of dollars in their operating locations through various formal and informal Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and security instruments. However, these efforts are not perceived to have the communities' interests at heart, preferring to secure a short-term license to operate as opposed to a long-term legacy in the region. In addition, the "quick and easy cash" approach by oil-companies in response to threats by vandals has created an implicit incentive to "crack pipes", earn money and survive. In communities, the feeling of anger and demand for attention motivates vandals to interrupt pipelines at the expense of their environment and livelihoods, with many addicted to easy money from surveillance and clean-up contracts. Others vandalise to survive in the absence of other employment choices ignoring the long-term impact to their local environment and health. The environmental impact is immense with an estimated 51,500 hectares devastated by oil spills in 2014 as a direct consequence of pipeline vandalism. In the creeks, enormous sums of money are earned from the illicit trade of stolen oil, often settled through cash and arms deals, fuelling a "cold-war" between entrenched actors and the State. This threatens the fragile and purchased peace currently holding together the Niger Delta. As previous patronage networks strain after elections, and the means to gain access to oil-proceeds are mitigated, old militant tactics of pipeline vandalism, kidnap and organised crime may again emerge to illicit a response from Government and oil-companies. The communities that surround Nigeria's pipeline infrastructure will continue to demand for socio-economic development of the region and based on history, there has been no quicker way to get the Government and oil companies attention than by vandalising pipelines and halting production. The new Administration has a short window of opportunity to address these issues once and for all, riding on post-election feelings of optimism and hope washing across the Delta; perhaps one of the first times there has been marginal support for a President not from the region. However, should the new Administration not act quickly, rising agitation and reduced patronage flows may inflame feelings of anger, resentment and hopelessness, with various individuals and groups, heavily armed and very wealthy, threatening the security of the oil industry and national income. Our investigation confirmed that International Oil Company (IOC) pipelines have more incidences of vandalism than their National Oil Company (NOC) counterparts. This is due in part because IOC's still own the majority of pipeline infrastructure, but also due to historically high community expectations as a result of enormous budget allocations and the availability of formal and informal channels of "easy-money" into host communities for CSR related activities, clean up and surveillance contracts. Our research has identified examples of alternative community based models to tackle pipeline vandalism that have been trialled with some success giving a degree of confidence that change is possible and relationships can be fixed. A solution will need to take into account the successes, challenges and lessons learnt from current approaches to provide a clear direction towards a sustainable and collaborative approach to tackle the issue. This report encourages the incoming government to consider alternatives away from a sole-security response to pipeline vandalism. There is a need to review and reset the relationships between Government, oil-companies and communities as a first step to tackle pipeline vandalism, maintaining oil production whilst reinforcing peace in the Niger Delta. We believe efforts to reset relationships could lead to new social contract in the Niger Delta. A sustainable approach to tackle pipeline vandalism will develop local institutions and economies, increase employment and lift many out of poverty whilst reversing current incentives away from vandalism and towards pipeline and environmental protection. The relationship between communities, oil companies and Government has been broken for too long. Now is the time to fix it. Details: London: SDN, 2015. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2017 at: http://www.stakeholderdemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SDN-Building-Bridges-Community-Based-Approaches-to-Tackle-Pipeline-Vandalism.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Nigeria URL: http://www.stakeholderdemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SDN-Building-Bridges-Community-Based-Approaches-to-Tackle-Pipeline-Vandalism.pdf Shelf Number: 146500 Keywords: Illicit TradeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOil IndustryPetroleum IndustryPipeline VandalismTheftVandalism |
Author: Stop Illegal Fishing Title: FISH-i Africa: Our future Summary: A new report from Stop Illegal Fishing takes a look at the work of the FISH-i Africa Task Force, FISH-i Africa: Our future focuses attention on the actions and cooperation that are still needed to tackle illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean. Sandy Davies, Stop Illegal Fishing commented "The scale and extent of illegal activity in the Western Indian Ocean has come as a real surprise to all of those involved in FISH-i Africa. We started out with the traditional expectation that most operators set out to comply with rules, or opportunistically took advantage of gaps and loopholes. But what the FISH-i investigations and analysis have shown is that in fact there are a significant number of operators who set out, deliberately and systematically to act illegally. They do this through falsifying information, forging documents, hiding company information behind secretive shelf companies and flags of non-compliance. Even when caught red handed it is difficult for coastal States to exercise effective sanctions and penalties as vessels routinely abscond from authorities, change name and change flag." FISH-i Africa plans to counter these systematic illegalities with a systematic programme of 'VIGILANCE' which will verify and cross-check the documentation and characteristics of all the vessels licensed to or flagged by the FISH-i members. "This is a significant undertaking involving around 500 vessels and a lot of work, but we believe this is the most effective means we have to end illegal fishing in this region." Davies added, "We've had a strong response already to VIGILANCE and will be looking to work with a range of organisations and funding partners." 'FISH-i Africa: Our future' sets out a real agenda for change; looking at the roles and responsibilities that port, flag, coastal and market States can play. Nicholas Ntheketha, Chair of FISH-i states, "FISH-i has been a big success and has achieved real cooperation with tangible results, but as we look forward we see the need to develop this cooperation further, we need to incorporate greater contact and communication with key port and flag States and we need to make sure that we have strong cooperation with all the relevant authorities at the national level." Stop Illegal Fishing Chairperson Elsa da Gloria Patria welcomed the publication, "FISH-i Africa and the VIGILANCE programme offer a great opportunity to clean up the illegal activity that is taking place in the fisheries sector. Our countries and our people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods and their development we need to make sure that our resources are protected and our blue economies get a chance to thrive." Details: Gaborone, Botswana: Stop Illegal Fishing, 2017. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 28, 2017 at: https://www.fish-i-africa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FISH-i_Africa_Our_future_WEB.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Africa URL: https://www.fish-i-africa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FISH-i_Africa_Our_future_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 147489 Keywords: Fishing IndustryIllegal FishingOffenses Against the EnvironmentUnregulated FishingWildlife Crime |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Title: First Class Crisis: China's Criminal and Unsustainable Intervention in Mozambique's Miombo Forests Summary: This report updates a January 2013 EIA report on forest crime in Mozambique - First Class Connections. It details research, investigations and analysis conducted by EIA between mid-2013 and 2014 which found that: - Over the past seven years an average of 81 percent of all logging in Mozambique was illegal. In 2013, a staggering 93 per cent of logging in the country was illegal - The shocking scale of illegality is largely driven by booming timber exports, with 76 per cent of timber exported from Mozambique worldwide in 2013 being illegally cut in excess of reported harvests - The vast majority of exports (93 per cent on average between 2007 and 2013) were shipped to China. In 2013, when Mozambique became China's biggest African supplier of logs by value, 46 per cent of China's 516,296 cubic metres (m3) of timber imports from Mozambique were also smuggled out of the country, maintaining a pattern and scale of crime by Chinese companies already documented by EIA in 2012 - This illegal logging and timber smuggling has driven harvesting volumes way beyond sustainable levels, despite claims by Mozambican officials to the contrary, raising serious concerns about the Government's ability to credibly manage the country's forest resources - EIA analysis shows that an excessive focus on just a handful of commercial timber species - for both export and domestic markets - raises the likelihood that commercial stocks will be largely depleted over the next 15 years - All of this crime and environmental mismanagement has robbed Mozambique's rural poor and wider population of US$146 million in lost exploration and export tax revenues since 2007 - Despite some evidence of law enforcement by the Mozambican Government, and the promotion by the Chinese Government of voluntary guidelines on legal forestry activities for Chinese businesses, corruption and ineffective governance in both Mozambique and China's business sector are a structural impediment to resolving the crisis - Multiple Chinese-owned timber companies already exposed by EIA and others continue to smuggle illegal Mozambican timber to China. Without a sea-change in how Mozambique's Government and law enforcement community do their jobs, with corruption an ongoing problem, and with no enforceable laws on illegal timber imports in China, Mozambique's forests and forest economy face a bleak future. The degree to which poor rural communities will bear the burden of Mozambique's ongoing illegal logging crisis - in what is now the second least developed nation on Earth - is a critical development and governance challenge that needs immediate and credible action by all concerned parties. Details: London: EIA, 2014. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 29, 2017 at: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/First-Class-Crisis-English-FINAL.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Mozambique URL: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/First-Class-Crisis-English-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 147502 Keywords: Environmental CrimesForestsIllegal LoggingNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentSmuggling |
Author: Contreras-Hermosilla, Arnoldo Title: Law Compliance in the Forestry Sector: An Overview Summary: The problem of illegal logging and forest crimes is global and serious. Reliable statistics are scarce, but as much as 15 percent of global timber trade is estimated to involve illegalities and corrupt practices. Illegal logging in public lands worldwide is estimated to cause annual losses in assets and revenue in excess of US$10 billion. In addition to the loss of revenue to governments and inefficiency of resource use, illegal logging directly threatens ecosystems and biodiversity in protected areas and parks across the world. This paper looks at available evidence on the magnitude and impacts of illegal logging, the vulnerabilities of the forest sector, and proposes a strategy for combating forest crime. This strategy involves: (i) an assessment of the governance situation of the country, (ii) streamlining the forest policy framework, and (iii) focusing operational activities for forest law enforcement around a prevention, detection and suppression framework. Details: Washington, DC: World Bank, 2002. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper: Accessed January 31, 2018 at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/232581468763471728/pdf/286170Law0Forestry0WBI0WP.pdf Year: 2002 Country: International URL: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/232581468763471728/pdf/286170Law0Forestry0WBI0WP.pdf Shelf Number: 148948 Keywords: Forests Illegal Logging Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Urrunaga, Julia Title: Moment of Truth: Promise or Peril for the Amazon as Peru Confronts its Illegal Timber Trade Summary: EIA's new report describes important advances since 2012 in Peru's fight against illegal logging, timber laundering, and its associated international trade - as well as the backlash against these new approaches. The evidence of persistent illegal logging, systemic corruption, laundering, and illegal timber in Peru's exports remains overwhelming. While the U.S. has begun to crack down on illegal Peruvian timber, major importing countries like China and Mexico are turning a blind eye. Human rights violations, long-term economic impacts, and damage to biodiversity and the global climate are all embedded in the Peruvian forest sector's current operating model. At the same time, Peru's institutions have shown that they have the tools to conduct effective enforcement and create more transparent procedures and systems. This is a Moment of Truth. Can Peru accept and act on the truths revealed by its own enforcement actions? Or will it now eliminate the rules and inspections that are necessary for tracing timber back to verified, legal origins? The report focuses on three pieces: A multi-year enforcement effort called Operation Amazonas that in 2015 focused on the shipping vessel Yacu Kallpa, the largest export trade stream of timber from the northern Peruvian Amazon. Upon investigation, enforcement agencies discovered that an average of 91.3% -- and as high as 96% -- of the timber this ship carried was from illegal sources, leading to detentions and seizures in Peru, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the U.S. Protests, backlash and high-level pushback in response to these efforts to enforce the law and introduce greater transparency to the system. The timber industry, its primary regulatory authority (the National Forest and Wildlife Service, Serfor), and other government entities in Peru have denied or minimized the problem and attempted to weaken enforcement institutions. They have also reduced data collection and changed official requirements to make it almost impossible to trace timber and verify legal origin, in contravention of Peru's own laws and commitments. A new analysis of hundreds of pages of official documents that reveal systematic exports of illegal and high-risk timber from Peru's main port of Callao during 2015, by dozens of companies and to 18 countries. It is impossible to replicate this analysis for 2016 or 2017, since the Peruvian forest authority has decided to stop compiling the necessary data. Details: Washington, DC: Environmental Investigation Agency, 2018. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2018 at: https://content.eia-global.org/posts/documents/000/000/694/original/MomentofTruth.pdf?1518546054 Year: 2018 Country: Peru URL: https://content.eia-global.org/posts/documents/000/000/694/original/MomentofTruth.pdf?1518546054 Shelf Number: 149277 Keywords: Environmental CrimesForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Title: Party to the Plunder: Illegal Fishing in Guinea and its links to the EU Summary: - Illegal fishing by foreign trawlers in Guinea's coastal zone is widespread and increasing, despite the attention that has been focussed on illegal fishing by the international community in recent years. - Marine resources and the coastal communities that depend upon them are suffering from unsustainable fishing activities, including massive bycatch and discards, problems that are being significantly compounded by the presence of illegal fishing vessels. - Illegal fishing is aided by the widespread use of flags of convenience that are used to conceal the identity of the true beneficial vessel owners. Various tactics are used to confuse the identity of fishing vessels, including multiple vessel names and frequent changes in name and registry. Penalising wrongdoers can therefore be very difficult, and penalties do not in many cases serve as sufficient deterrent given the lucrative gains to be made from illegal fishing. - Some of the vessels arrested by Guinean authorities have been seen in Las Palmas, Spain, suggesting that illegal fish is being marketed in the European Community. Once the fish has been landed in Las Palmas, it is extremely difficult to track it to its final market destination. There are significant problems in the traceability of fish within the EU to ensure that illegally-caught fish does not enter the marketplace. - Guinea has serious problems in keeping these illegally operating vessels at bay, given their lack of logistical and financial resources. A unique and novel experimental method has been tried in recent years by integrating artisanal fishermen in the surveillance system. Despite its promising beginning, the programme is currently facing difficulties and international support is decreasing. - Regional efforts and cooperation need to be enhanced in order to ensure that enforcement efforts in one area do not result in displacement of illegal activity to more remote areas where surveillance is lacking. - The European Union, as a major market for Guinean fish and an important partner though its bilateral fisheries agreement, has an important role to play. Crucially, the EU must take steps to ensure that it does not facilitate or promote IUU fishing in Guinea, by examining traceability from the sea to the marketplace; ensuring that fishing agreements promote sustainable and legal fisheries; remedying the role of Las Palmas in IUU fishing; and the involvement of EU nationals and associated companies in undertaking IUU fishing in Guinea and elsewhere in the region. Details: London: EJF, 2005. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2018 at: https://ejfoundation.org/resources/downloads/party-to-the-plunder.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Guinea URL: https://ejfoundation.org/resources/downloads/party-to-the-plunder.pdf Shelf Number: 149416 Keywords: Fishing Industry Illegal Fishing Maritime Crime Offenses Against the Environment Unregulated FishingWildlife Crimes |
Author: Bondy, Malvina Title: Crime is in the Air: The Contemporaneous Relationship between Air Pollution and Crime Summary: Many empirical studies have examined various determinants of crime. However, the link between crime and air pollution has been surprisingly overlooked despite several potential pathways. In this paper, we study whether exposure to ambient air pollution affects crime by using daily administrative data for the years 2004-05 in London. For identification, we mainly rely on the panel structure of the data to estimate models with ward fixed effects. We complement our main analysis with an instrumental variable approach where we use wind direction as an exogenous shock to local air pollution concentrations. We find that elevated levels of air pollution have a positive and statistically significant impact on overall crime and that the effect is stronger for types of crime which tend to be less severe. We formally explore the underlying mechanism for our finding and conclude that the effect of air pollution on crime is likely mediated by higher discounting of future punishment. Importantly, we also find that these effects are present at levels which are well below current regulatory standards and that the effect of air pollution on crime appears to be unevenly distributed across the income distribution. Overall, our results suggest that reducing air pollution in urban areas may be a cost effective measure to reduce crime. Details: Bonn: IZA Institute of Labor Economics, 2018. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Working Paper no. 11492: Accessed May 9, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3170281 Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3170281 Shelf Number: 150121 Keywords: Air Pollution Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Shaver, Amanda Title: Casting a Wider Net: The Security Implications of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Summary: The world's fisheries are on the brink of collapse. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO) estimates nearly 90 percent are fully exploited or overexploited and depleted, while demand for seafood continues to increase. Faced with this reality, fishing fleets are scavenging the globe to meet the growing demand, and in the process often engage in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These pervasive operations do not just pose a threat to the environment, but also a significant threat to national, regional, and global security. This report details those threats, which are the: 1 Threat to ecological security 2 Threat to economic security 3 Threat to food security 4 Threat to geopolitical stability 5 Threat of maritime piracy 6 Threat of transnational organized crime The perpetrators of IUU fishing are not just the local fisherman catching a bit more than his quota allows, but include a range of offenders: from foreign vessels fishing illegally in another nation's sovereign waters to criminal networks that participate in a variety of illicit activities, including trafficking in drugs, arms, and humans, as well as utilizing shell companies to launder money and slaves to carry out their operations. For these reasons and many others explored within this report, IUU fishing poses a risk to national security and addressing it will require more effort and focus than can be addressed by the conservation community and natural resource management agencies alone. These threats necessitate countries across the world, and particularly the United States, to develop a whole-of-government strategy to combat IUU fishing. This integrated approach involves tapping into the expertise of agencies across government, including those with knowledge spanning from natural resource management, development, trade and finance, to intelligence gathering and law enforcement, as well as the wide community of stakeholders interested in combating IUU fishing. Casting a Wider Net: The Security Implications of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, argues that IUU fishing is a threat to national security due to its multivariate impacts on individuals, communities, economies, institutions, and governments. It sets out a series of recommendations that articulate a whole-of-government strategy that the U.S. government and other foreign partners can utilize to curb the impacts of IUU fishing, which are to: - Create a whole-of-government approach - Increase engagement of Combatant Commands (COCOMS) - Expand shiprider agreements between the U.S. and foreign countries - Encourage countries to ratify, implement, and enforce the Port State Measures Agreement - Dedicate resources to increase monitoring and enforcement capacities - Advocate for comprehensive foreign domestic fisheries regulations and catch reporting requirements - Encourage greater transparency of the fishing industry Details: Washington, DC: Stimson Center, 2018. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2018 at: https://www.stimson.org/sites/default/files/file-attachments/Casting%20a%20Wider%20Net%20Report.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.stimson.org/sites/default/files/file-attachments/Casting%20a%20Wider%20Net%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 150135 Keywords: Fishing IndustryIllegal FishingMaritime Crime Offenses Against the Environment Unregulated FishingWildlife Crime |
Author: Smirnov, Denis Title: Assessment of Scope of Illegal Logging in Laos and Associated Trans-Boundary Timber Trade Summary: Main findings - The Government of Laos lacks reliable information on issued logging licenses (quotas), the officially registered volume of timber harvested, and export of wooden products. For example, Lao wood exports to China and Vietnam from 2012-2014 as reported by importing countries exceeded total annual logging quotas many-fold and officially registered volume of timber by an order of magnitude. The total value of Lao wood products as reported by importing countries exceeds the value of exported wood products by analysis of data from Lao state customs statistics many-fold, and a disparity between these two data sets increases further. In 2013 the official export value was only 8% of the total value of Lao timber imported as reported by destination countries. - According to the data from importing countries the export value of Lao wood products has been growing exponentially from the end of 2000s. From 2009 to 2014 it increased more than 8 times (by 70% between 2013 and 2014) and reached US$1.7 billion. In 2014, China and Vietnam were responsible for 96% of Lao wood export in value terms (63 and 33%, respectively). Moreover export to China increased by 140% on 2013 levels. This growth in value of Lao timber exports to China and Vietnam is caused by a simultaneous increase in exported timber volume and increase in the value of exported product units due to the greater proportion of valuable tree species in Lao exports. - The ban on export of logs and sawn timber imposed by the Government of Laos from 1999- 2002 with the aim to encourage development of deep processing of timber in the country is either not enforced or circumvented due to numerous permissions issued in "exceptional cases". The share of unprocessed and sawn wood in total exports from Laos in monetary terms almost always exceeded 90% in a period between 2000 and 2014, hitting 95% in 2011-2013 and nearly 98% in 2014. From the mid-2000s the share of logs in exports has been increasing steadily and reached 56% in 2014 while in 2002 accounted for only 14% (furthermore export value of logs doubled in 2014 compared to 2013). - The comparison of official data on volumes of issued quotas and the officially registered volume of timber harvested in Laos' four southern provinces of Sekong, Saravan, Champassak and Attapeu ("CarBi monitoring area") in the 2011-2012 logging season, with data on export of wood products from this area, has found that >50% of timber products exported were from undocumented sources. In monetary equivalent the value of excessive timber could exceed the Lao budget income from timber sales planned for the 2013-2014 fiscal year threefold. - Not less than 50% (most likely more than 60%) of wood products exported in the 2010-2011 logging season from Sekong were from undocumented sources. - The sheer volume of undocumented timber involved suggests that its extraction and transportation was conducted by large companies who had been permitted to legally assemble and operate a very high number of heavy equipment inside the extraction areas and to and from the country's borders. Such large fleets of heavy equipment are usually only assembled to convert forest lands for plantations, roads, transmission lines, reservoirs, mining, or geologic prospecting. - Following the above assumption we found the timing of these huge volumes of undocumented timber to be following a dramatic increase in Chinese and Vietnamese investments in mining, agriculture, forestry and hydropower in Laos. The majority of the associated projects' concessions were located in forested areas and accordingly contemplates the possibility of logging quotas acquisition. - We investigated the above correlation by comparing logging quotas issued for land clearance of one mining and one road construction project in the provinces of Saravan and Sekong with actual timber extraction. Analysis of relevant official documents, field surveys of logging sites and log depots, and interpretation of high resolution satellite images have been applied. We found 100% of timber extracted under the road construction project and 99% of the timber from the mining project to be illegal. Legal violations included: a. Extraction outside of concession boundaries. In the case of mining 76% of detected new logging sites were located beyond the concession borders while in the case of road construction all logging was found beyond the zone allocated for construction (in one case 40 km away from the closest point of the road). b. Logging comes in the form of extraction of only the best quality trees of target species with the highest volume. Species composition and grades of actually harvested timber drastically differed from what was permitted under quotas. Accordingly composition and volume of harvested timber had nothing to do with the results of pre-felling survey. c. Pre-felling survey of timber designated for logging is either not carried out or done only technically (formally) for the sake of appearance. In the case of mining it was completed only for 40% of the concession already after the commencement of the logging and was not used practically. There is every indication that the pre-felling survey for the road construction concession was not undertaken on the ground and documents include fictitious data. d. There was extraction of species not permitted to be cut (including prohibited for logging) and export of species in which harvest was not documented (including rosewood species). e. Extraction of higher volumes than permitted. In the case of road construction, the volume of exported timber (as it was reported to Vietnamese customs) exceeded over the entire officially documented harvest more than threefold. f. There was underreporting of the quality of harvested timber by selling Lao authorities and undervaluation of timber by Lao timber exporter, supposedly in order to understate royalties and taxes to Lao state. In the road construction case, the average volume of logs as reported by the importer at Vietnamese customs was 1.7-2.6 times higher than in log lists and sale-purchase contracts for the same species in Laos. Prices of exported timber as reported by the importer to Vietnamese customs was 2.9-4.2 higher than contract prices indicated in documents by the Lao exporter for same species on the Lao side. - The findings of these case studies and observations of other logging quotas allow us to suggest that in reality the use of permits for harvesting "conversion" timber during realization of development projects de-facto became a way to legitimate large-scale high grading in all types of forests (including conservation and protection forests). - The discrepancy between officially registered supply of raw materials to wood processing factories and their processing capacity is striking and obvious. Official logging quotas in the provinces of Saravan and Sekong can only fill 25% of installed wood processing capacity at best. The remaining capacity is likely filled with illegal timber. - The activity of state forest inspection (and most likely other Lao state law enforcement agencies responsible for fighting illegal logging) does not have any significant impact on the dynamics and scope of illegal logging as they do not inspect logging operations under logging quotas for conversion timber (neither logging sites nor logging volumes) and further turnover of this timber (transportation, processing, export). In the four southern Laos provinces they confiscated only about 3-5% of the estimated illegal timber volume in 2011- 2012. But even this confiscated timber originated from small operations and the large-scale commercial operations by big companies remained untouched. - The high dependence of China and critical dependence of Vietnam on timber supply from Laos makes it is unlikely that the governments of these countries are ready to take steps to control import legality. It is evident that such actions would reduce dramatically the volume and quality of timber from Laos together with the profit of timber traders and wood processing companies which enjoy excess profits from purchasing raw material for underestimated prices. An indication is the elegant wording suggested by the Vietnamese government for its draft legality definition for its negotiations of a FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU. It does not require importers to provide assurance that imported timber was legally harvested in the country of harvest, but rather that it was legally imported to Vietnam according to Vietnamese laws. - The situation with timber harvesting in Laos is evolving under a worst-case scenario exactly opposite to what was envisaged by Forest Strategy to the Year 2020 of the Lao PDR (endorsed by Decree No. 229/PM on 9 of August 2005): transition to sourcing timber from plantations and production forests on the basis of scientifically estimated annual allowable cut, processing of almost all harvested timber at Lao factories to final and semi-final products. Contrary to the government's good intentions developments under the actual scenario will undoubtedly lead to the sheer depletion of commercial timber stocks in its natural forests - on the same path that Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia have already taken. - Were the Lao government serious to change the status quo and avoid a worst-case scenario it would have to take immediate actions to assure that logging quotas for conversion timber meet fundamental legal requirements. The efforts must be focused on most critical points where urgent interventions are required and progress can be measured: a) Allow logging only within authorized borders. b) Provide unambiguous maps with crystal clear borders of all concessions where timber harvesting is permitted. c) Demarcate all boundaries before the beginning of logging. d) Conduct rigorous pre-felling surveys. e) Create and make available for all interested parties a database with key information about all permitted logging before the beginning of logging. f) Make field control over logging operations under quotas for conversion timber a priority for forest inspection staff. g) Use high and very high resolution satellite images as additional independent sources of information. h) Establish an independent monitoring body comprising representatives of the relevant government agencies, CSOs and INGOs with unrestricted access to all logging areas. i) Operate all forest inspection check points 24/7 and inspect timber transports en route. Not only search and detain carriers of small shipments of valuable timber but systematically register all timber shipments with information on type of product, volume and species composition regardless of the availability of "legally issued permits". j) Register timber turnover at all key points of the chain to match raw wood input with product output. Investigate mismatches thoroughly. k) Maintain account of timber supply to log landings throughout the whole logging season and regularly check accuracy of log lists maintenance. l) Regularly inspect wood processing factories to verify stocks of wood products presented in the factory against raw wood supply from documented sources. Test conversion factor of raw material to processed wood. m) Completely forbid bartering logging permits for investment in public projects. Details: London: World Wildlife Fund, 2015. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2018 at: https://wildleaks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CarBi-assessment-of-scope2.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Laos URL: https://wildleaks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CarBi-assessment-of-scope2.pdf Shelf Number: 150346 Keywords: DeforestationEnvironmental CrimesForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: NEPCon Title: Timber Legality Risk Assessment: Laos Summary: This report contains an evaluation of the risk of illegality in Laos for five categories and 21 sub-categories of law. We found: - Specified risk for 16 sub-categories. - No legal requirements for 5 sub-categories. The Timber Risk Score for Laos is 0 out of 100. The key legality risks identified in this report concern legal rights to harvest, taxes and fees, timber harvesting activities, third parties rights and trade and transport. For Legal rights to harvest, the is a risk of: - Conflict over land tenure, and a lack of business registration specifically for plantations (Sub-category 1.1) - Forest concessions being granted in violation of regulations (1.2) - Annual Logging Quotas being based on inadequate inventories and requests from districts, prepared in the office without conducting actual field surveys, leading to approvals for logging not reflecting the resources available on the ground (1.3). - Corruption, lack of certification and stamping procedures for harvesting permits and other documents, resulting in harvesting outside areas approved by the government, clearance of greater areas than areas granted for projects, and permits issued despite lack of documentation (1.4). For Taxes and Fees, there is a risk of: - Inconsistent application of taxes and fees at the provincial level (1.5) - Risk of high corruption levels regarding payment of tax, the high amount of illegal logging indicates that issues might be present in relation to tax payment (1.5) - Risk that smallholders lack business registration, and don't pay taxes (1.5) For Timber Harvesting Activities, there is risk of: - Risk that the implementation of harvesting regulation is lacking, a logging plan is often seen as a quota giving the right to cut a certain volume, and harvesting practice driven by needs to supply the sawmills with their desired wood (1.8) - Risk of legal requirements covering protected tree species being ignored and protected species being harvested without authorization document (1.9) - Risk of non-compliance with health and safety rules, logging crews do not have safety equipment or protective gear, and live under very basic conditions (1.11) - Risk that workers do not have a contract or do not receive their salary (1.12) Third Parties' Rights: Regarding Customary rights (1.13) there is a risk of conflicts on tenure rights, the government maintains a highly centralized system of forest governance with inadequate recognition of customary tenure rights, communal lands are not compensated for when re-allocated to a company For Trade and Transport, there is a risk of: - A lack of, or falsification of the registration of harvested logs (1.16) - Risk of timber being transported without required documents (1.17) - Risk of violation of the ban on export of logs and timber (1.17) This Timber Legality Risk Assessment for Laos provides an analysis of the risk of sourcing timber from areas of illegal harvesting and transport. NEPCon has been working on risk assessments for timber legality, in partnership with a number of organizations, since 2007. Details: Copenhagen: NETCon, 2017. 143p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 24, 2018 at: https://www.nepcon.org/sites/default/files/library/2017-06/NEPCon-TIMBER-Laos-Risk-Assessment-EN-V1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Laos URL: https://www.nepcon.org/sites/default/files/library/2017-06/NEPCon-TIMBER-Laos-Risk-Assessment-EN-V1.pdf Shelf Number: 150354 Keywords: Environmental CrimesForestsIllegal LoggingNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentRisk Assessment |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Title: Serial Offender: Vietnam's continued imports of illegal Cambodian timber Summary: In Repeat Offender, EIA detailed how Vietnam's Gai Lai Provincial Government, mandated by Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade - a division of the Central Government in Hanoi - had in 2016 issued quotas for the import of 300,000m of logs from Cambodia in blatant disregard of Cambodia's log export ban. These quotas facilitated and incentivised large-scale illegal logging in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Cambodia's Ratanakiri Province at a time when the Cambodian Government was publicly demanding an end to all timber trade with Vietnam. EIA also exposed how the quotas themselves may have been incentivised with corrupt payments of $45 per m to Vietnamese officials, including, as alleged by traders, the Chairman of Gia Lai Province's People's Committee, customs and border army (military) personnel - potentially amounting to $13.5 million in corrupt payments on the 300,000m of quotas. Quotas in hand, Vietnamese companies and their Cambodian counterparts organised hundreds of loggers to enter protected areas in Cambodia and the forests swiftly filled with the noise of chainsaws. Having likely bought off Cambodian provincial government officials and members of the Cambodian Armed Forces, loggers enjoyed their protection as roads were closed to outsiders and timber convoys escorted by vehicles bearing Cambodian Armed Forces license plates. Hundreds of 'arevs' - basic trucks capable of carrying up to 20m of logs along jungle tracks - ferried illegally harvested logs to timber depots inside Vietnamese Border Army compounds located just inside Vietnam. These arevs avoided official border gates and Cambodian customs officials, crossing instead into areas controlled by the Vietnamese Border Army. At these depots, logs were measured, taxed, and 'legalised' into the Vietnamese economy by members of the Vietnamese customs and forest departments before being loaded onto large trucks and sent to factories and wood processing hubs in Gai Lai, Ho Chi Minh, Quy Nhon and beyond. Just three days after the publication of Repeat Offender, Vietnam initialled a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union, a trade agreement that includes the provision for Vietnam to pass and implement legislation to address its significant imports of illegally harvested or traded timber in return for timber exports to the EU being deemed to comply with the requirements of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). With the formal signing and ratification of this agreement expected in the second half of 2018, EIA returned to the region during the 2017-18 dry season to investigate whether the illegal trade in Cambodian timber - and Vietnam's role in it as a repeat offender - had ceased. This report details how investigators found that while the nature of the illicit trade had changed, there are still huge volumes of illegally logged and traded Cambodian timber flowing across the border to Vietnam, despite Vietnam's preparations for the VPA. Vietnamese importers declared imports of 178,000m of logs and sawn timber worth nearly $76 million between October 2017 and March 2018, a vast majority (if not all) of which is illegal. As detailed below, the actual volume of this trade may be significantly higher as there are reasons to believe not all imports are being registered with Vietnam Customs or being aggregated in its statistics. Details: London: EIA, 2018. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2018 at: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/eia-serial-offender-web.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Vietnam URL: Shelf Number: 150420 Keywords: Deforestation Environmental Crime Forests Illegal Logging Illegal Trade Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Dur, Robert Title: Salience of Law Enforcement: A Field Experiment Summary: We conduct a field experiment to examine whether the deterrent effect of law enforcement depends on the salience of law enforcement activity. Our focus is on illegal disposal of household garbage in residential areas. At a random subset of 56 locations in a mid-sized city, law enforcement officers supplemented their regular enforcement activities by the practice of putting brightly-colored warning labels on illegally disposed garbage bags. This treatment made the existing enforcement activities suddenly much more apparent to residents. We find evidence for a substantial reduction in illegal disposal of garbage in response to the treatment. Details: Bonn: Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), 2015. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 11644: Accessed July 18, 2018 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp11644.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Netherlands URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp11644.pdf Shelf Number: 150903 Keywords: Deterrence Environmental Crime Illegal Waste Law Enforcement Offenses Against the EnvironmentPolice Effectiveness |
Author: Independent Forest Monitoring Network (JPIK) Title: The Loss of Our Forest and Peatland: An investigation into forest and peatland conversion and illegal logging in Sebangau National Park Summary: Our latest joint report with the Independent Forest Monitoring Network in Indonesia (aka JPIK) reveals systematic and extensive encroachment into forests as well as illegal logging in Sebangau National Park. JPIK's repeated monitoring from the end of 2016 to early 2018 found forest and peatland have been converted and burnt to make way for oil palm plantations in Tangkiling and Marang, Bukit Batu sub-district in Palangkaraya municipality, one of the management units of Sebangau National Park. It further found illegal logging inside the park, with the timber allegedly used to supply local timber industries in Central Kalimantan. Satellite image analysis shows 19,000 hectares in Sebangau National Park were burnt in 2015, the same location where more than half of the hotspots in all national parks in Indonesia in the same year were found. The cause is believed to be land clearing for oil palm plantations and farmland. . Details: London: EIA, 2018. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 7, 2018 at: https://eia-international.org/report/lost-forest-peatland/ Year: 2018 Country: Indonesia URL: https://eia-international.org/report/lost-forest-peatland/ Shelf Number: 151426 Keywords: Environmental Crimes Forests Illegal Logging Illegal Trade Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Global Witness Title: A Major Liability: Illegal Logging in Papua New Guinea Threatens China's Timber Sector and Global Reputation Summary: In 2016, PNG provided 29% of China's tropical log imports, making it the country's single largest supplier. But our investigation reveals how a large number of logging operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) violate the law despite holding government-issued permits. China is the world's largest consumer and manufacturer of wood and wood products. Yet it has no regulation to keep illegal timber from entering its borders. The risk of illegal timber from countries like PNG flooding China's markets has the potential to damage its reputation and major trade relationships as buyers in the U.S. and EU, which ban illegal timber imports, take action to protect themselves. This trade has profound implications for PNG as well. 70% of the country is covered by forest ecosystems that are home to some of the world's rarest plants and animals. The forest is also central to the cultural traditions and livelihoods of PNG's eight million people. By continuing to import tropical timber from PNG on such a scale, China is driving the destruction of a vulnerable and ancient forest. In A Major Liability, we draw on satellite imagery to show hundreds of apparent violations of the country's Forestry Act in major logging operations - all of which hold government permits and all of which continue to export timber. Details: London: Global Witness, 2018. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 7, 2018 at https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/forests/major-liability-illegal-logging-papua-new-guinea-threatens-chinas-timber-sector-and-global-reputation/ Year: 2018 Country: Asia URL: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/forests/major-liability-illegal-logging-papua-new-guinea-threatens-chinas-timber-sector-and-global-reputation/ Shelf Number: 151431 Keywords: Deforestation Environmental CrimeForests Illegal LoggingIllegal Trade Natural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment Timber Industry |
Author: Serafini, Ludovica Title: The Urgency of a "Green Criminology": A Case Study of Air Pollution, Criminal Activity and Environmental Perception in the South Durban Basin (South Africa) Summary: Goal: With the hope of expanding the criminological horizons beyond the traditional notions of crime, this study investigates how air pollution is affecting people's behavior in the South Durban Industrial Basin (SDIB), South Africa. Through the development of a mixed-method design, the research's aims are: to estimate the possible correlation between air pollution and criminal behavior, and to analyze the social perceptions and attitudes toward the risks of living in a polluted area. Details: Bologna: University of Bologna, 2018. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed October 8, 2018 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323727165_The_Urgency_of_a_Green_Criminology_A_Case_Study_of_Air_Pollution_Criminal_Activity_and_Environmental_Perception_in_the_South_Durban_Basin_South_Africa Year: 2018 Country: South Africa URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323727165_The_Urgency_of_a_Green_Criminology_A_Case_Study_of_Air_Pollution_Criminal_Activity_and_Environmental_Perception_in_the_South_Durban_Basin_South_Africa Shelf Number: 153504 Keywords: Environmental CriminologyGreen CriminologyOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Environment Agency (United Kingdom) Title: Cracking Down on Waste Crime: Waste Crime Report 2011-2012 Summary: Serious waste crime is big business. The Environment Agency has made some real changes to how we tackle waste crime over the last few years. While there are still challenges ahead, the results of our work are starting to show. Being intelligence-led remains at the heart of our work to tackle serious and organised environmental crime, and to prevent the harm it can bring. In 2011-2012 we stopped 759 illegal waste sites, either by closing them down or helping them to move into legal compliance and get the right permit or exemption to operate. The number of successful prosecutions against illegal waste activity also rose to 335 last year. This included closing one of the highest risk illegal waste sites in south-east England, where a multiple offender received four years in prison for money laundering and waste offences. We believe that the custodial sentence imposed, and the fact he must now hand over nearly L1 million of profits he made from his illegal waste business, will send a strong message to illegal operators about the consequences of their crimes. December saw a week of dedicated action against metal theft. We supported the British Transport Police in targeting permitted waste sites to learn more about how and where stolen metal moves following its theft. We have also updated our procedures for granting and reviewing environmental permits so any permitted site handling stolen metal will be at risk of losing its permit. There is still a lot to do though. For every eight permitted sites, there is one illegal one. We are finding sites almost as fast as we stop them. Our new taskforce to tackle illegal waste sites, which we launched in December 2011, will help us break this cycle. We want to make sure more illegal waste sites are shut down quickly. But we can't do it on our own; many people have a role to play in helping tackle waste crime. We want to send a clear message to businesses, local authorities and householders: take responsibility for your waste and make sure that it doesn't end up in the hands of illegal operators. Rt Hon Lord Chris Smith of Finsbury Chairman Details: Bristol, UK: Environment Agency, 2012. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 20, 2019 at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140329083717/http://cdn.environment-agency.gov.uk/geho0712bwug-e-e.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140329083717/http://cdn.environment-agency.gov.uk/geho0712bwug-e-e.pdf Shelf Number: 154278 Keywords: Environmental CrimeIllegal Waste SitesMetal TheftOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized Environmental CrimeWaste Crime |
Author: Commission for Environmental Cooperation Title: Hazardous Trade? An Examination of US-generated Spent Lead-Acid Battery Exports and Secondary Lead Recycling in Canada, Mexico, and the United States Summary: The report analyzes the reported cross-border trade in lead-acid batteries and presents recommendations on how to better monitor their handling to the CEC Council, composed of Canada's Environment Minister, Mexico's Secretary of the Environment, and the US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. Spent lead-acid batteries (SLABs) from cars and trucks are one of the world's most-recycled consumer products because the lead they contain is valuable and can be processed for reuse. REPORT This independent report, written under the authority of NAAEC Article 13, was initiated in 2012 in response to concerns that a surge in spent lead-acid battery (SLAB) exports to Mexico in recent years was an effort to avoid the costs of stricter environmental and health protection laws prevalent in the United States. Lead is a persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substance and how lead-acid batteries are recycled is an important economic, public health and environmental issue. Findings include The regulatory frameworks covering secondary lead smelters in the United States, Canada and Mexico do not provide equivalent levels of environmental and health protection. Currently, the United States has the most stringent overall framework, while Mexico, with significant gaps in its existing regulatory framework, is the furthest from US standards in terms of certain emission controls and requirements. According to estimates, between 2004 and 2011, US net exports to Mexico increased by between 449 and 525 percent. A review of USEPA and US Census Bureau data indicated that 47,352,382 kg of SLABs were exported to Mexico in 2011 without applying the proper harmonized tariff code. Recommendations include -- The governments in Canada and Mexico should commit to achieving levels of environmental and health protections in the secondary lead industry that are functionally equivalent to those in the US. The US should require the use of manifests for each international shipment of SLABs, and require exporters to obtain a certificate of recovery from recycling facilities. Mexico needs to establish a comprehensive monitoring system to measure lead air emissions from every secondary lead smelter in operation in the country. Details: Montreal: Author, 2013. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2019 at: http://www3.cec.org/islandora/en/item/11220-hazardous-trade-examination-us-generated-spent-lead-acid-battery-exports-and Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www3.cec.org/islandora/en/item/11220-hazardous-trade-examination-us-generated-spent-lead-acid-battery-exports-and Shelf Number: 155466 Keywords: E-Waste Electronic Waste Environmental Crimes Hazardous Waste Offenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: European Environment Agency Title: Movements of Waste across the EU's Internal and External Borders Summary: Ever more waste is crossing EU borders - moving between Member States and to and from non-EU countries. Indeed, the growth in cross-border waste trade during recent years has been remarkable. Exports of waste iron and steel, and copper, aluminium and nickel from Member States doubled between 1999 and 2011, while waste precious metal exports increased by a factor of three and waste plastics by a factor of five. Similarly, exports of hazardous waste more than doubled in the period 2000-2009. Change at this scale potentially brings significant environmental, social and economic opportunities. Where waste moves across borders it can enable access to recycling or disposal options that are unavailable or more costly in the source country - meaning lower environmental and financial costs for waste management. Equally, trade can increase the opportunities to use waste as a valuable input to production, avoiding the need to draw on virgin resources and thereby enhancing the resource‑efficiency of the economy as a whole. At the same time, of course, moving waste across borders clearly involves costs and risks. Transport itself has environmental impacts, including those resulting from the energy used. Even more important, the destination country must be a willing recipient and equipped to handle the waste safely. Where waste travels across borders illegally the risks can be particularly severe. As the analysis reveals, the huge growth in transboundary waste movements has several causes. EU legislation has certainly played an important role. The introduction of the single market in the EU in 1993 facilitated transboundary movements of goods, including waste. More recently, renewable energy policies have boosted trade in some waste types, for example wood. At the same time, the EU has agreed increasingly stringent and harmonised waste management rules in the last 20-30 years, especially during the last decade. In many cases, these have required countries to find new approaches to waste management, for example diverting substantial amounts of waste from changes, they do necessitate different waste management infrastructure to that used previously; where a region or country lacks such infrastructure, exporting waste to countries equipped with the necessary treatment technology and capacity may represent the best solution for the time being. Global forces have also played an important role in boosting non-hazardous waste exports. Rapid economic growth in some countries has created enormous demand for raw materials, particularly in Asia, at the same time as boosting resource prices globally. As resources have become more costly, the incentive to recycle waste or recover energy via incineration has increased markedly in the EU and outside Europe. Details: Copenhagen: Author, 2012. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: EEA Report No. 7/2012: Accessed April 19, 2019 at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/movements-of-waste-EU-2012 Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/movements-of-waste-EU-2012 Shelf Number: 155468 Keywords: Environmental CrimeHazardous Waste ProductsOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: European Commission Title: Final Report: International Oceans Governance - Scientific Support Summary: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the associated targets for achieving them are tailored to create sustainable change in five important areas, namely; People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. The SDGs officially came into force on 1st January 2016 and, although not legally binding, over the next fifteen years governments are expected to take ownership and create the frameworks to facilitate their implementation and monitor progress as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Specific implementation and success on achieving the SDG Goals will rely on the country's own sustainable development policies, plans and organisations. It is recognised that creating concrete and workable plans at country level will be a challenge and is expected to be a greater challenge for developing countries. Each country will have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review, at the national, regional and global levels, with regard to the progress made in implementing the Goals and targets. The 2016 SDG progress report recognises these challenges, highlighting that "enhancing support to developing countries, in particular the Least Developed Countries and the Small Island Developing States, is fundamental to equitable progress for all". More recently, the high-level United Nations Oceans Conference (5-9 June, 2017) adopted a call for action and provided an opportunity for coastal States to build new partnerships and make voluntary commitments. In addition, the European Union (EU) hosted the 4th edition of the Our Ocean conference in Malta, 5-6 October. This event led to 437 tangible and measurable commitments with a value of EUR 7.2 billion in financial pledges and 2.5 million km2 of additional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Some of the challenges of implementing the SDGs relate to the need to improve data collection, integrate key aspects of the SDG vision into national plans, and develop robust frameworks for assessing and measuring progress. The latter has been the focus of a UN Inter-Agency Expert Group (IAEG) tasked with developing a global indicator framework for the post-2015 development agenda, and to support its implementation. It is envisaged that this framework will be complemented by regional and national indicators developed by the States. In line with the five important areas, SDG 14 recognises the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and of their resources for sustainable development, including through their contributions to poverty eradication (SDG 1), food security and creation of sustainable livelihoods and decent work (SDG 2), sustained economic growth (SDG ), while at the same time protecting biodiversity and the marine environment and addressing the impacts of climate change and sets targets that aim to promote sustainable use, inclusivity, resilience, and equitable distribution of benefits (SDG 12). In terms of providing support to the countries that might need it most, and specifically relating to SDG 14, a number of initiatives support the SDG agenda, including the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea and the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) Sustainable Ocean Initiative as well as a number of other initiatives under the Commonwealths' Enhancing Ocean Governance Goal and Fisheries Governance and Trade Programmes of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Develop Programme (CAADP). Details: Brussels, Belgium: European Commission, 2018. 264p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/a52a5f65-832b-11e8-ac6a-01aa75ed71a1/language-en Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.econbiz.de/Record/international-oceans-governance-scientific-support-final-report/10011885678 Shelf Number: 155477 Keywords: Environmental CriminologyGreen CriminologyMarine PollutionOceansOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Barreto, Paulo Title: Will Meat-Packing Plants Help Halt Deforestation in the Amazon? Summary: The meat-packing plants that purchase cattle in the Amazon have been pressured by environmental campaigns and lawsuits to fight the deforestation practiced by ranchers. The pressure to eliminate deforestation, legal or illegal, is growing, since this is the most polluting activity in the country if we consider gases emitted by burning forests that contribute to global warming. Some meat-packing companies have committed to buying only from ranches without deforestation occurring after 2009. Seven years after the first agreement, we went to the field to see if the meat-packing plants can in fact contribute towards eliminating deforestation in the region. Based on new data and revised studies, we demonstrate that the agreements have advanced, but many still need to be done in order for the sector to effectively contribute towards eliminating deforestation in the Amazon. In 2009, the Federal Public Prosecution Service (MPF) and the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) sued meat-packing plants in the state of Para that were buying from embargoed ranches due to illegal deforestation and the MPF also threatened to sue companies such as supermarkets and tanning factories that continued to buy from those meat-packing plants. In the same period, Greenpeace carried out a global campaign that alerted buyers of products from meat-packing plants that were associated with illegal deforestation. In order to free themselves from criminal charges and boycotts from part of the market, several meat-packing plants, including the four largest at the time, signed settlement agreements (Conduct Adjustment Terms - TAC) with the MPF and a public commitment with Greenpeace. The TAC is a legal commitment that, if not followed, authorizes the MPF to carry out sanctions without the need for court intervention. The meat-packing plants that signed the TAC committed themselves to buying only from ranches free of deforestation after 2009, off the list for work analogous to slavery of the Ministry of Labor, registered with the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR provides a map of the ranch and information on the holder of the property and serves as an identification card for the ranch) and that are not in Protected Areas. Later on, other meat-packing plants signed TAC in other Amazon states, creating the expectation that this type of agreement may be a promising instrument against deforestation. Below, we summarize the situation with the agreements, their advances and their challenges. Details: Belem, PA: Imazon; Cuiaba: Instituto Centro da Vida, 2017. 162p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2019 at: https://imazon.org.br/PDFimazon/Ingles/books/Meat-Plancking%20Deforestation.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Brazil URL: https://imazon.org.br/PDFimazon/Ingles/books/Meat-Plancking%20Deforestation.pdf Shelf Number: 155897 Keywords: Deforestation Environmental Criminology Forests Green Criminology Illegal Deforestation Meat-Packing Plants Natural Resources Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Blake, Vicktoria Marie Title: The E-Waste Management Behaviours of Household Consumers in Whangarei, New Zealand Summary: E-waste is known to have detrimental environmental, social and economic impacts, and its volume is growing up to three times faster than any other waste stream. Despite this growing problem, and the concurrent increase in detrimental impacts, New Zealand relies on voluntary schemes to manage the estimated 98,000 tonnes of e-waste generated in the country annually. While New Zealand could apply mandatory product stewardship of e-waste under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, a recent report argued that there was insufficient data available to meet the requirements to enforce the labelling of e-waste as a priority product. This research aimed to generate first-time data on Whangarei household e-waste options, knowledge and behaviours, to inform e-waste management policy, resources and services which could be specifically designed for the district, with the intention that it would work towards providing sufficient data to allow for the mandatory product stewardship of e-waste. Research was conducted by way of online survey which asked Whangarei District residents questions specifically relating to how their households managed e-waste, and what influenced these management decisions. The survey was informed by international literature on the subject, as well as a review local and central government policies, and of the e-waste management resources services available both in the Whangarei District and in New Zealand as a whole. The research found that in the Whangarei District, cost and lack of knowledge of the services available are barriers to engagement in e-waste recycling, similar to international findings. However, contrary to international literature, general recycling behaviours and sociodemographic factors did not significantly influence e-waste behaviours in the district. The research also found that only 1.8% of the estimated e-waste generated in the Whangarei District each year was being recycled through the municipal services available. This figure could be improved via mandatory product stewardship at best, or e-waste recycling goals being set by the district council enable steps towards better services, resources and infrastructure at the very least. Whangarei and New Zealand as a whole are a long way from the appropriate management of e-waste. It is hoped this research, coupled with other information already available in the field, will allow the planning stage to begin toward adaptation to appropriate e-waste management, encompassing the waste hierarchy principles, if not nationally, then at least in the Whangarei District. Details: Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University, 2018. 217p. Source: Internet Resource Thesis: Accessed May 23, 2019 at: https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/14248 Year: 2018 Country: New Zealand URL: https://mro.massey.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10179/14248/02_whole.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 156037 Keywords: E-Waste Electrical Waste Electronic Waste Environmental Crime New Zealand Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies Title: Collective Response to the Challenge of Marine Plastic Pollution Summary: Reducing plastic pollution in the oceans will be on the agenda of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan on 28 and 29 June. Attention to the challenge from the leaders of the world's major economies is timely and imperative because non-traditional security threats induced by plastic pollution like degradation of the marine ecosystem and contamination of the food chain are increasingly imminent. A crisis of plastic waste is unfolding in many parts of the world now. The Philippines recently shipped scores of containers of waste back to Canada. Malaysia is to send back thousands of tons of waste from around the world like Australia. Against this background, the Basel Convention was amended in May 2019, which requires more transparency and regulation in the global trade in plastic waste. Several East/Southeast Asian countries, like the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Japan, are important stakeholders for dealing with this challenge, as they are both major contributors to and victims of marine plastic pollution. They have strengthened efforts at the national level, like developing national action plans, specifying targets for reduction, and implementing new policies and regulations. Japan, for instance, adopted a new policy in May 2019 that aims to cut its flow of plastic waste into the ocean and to contribute to the global efforts as well. The aforementioned waste disputes have highlighted the loopholes in the existing cycle of reuse, reduce and recycle in many countries and the importance of a collaborative approach. Given that marine environmental pollution is borderless and developing countries in particular face mounting pressure for coping with plastic waste from domestic as well as foreign sources, international cooperation is crucial for an effective global solution to the problem. Japan's new policy package includes provision of technical and financial assistance for developing countries to tackle the challenge. This may indicate further support for Japan's existing cooperation with developing countries, like funding the proposed Knowledge Centre on ASEAN Marine Debris in Indonesia. The Asian Development Bank signed an agreement with Indonesia on collaboration in reducing marine plastic debris in early May, which includes technical assistance and knowledge sharing. International cooperation as such can enable better management of plastic waste in developing countries through supporting policy formulation and implementation, encouraging engagement of private sector and other social actors, and bridging partnerships between stakeholders. Given that marine plastic pollution will be discussed at the forthcoming G20 Summit, it is important that the needs and challenges of developing countries are given sufficient consideration in the discussion. Since Japan is the host and Indonesia, Singapore and China will attend the summit, East/Southeast Asian countries may take the opportunity to feature their perspectives in the global debate. Collaboration in financing and technological innovations should be emphasised as these two aspects are essential for better waste management and reduction in pollution in developing countries. Details: Singapore: S. Rajartnam School of International Studies, NTS (National Non-Traditional Security Studies) Bulletin, 2019. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2019 at: https://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/NTS-Bulletin-June-2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: International URL: https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/nts/nts-bullettin-june-2019/#.XRUJW-tKjcs Shelf Number: 156580 Keywords: Environmental CrimeMarine LitterOffenses Against the EnvironmentPlastic Pollution |