STATE OF THE RAINFOREST 2014
85
a conservative estimate is that militant and terrorist groups may
profit by USD 111–289 million annually.
69
Demand for charcoal is
expected to triple over the next decades. It is crucial to gain a better
understanding of the charcoal trade in order to establish control
and hinder armed groups profiting.
The global community has gained a better understanding of the
scale and nature of environmental crime over the past years. This
is evident through the decisions of international bodies such as
CITES, ECOSOC, the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly,
INTERPOL, and WCO.
70
There are several initiatives established to restrict the import of
illegal tropical wood. These include certification schemes, such
as the FSC, and voluntary trade agreements, including the Unites
States of America’s Lacey Act and the European Union’s FLEGT
programme. While these are important mechanisms for establishing
collaboration and joint interventions to counter import of illegal
timber, there is an urgent need to strengthen law enforcement
capacity, involving the entire enforcement chain from customs to
police up to the justice systems.
71
The International Consortium on
Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), which was established in 2010,
is such a body. It operates on a global scale, bringing together
CITES, INTERPOL, UNODC, The World Bank and WCO.
72
There are several positive examples of initiatives operating on a
national level that have been successful in reducing transnational
environmental crime. The Brazilian government has invested in a
broad enforcement effort to reduce illegal logging by targeting the
entire criminal chain. As a result, deforestation rates in the Brazilian
Amazon were at its lowest in 2012 since monitoring started in the
late 1980s.
73
In Tanzania, INTERPOL and UNODC have trained over
1000 rangers resulting in several arrests at the crime scene.
74
Another successful initiative has resulted in several prosecutions
for illegal logging in Indonesia. In 2012 UNDOC trained financial
investigative and anti-corruption agencies in anti-money laundering
measures. This resulted in The Financial Investigative Unit being able
to detect highly suspicious transactions that proved to be linked
to timber smuggling. The suspect was found guilty and sentenced
to eight years imprisonment on the back of evidence which proved
that USD 127 million had passed through his accounts.
75
In order to combat transnational environmental crime it is crucial to
invest in law enforcement efforts, environmental legislations, anti-
corruption initiatives, alternative livelihoods as well as consumer
awareness. While much has been accomplished in the past years,
forest crime will continue to exist unless the risk of being prosecuted
increases and opportunities to profit from it are reduced. A wide range
of stakeholders need to be involved. This includes environmental,
enforcement and development sectors, as well as stakeholders
involved in security and peacekeeping missions.
New and old trafficking routes
Drugs
Cyber crimes
Illegal
fishing
Illegal trafficking of
toxic wastes
Wildlife trafficking
200
50
100
30
23
12
20
Illegal logging and
trade
Annual revenue, higher estimates
Billion dollars
A growing sector
Illegal
trafficking of
light weapons
“Traditional” illegal trafficking.
Includes heroin, cocaine and
human beings
Main destination country
Main transit country
Country of origin of “traditional”
illegal trafficking
Main country or region of origin of
environmental-related illegal trafficking
Environment-related illegal trafficking.
Includes wood, wildlife, animal parts (i.e.ivory,
rhinocerous horns and fur) and wastes
Main illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing areas
Sources: UNODC Annual Reports 2010 e 2013; WWF-Australia;
Globaltimber.co.uk, Estimates of the percentage of “Illegal
Timber” in the imports of wood-based products from selected
countries, 2007; TRAFFIC; FAO; World Ocean Review Report
2013; Michigan State University, Human Trafficking Task Force;
Greenpeace, The Toxic Ship, 2010; National Geographic press
review.
Sources: TRAFFIC; FAO; UNODC;
Global Financial Integrity
