Justice for Forests : Improving Criminal Justice Efforts to Combat Illegal Logging
Every two seconds, across the world, an area of forest the size of a football field is clear-cut by illegal loggers. In some countries, up to 90 percent of all the logging taking place is illegal. Estimates suggest that this criminal activity generates approximately US$10-15 billion annually worldwide funds that are unregulated, untaxed, and often remain in the hands of organized criminal gangs. Thus far, domestic and international efforts to curb forest crimes have focused on preventative actions, but they have had little or no significant impact. While prevention is an essential part of enforcement efforts to tackle illegal logging, it has not halted the rapid disappearance of the world's old-growth trees. New ideas and strategies are needed to preserve what is left of forests. This paper suggests that current practice be combined with a more targeted, punitive approach, through more effective use of the criminal justice system. It argues that the criminal justice system should form an integral part of any balanced and organized strategy for fighting forest crime. This strategy should include initiatives to enhance the efficiency of criminal justice in combating illegal logging that is, the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of cases, as well as the confiscation of the proceeds of criminal activity. These initiatives should be deployed in parallel with preventive programs, and the two approaches should complement and reinforce each other. The criminal justice system has been used in the fight against illegal logging, but only in very sporadic instances and in limited and ineffective ways. Moreover, in those few cases, it has tended to target low-level criminals whose involvement in illegal logging is due to poverty. As such, it has created no real deterrent and has encouraged skeptics to further discount the relevance of criminal justice methods. The objective of this paper is to inform policy makers and forestry and law enforcement actors how they can use the criminal justice system in fighting illegal logging. It seeks to mobilize them to take action and address the various criminal acts involved in illegal logging operations. The paper puts forward practical suggestions that can be implemented to achieve a tangible improvement in this fight. Rather than focusing on a single element of the criminal justice system, it provides a broad overview of the topic. Future papers may provide an opportunity to flesh out further detail.
| Summary: | Every two seconds, across the world, an
area of forest the size of a football field is clear-cut by
illegal loggers. In some countries, up to 90 percent of all
the logging taking place is illegal. Estimates suggest that
this criminal activity generates approximately US$10-15
billion annually worldwide funds that are unregulated,
untaxed, and often remain in the hands of organized criminal
gangs. Thus far, domestic and international efforts to curb
forest crimes have focused on preventative actions, but they
have had little or no significant impact. While prevention
is an essential part of enforcement efforts to tackle
illegal logging, it has not halted the rapid disappearance
of the world's old-growth trees. New ideas and
strategies are needed to preserve what is left of forests.
This paper suggests that current practice be combined with a
more targeted, punitive approach, through more effective use
of the criminal justice system. It argues that the criminal
justice system should form an integral part of any balanced
and organized strategy for fighting forest crime. This
strategy should include initiatives to enhance the
efficiency of criminal justice in combating illegal logging
that is, the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of
cases, as well as the confiscation of the proceeds of
criminal activity. These initiatives should be deployed in
parallel with preventive programs, and the two approaches
should complement and reinforce each other. The criminal
justice system has been used in the fight against illegal
logging, but only in very sporadic instances and in limited
and ineffective ways. Moreover, in those few cases, it has
tended to target low-level criminals whose involvement in
illegal logging is due to poverty. As such, it has created
no real deterrent and has encouraged skeptics to further
discount the relevance of criminal justice methods. The
objective of this paper is to inform policy makers and
forestry and law enforcement actors how they can use the
criminal justice system in fighting illegal logging. It
seeks to mobilize them to take action and address the
various criminal acts involved in illegal logging
operations. The paper puts forward practical suggestions
that can be implemented to achieve a tangible improvement in
this fight. Rather than focusing on a single element of the
criminal justice system, it provides a broad overview of the
topic. Future papers may provide an opportunity to flesh out
further detail. |
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