Attachments
2. FOREST AND MINERALS CRIME
Crimes that Affect the Environment take on many forms; just two of these are forest crimes and minerals crime, which in themselves have many forms. Forest crime includes but is not limited to illegal harvesting of non-timber forest products, arson, illegal deforestation and illegal logging. Minerals crime is equally varied ranging from illegal mining to soil pollution. Each of these forms of CAE are perpetrated by a diverse of array of actors that are different depending on the geography and the environmentally sensitive commodity that is being, in these instances, extracted. In these first studies, the aim is to provide the state of knowledge of the nature and scope of the CAE, and what is known about the actors, the modus operandi, the supply chains and their vulnerabilities, and the existing and potential responses.
2a - FOREST CRIME
Forest crime infiltrates legal processes and supply chains, making it tough to police - see what this and other SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST are in the Forest Crime study. It encompasses all types of serious offences along supply chains, from high-level corruption in land use decision making, to illegal deforestation and illegal timber trade, as well as cross-cutting issues like corruption and money laundering.
Part 2a – Forest Crime of the Global Analysis on Crimes that Affect the Environment focuses particularly on illegal deforestation and illegal logging. Both legal and illegal deforestation and forest degradation are driven by agriculture, other kinds of land use change, (il)legal mining, infrastructure, and, of course, the demand for timber. This study is an overview of how criminal actors are structured documenting involvement of organized criminal groups (traditional organized crime groups, politically motivated crime groups, criminal networks) compromised corporations (ranging from unintentional to intentional perpetration), corrupt officials, and individuals. Sections of the study summarize the evidence of how illegal deforestation and illegal logging are committed, including the role of fraud and corruption. The study also includes examination of the supply chain - harvesting, processing, transport, trade, and sales - to highlight where it is vulnerable to criminal activity. Policy implications are given as to further steps that could be taken to prevent and disrupt these particular forms of forest crimes.
2b - MINERALS CRIME
Complex global supply chains can create opportunities for minerals crime but also for law enforcement responses - see what this and other SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST are in the Minerals Crime study. This crime category includes a range of offences along supply chains, such as illegal mining and illegal trade in metals and minerals, as well as cross-cutting issues like corruption and money laundering.
Part 2b – Minerals Crime of the Global Analysis on Crimes that Affect the Environment focuses on illegal gold mining. Individual miners, organized crime groups (OCGs), traders and companies of varying size all help to shape illegal activities in the gold mining sector. Each entity brings its own risks and wider effects, ranging from forced labour and sexual exploitation to deepening corruption and armed conflict. This study is an overview of evidence of how these criminal actors are structured and how they perpetrate these crimes. Sections of the study summarize the evidence of how illegally mined gold makes its way from extraction to refining to manufacturing to sale, including the role of fraud and corruption. The study also includes examination of the lack of data and potential gaps in the legislation. These sections highlight vulnerabilities to criminal activity, but also places for improvement. The study concludes with what efforts have been made to strengthen supply chains and with policy implications for the prevention and disruption of illegal gold mining and minerals crime more broadly.