Crimes of deforestation
The phrase “organized crime” typically conjures up images of drug trafficking or stolen-car rings. But it turns out that
ecological crime is a new branch of global organized crime. The illegal logging trade in tropical rainforests is just as lucrative — and far more destructive. As a result of illegal logging, only 10% of the original primary forest cover remains todays precious resources like tropical rainforest.
Between 50 to 90 percent of forestry in tropical areas is now controlled by criminal groups, according to a new report (pdf) from the United Nations and Interpol as a result of deforestation – illegal logging – only 10% of the original primary forest cover remains today.
Because of this some commentators argue it is of vital importance that national and international laws are established to address this global crime. However, this remains a tremendous challenge for many countries to address the causes of illegal logging, the extent of deforestation and the solutions, both at a (trans)national level as well as on the level of local communities.
Leave a Reply