Justice for Forests Improving Criminal Justice Efforts to Combat Illegal Logging

by Goncalves, Marilyne Pereira; Panjer, Melissa; Greenberg, Theodore S.; Magrath, William B.

• ISBN13: 9780821389782
• ISBN10: 0821389785
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-04
• Publisher: World Bank Publications

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% of all the logging taking place is illegal. Estimates suggest that this criminal activity generates approximately US $10-15 bn 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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. v
Acronyms and Abbreviations	p. vi
Executive Summary	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
Objectives	p. 3
Illegal Logging and the Criminal Justice System: An Overview	p. 5
The State of Play	p. 5
Illegal Logging: A Basic Typology	p. 10
The Criminal Justice System: Relevant Actors	p. 11
Using the Law to Better Combat Forest Crime	p. 15
Targeting the Full Range of Forest-Related Crime	p. 15
Tackling the Financial Dimension	p. 20
Making Effective Use of Law Enforcement Procedures	p. 23
Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement in Forest Law Enforcement	p. 26
Building Political Will	p. 26
Improving Domestic Cooperation	p. 30
Improving International Cooperation	p. 34
Mobilizing the Private Sector, NGOs, and the Public	p. 36
Conclusion	p. 39
Bibliography	p. 41
Boxes
Typical Failures of Criminal Justice	p. 9
Illegal Logging in Indonesia	p. 10
Classifying Criminal Conduct	p. 19
Benefits of Using Money Laundering and Confiscation Laws	p. 23
Funding Success	p. 29
Failure to Coordinate	p. 30
Prosecution of Illegal Logging in Virachey National Park, Cambodia	p. 31
Use of Task Forces	p. 33
Partnering with NGOs	p. 37
Maintain the Momentum to Combat Illegal Logging	p. 38
Figure
Flow of Illegally Harvested Logs	p. 18
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