Wildlife and Forest Crime

You are here : Home / What We Do / Wildlife & Forest Crime

Scene of Crime to court

Wildlife and forest crime generates billions of dollars in profits for criminals, and threatens the existence of many species of fauna and flora, making it one of the most important transnational organized crimes, which not only effects environmental aspects, but has also economic and social impacts for the countries affected by these crimes.

Transnational organized criminals are exploiting gaps in national legislation, law enforcement, border controls and the criminal justice system in general. All to often, when these criminals are caught, the punishment does not fit the crime.

As a response, UNODC’s Global Programme for Combatting Wildlife and Forest Crime began implementation in Eastern Africa in 2014 to support countries to enhance the criminal justice responses so that wildlife, forest, fisheries and related crimes are addressed as serious transnational organized crime.

UNODC’s holistic approach supports interventions from “scene of crime to court”, working with wildlife authorities and criminal justice practitioners to build capacity within the criminal justice chain, including wildlife rangers, law enforcement investigators, customs officials, prosecutors, financial analysts, judges and other practitioners.

UNODC develops tailored and specific technical assistance and advisory services to its counterparts, ensuring that the counterparts receive capacity-building activities needed in order to better prevent, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate wildlife and forest crimes.