26 February 2025 – Representatives from forest and customs authorities, justice operators, and technology experts from Brazil and Peru strengthened joint actions aimed at enhancing the fight against illegal logging, timber trafficking and deforestation in the Amazon during their participation in the Regional Forum on Operational Cooperation for Cross-Border Coordination Against Forest Crimes Between Peru and Brazil. The event, held in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Brazil and Peru, in cooperation with Peru’s Forest and Wildlife Resources Oversight Agency (OSINFOR) and INTERPOL, in the framework of the Criminal Justice Responses to Forest Crime and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) to promote mechanisms to combat crimes that affect the environment.
During the forum, the importance of promoting the exchange of strategic and tactical information and strengthening coordination in border hotspot areas was highlighted between Brazil and Peru. Innovations on detection and investigation systems and information sharing methodologies for selective logging and early warning systems, applying satellite imagery, drones, and specialized algorithms were highlighted to ensure the traceability and legal origin of timber and alerting authorities in a timely manner. Additionally, the need to engage with neighbouring countries and strengthen cooperation on emerging crimes to achieve broader and more effective regional operational coordination was agreed upon.
During the forum, participants were able to learn and gather new information about the forestry monitoring and oversight methodology used by OSINFOR during a visit to a forestry concession near Puerto Maldonado. By applying drones, satellite imagery, and the illegal logging algorithm employed by OSINFOR, evidence of selective logging in the forest were identified and best practices were shared by both countries on the employment of advanced algorithms in the field. These tools enable the activation of protective measures and provide solid and timely evidence for justice operators to investigate and sanction illegal logging and timber trafficking. Prevention measures including the "Forestry Pack," a training tool for local communities aimed at preventing forest crimes and building knowledge, were also presented.
Giulia Donnici, Project Officer at UNODC Brazil working on the LEAP Project, commented that "crimes that affect the environment require a global and integrated response. The interconnection between criminal groups reinforces the need for international cooperation, information exchange, and united efforts. At UNODC, we believe that dialogue and collaboration between institutions are essential to protect natural resources and effectively combat environmental crimes, allowing us to address these common challenges in defense of the Amazon and threatened biomes."
Meanwhile, the head of OSINFOR, Williams Arellano, emphasized that "this type of forum and collaboration with UNODC allows us to share our methodologies and strengthen the fight against forest crimes in the Amazon. Technology and regional cooperation are key to tackling illegal logging."
The superintendent of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) in Rondônia, Brazil, César da Silva Guimarães, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration, stating that "operational cooperation and information exchange are essential to combat forest crimes." The coordinator of forest crimes at INTERPOL, Adrián Sánchez, emphasized that coordination between institutions is crucial to generating solid evidence and acting effectively against illegal logging.
The Forum concluded with the review of case studies and the commitment to carry out coordinated actions in the short and medium term. Joint field level actions and increased information exchange are being organized with the aim of dismantling criminal networks involved in illegal timber trafficking and deforestation. The conclusions and agreed-upon proposals will be shared with other regional entities and Amazonian countries to consolidate a common front for the protection and sustainable use of the Amazon.
The results of the joint work will be continued through ongoing coordination with UNODC and INTERPOL and future trilateral operational forums including authorities from Colombia, Brazil and Peru and other Amazon-range countries to address emerging tri-border hotspots and new technologies bringing together local level front-line authorities.
The Forum was made possible thanks to UNODC’s projects: Criminal Justice Responses to Forest Crime, with the generous support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); and LEAP in collaboration with INTERPOL, funded by Norway's International Climate and Forests Initiative (NICFI).
LEAP - Law Enforcement Assistance Programme to Reduce Tropical Deforestation is the result of a partnership between the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), the Container Control Programme (CCP), INTERPOL, the Global Programme against Money Laundering (GPML), and the Global Programme for Strengthening Capacities to Prevent and Combat Organized Crime and Serious Crimes (GPTOC). Currently, the project is in its second phase, aiming to share knowledge and build global networks to combat illegal deforestation and related crimes, assisting member states in law enforcement across key countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
