Summary report, 16–17 November 2015

The Second International Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Conference took place from 16-17 November 2015 in Singapore. Convened by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the meeting was attended by more than 150 participants including national enforcement officials, government representatives, and representatives from non-governmental organizations, international organizations and civil society.

Over the course two days, participants discussed different forms of environmental crime, from wildlife and forestry to fisheries, intelligence gathering mechanisms and the role of networks. They also identified key outcomes of the discussions, such as the need for greater intelligence gathering mechanisms and strengthened interagency collaboration.

David Higgins, INTERPOL, concluded the Conference by underscoring the importance of improving synergies among different constituencies and networks in order to better address new and transnational threats.

This report summarizes the discussions that took place, and is organized according to the agenda.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES

Environmental crime typically refers to any breach of national or international environmental law or convention that exists to ensure the conservation and sustainability of the world’s environment. When environmental criminal activities involve movements across national boundaries or have international effects, they can be termed “international environmental crimes.” Five types of international environmental crime are currently considered to be of major importance: illegal trade in wildlife; illegal logging and its associated timber trade; illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; illegal trade in controlled chemicals (including ozone-depleting substances); and illegal disposal of hazardous waste. However, new types of environmental crime are emerging, for example in the carbon trade and water.

These international environmental criminal activities pose a threat to sustainable development and the effective implementation of, compliance with and enforcement of environmental law, including multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), whose enforcement and implementation they undermine. In addition to their environmental consequences, international environmental crimes may involve corruption, loss of tax revenue, parallel trading with other forms of criminal activity, and distortion of legal markets.

Because of their transnational nature, policymakers suggest that international environmental crimes need to be combated through internationally coordinated efforts. Law enforcement cooperation between authorities to combat these crimes faces obstacles because environmental crimes typically lack common understandings and approaches among states. Thus several intergovernmental organizations and bodies, including UNEP and INTERPOL, are engaged in efforts to improve coordination and cooperation to effectively combat international environmental crimes. This brief history outlines some of these activities and a number of relevant environmental agreements and commitments.

WILDLIFE CRIME

Illegal wildlife trade is increasing worldwide. A number of organizations and MEAs have taken steps to act on this growing threat through establishing working groups and committees to identify and discuss new strategies and practices. Many have also implemented compliance and enforcement mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of international environmental law aimed at dealing with wildlife crime.

FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE

Poor governance, corruption and illegal activity in the forest sector put forest-dependent populations at risk. The estimated value of illegal timber harvesting alone is valued at over US$10 billion. Often part of wider networks of corruption and environmental crime, illegal logging has also undermined efforts to halt deforestation and enhance carbon stocks to aid in climate change mitigation.

Although currently there is no global legally-binding agreement on forests, over the last ten years, a number of organizations, including the World Bank and the European Union (EU), have made significant efforts to support forest law enforcement and governance (FLEG). FLEG processes have provided a platform for stakeholders to engage in dialogue and reform. A number of projects providing technical assistance and promoting FLEG have been implemented globally, including in Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana and Liberia. These projects have helped to improve monitoring capabilities and foster consensus on, and political will to undertake, priority reforms.

ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing undermines continued efforts to conserve and protect fish stocks, negatively affecting coastal states, particularly developing coastal states. In response to this, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries, a subsidiary body of the FAO Council, in 2001 adopted an International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

ORGANIZATIONS AND MEAS INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME

CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) was adopted as a response to growing concerns that the over-exploitation of wildlife through international trade was contributing to the rapid decline of many species of plants and animals around the world. The Convention was signed by representatives from 80 countries in Washington, DC, on 3 March 1973, and entered into force on 1 July 1975. There are currently 178 parties to the Convention.

The aim of CITES is to ensure that international trade of wild animal and plant species does not threaten their survival. CITES parties regulate wildlife trade through controls and regulations on species listed in three appendices. Appendix I lists species endangered due to international trade, permitting such trade only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix-II species are those that may become endangered if their trade is not regulated, so controls are provided aimed at preventing unsustainable use, maintaining ecosystems and preventing species from entering Appendix I. Appendix-III species are those subject to domestic regulation by a party requesting the cooperation of other parties to control international trade in particular specie(s).

The CITES Standing Committee considers cases of non-compliance by parties and may decide to, inter alia: provide in-country assistance to the party in question; request special reporting by or issue a written caution to that party; recommend specific capacity-building actions to be undertaken; request a compliance action plan be submitted by the party; and send a public notification of compliance matters to the Secretariat. Should these not be adhered to, the SC may decide to suspend commerce or all trade in specimens of one or more CITES-listed species for that party.

CITES has also partnered with other organizations to address wildlife crime, for example with the Great Apes Survival Partnership where the organizations conducted technical missions to Southeast Asia regarding the illicit trade in orangutans.

INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM ON COMBATING WILDLIFE CRIME (ICCWC): The ICCWC was established in November 2009. It is a collaborative effort between specialized staff from INTERPOL, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Bank, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the CITES Secretariat. It aims to provide coordinated support to national law enforcement agencies and subregional and regional networks that act in defense of natural resources. Since its inception, it has, inter alia: hosted a workshop on establishing a network of controlled delivery units for forest and wildlife law enforcement in Shanghai, China, in December 2011; held a seminar on tiger crime for heads of police and Customs during February 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand; and published the ICCWC wildlife and forest crime analytic toolkit to assist countries to review current responses to environmental crimes.

In response to IUU fishing, in 2008 the EU adopted a regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing, which entered into force on 1 January 2010. The regulation ensures that only marine fisheries products validated as legal by the competent flag state or exporting state can be imported to or exported from the EU and that an IUU vessel list is issued regularly, based on IUU vessels identified by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations; and offers the possibility to blacklist states that “turn a blind eye” to illegal fishing activities. It also provides for substantial penalties for EU operators fishing illegally elsewhere in the world under any flag, proportionate to the economic value of their catch.

The UN Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks holds that States should cooperate to ensure conservation and promote the objective of the optimum utilization of fisheries resources, both within and beyond states’ exclusive economic zones. The Agreement attempts to achieve this objective by providing a framework for cooperation in the conservation and management of fisheries resources. It contributes to the management and conservation of fish stocks through, inter alia, strengthening the role of regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and ensuring effective mechanisms for compliance and enforcement of international conservation and management measures.

INTERPOL ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE: At the INTERPOL/UNEP International Chiefs of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Summit, held in March 2012, the decision was taken to restructure the INTERPOL Environmental Crime Committee to become the Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Committee (ECEC). The ECEC brings together executive leaders and decision makers from all 190 INTERPOL member countries to provide strategic advice on relevant issues and to harness global support. The first Executive Level ECEC Meeting was held from 7–8 November 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The work of the ECEC is supported by three working groups on wildlife crime, pollution crime and fisheries crime.

UN OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME (UNODC): UNODC was established in 1997 to assist member states in fighting illicit drugs, crime and terrorism. Through the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Convention against Corruption, provision has been made for international cooperation on criminal matters as well as specific cooperation to combat wildlife and forest crime. The Conventions also require parties to adopt appropriate measures aimed at promoting law enforcement cooperation.

A series of resolutions and meetings have strengthened UNODC’s role to combat wildlife and forest crime. It was also the lead organization in developing the Wildlife and Forest Crime Toolkit.

CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (CMS): The CMS was adopted in 1979 as a result of international concern over the threats to migratory species, including habitat shrinkage in breeding areas, excessive hunting along migration routes, and degradation of their feeding grounds. The Convention entered into force on 1 November 1983. Also known as the Bonn Convention, the CMS recognizes that states must protect migratory species that live within or pass through their national jurisdictions, and aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their ranges. The CMS currently has 116 parties.

The Convention was designed to allow for expansion and revision of commitments and to provide a framework through which parties may act to conserve migratory species and their habitat by: adopting strict protection measures for migratory species that have been characterized as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges (species listed in Appendix I of the Convention); concluding agreements for the conservation and management of migratory species that have an unfavorable conservation status or would benefit significantly from international cooperation (species listed in Appendix II); and joint research and monitoring activities. At present, over a hundred migratory species are listed in Appendix I. CMS also provides for the development of specialized regional agreements for Appendix II species. To date, seven agreements and 19 memoranda of understanding have been concluded.

UNEP: Through its Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC), UNEP’s work on transnational environmental crime focuses on providing leadership and working with partners to enhance the implementation of, compliance with and enforcement of environmental law at all levels. Among other things, this work aims toward: a better understanding of the global problems and existing gaps on transnational environmental crime; common approaches to more efficiently and effectively tackle transnational environmental crime from a legal standpoint; strengthening and reinforcing current international and national legal and institutional arrangements and law enforcement mechanisms to combat transnational environmental crime; strengthening and reinforcing national environmental laws to counter environmental crime; fostering and enhancing cross-border cooperation in the field of combating environmental crime; and strengthening and developing partnerships, coordination and cooperation between stakeholders. This work complements and builds upon existing partnerships and initiatives such as the Green Customs Initiative and DELC’s Capacity Building Programmes for the Judiciary.

FIRST INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE: The First International Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Conference took place on 6 November 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. Convened by INTERPOL and UNEP, the meeting addressed: recent trends in violations of international environmental law and the impacts of such violations on sustainable development and the implementation of internationally-agreed environmental goals; possible solutions to battle environmental crime; and the impact of new and existing tools in combating these violations. Outcomes of, and future action points for the Conference were also discussed.

REPORT OF THE MEETING

OPENING CEREMONY

On Monday, 16 November, Luke Bond, Team Leader in the Environment Security Sub-Directorate of INTERPOL’s Project Predator, opened the 2nd INTERPOL-UN Environment Programme (UNEP) International Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Conference, requesting participants to observe one minute of silence to show respect for the victims of terrorist attacks, which took place in Paris on 13 November 2015. He then invited participants to watch a short movie produced by INTERPOL on powerful images of environmental crimes.

Noburo Nakatani, Executive Director, Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI), INTERPOL, stressed the importance of the conference for reviewing progress since the last INTERPOL-UNEP meeting in 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. He emphasized the need for participants to establish a road map for the next two years in accordance with the recently adopted sustainable developed goals (SDGs). He urged focus on transboundary environmental crimes and stressed the role of digital technology to enforce existing legislation and foster international cooperation, innovation and integration of global technology to combat environmental crimes.

Kaveh Zahedi, Director, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, recalled the main goals of the event: construction of partnerships; awareness raising; and development of a global strategy prioritizing key actions to enhance environmental law compliance. He highlighted that environmental crimes represent a multibillion business reaching up to $70-100 billion dollars per year. He also underscored how illegal trade of wildlife and timber, for example, goes beyond environmental damage and, in fact, represents a loss for local communities. Noting key actions to combat illegality, he identified: strengthening of law enforcement; promotion of integrated cooperation on investigation; enabling civil society to expose environmental crimes; and enhancement of awareness raising regarding the massive health and environmental consequences related to environmental crimes. Zahedi concluded noting how such actions are crucial to secure peace and security for all.

Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, delivered the first keynote address, stressing that an increase in environmental crime must be recognized as driven by greed and organized by criminal syndicates exploiting enforcement weaknesses and poor local communities. She noted that, as demand for illegal wildlife products grows, so does the illegal trade, and emphasized the impact of poaching on vulnerable local communities.

Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia, highlighted that fisheries crime, including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a threat to a fisheries-based economy. She described her country’s fight to address it and underscored that fisheries crime is connected to wildlife and narcotics crimes, as fishing vessels are used to transport illegal wildlife products and narcotics. She called on countries to work together, since fisheries crime is “not only about fish,” and is a transnational challenge.

IMPLEMENTATION OF 2013 UNEP-INTERPOL ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE

On Monday, 16 November, David Jordan, Chair, INTERPOL ECEC Advisory Board, chaired the session reflecting on the work done by INTERPOL in the field of environmental crime, including the adoption of the outcome document at the 2013 UNEP-INTERPOL Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Conference.

David Higgins, Assistant Director, Environmental Security Sub-Directorate, INTERPOL, described the process leading up to the engagement by INTERPOL in the field of environmental law enforcement. He highlighted the large-scale projects launched, including Project Predator on Asian big cats, Project Wisdom on elephants, Project Lead on illegal logging, Project Scale on fisheries crime, and Project Eden on waste. Higgins emphasized the UN General Assembly resolutions adopted on the topic, including the 2014 resolution on environmental security, which lead to the establishment of Project Connexus, serving as an umbrella for different operations, including PAWS, on the Protection of Asian Wildlife Species. Finally, he stressed the importance of partnerships for successfully addressing wildlife crime.

Kaveh Zahedi recalled some of the key measures taken by UNEP since 2013, noting the continuous need to increase the political attention to environmental crimes. He emphasized the importance of keeping this discussion at the level of the UN General Assembly, noting existing resolutions that reinforce the links between more general organized crimes and illegal trade in wildlife; country efforts to harmonize national legislation at the global level; and synergies across multiple multilateral forums. He concluded by underlining UNEP’s efforts to enhance science-based policymaking; and improve capacity building of front line officers and global communication.

In the ensuing discussion, participants noted insufficient exchange of information among national officers and international organizations. Higgins replied by mentioning that communication problems remain a reality and that one challenge is to overcome governmental bureaucracies while communicating securely at the same time.

In summarizing the session, Jordan emphasized that corruption is a key obstacle to fighting environmental crime. He also underscored the separation between enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations and the need for greater engagement.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) AND EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT: BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS

On Monday, 16 November, Priyalal Kurukulasuriya, Director, Directorate of Research, Training and Information, Centre for Environmental Research, Training and Information, chaired the session focused on the links between the SDGs and environmental compliance and enforcement.  He noted that the SDGs are a means to bringing attention to environmental crime.

Tun Arifin bin Zakaria, Chief Justice, Malaysia, emphasized the scale of illegal wildlife trade and the role of the criminal justice system in addressing it. He noted that prevention, through market eradication, demand reduction strategies and public awareness campaigns, is critical to eradicating illegal wildlife trade.

Zakaria stressed that fines alone are not a sufficient deterrent against wildlife crime and that stronger measures, such as imprisonment, are needed.

Mary Melnyk, Environmental Security and Resilience Team, Leader, USAID, discussed the role of SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions in combating environmental crime. She described the role of USAID in aligning this goal with addressing environmental crime, such as through mapping community lands and rights and granting the recognition of these rights to communities, building the capacity in law enforcement and analysis, and supporting the establishment of wildlife enforcement networks.

Anga Timilsina, Programme Manager Global Anti-Corruption Initiative, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UN Development Programme (UNDP), focused on transparency and accountability to fight wildlife crime. He emphasized, inter alia, that corruption is one of the most critical factors enabling illegal wildlife trafficking. He emphasized that, because corruption is complex and involves a variety of actors, prevention is vital. In conclusion, he said that “corruption and impunity go hand in hand,” and described UNDP’s efforts on strengthening institutions; corruption risk analysis in supply chains; cross-sectoral cooperation; open-data exchange of information; and mutual legal assistance.

In summarizing the session, Kurukulasuriya noted that weak governance, legal frameworks and implementation mechanisms, as well as weak sanctions, undermine the ability to address environmental crime. He also called on strengthening collaboration between INTERPOL and UNEP and using the SDGs to maintain the political momentum to combat environmental crime.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON CLIMATE LEGISLATION: ENHANCING ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES

On Monday, 16 November, Maria Socorro Manguiat, Secretary to the Compliance Committee, Kyoto Protocol, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, chaired the session looking at crimes associated with climate change.

Gilbert Bankobeza, Chief, Legal Affairs and Compliance, Ozone Secretariat, UNEP, provided an overview of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Koh Joon Hong, Deputy Director of the Energy and Climate Policy Division, Ministry of Environment, Singapore, discussed the role of the industry sector and the need for capacity-building in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Benoit Godard, Head of Outreach, European Cybercrime Center, EUROPOL, described the role of the organization, a law enforcement agency, in addressing carbon trading and carbon credit fraud.

Chris Dijkens, European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), focused on air pollution crimes highlighting the roles of compliance and innovation for effective air pollution regulation. He underscored that one out of eight people dies from the effects of air pollution annually costing, only in Europe, around 50 billion euros per year given the lack of legislation implementation. He argued that, to support more efficient monitoring and enforcement actions, further understanding of the rational behind law infringement is required.

During discussions, panelists recalled the environmental law is a recent work field and therefore a work in progress, which requires further development of judge’s capacity building.

In summarizing the session, Manguiat noted the transboundary nature of climate crimes as well as their shadowy character. She also underscored the need for innovation in addressing such crimes.

VIBRANT NETWORKS AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

On Monday, 16 November, Grant Pink, University of New England, chaired the session on networks, noting that because they are used as the primary mechanism for building capacity, they need to be vibrant. He described three types of networks, in terms of aim—information, enforcement and harmonization—noting that most are hybrids of at least two types.

Frances Craigie, Environmental Management Inspector, Chief Director Enforcement, Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, noted that illegal wildlife crime is a barrier to achieving sustainable development and environmental sustainability. She underscored that illegal wildlife crime is not only an environmental issue but also a security one. She highlighted indicators of enforcement networks’ effectiveness, including increase in: specialized resources, arrests and convictions, detection and seizures, and prosecution of corrupt officials. Tony Circelli, Chair, Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators network (AELERT), described a network for environmental regulators across Australia and New Zealand, emphasizing that enforcement networks are cost effective mechanisms to assist relevant agencies.

Calum MacDonald, Executive Director, Chair of the Scottish Environmental Crime Task Force Scottish Environment Protection Agency, United Kingdom, focused on waste crime in Scotland. He stated that criminals are motivated by high profits and impunity and noted that waste crime has become an economic threat to Scotland. He added that waste crime costs around 500 million British Pounds per year to the country and underscored the role of three networks working on this issue: the National Environmental Security Task; the EU Life Smart Waste Project and IMPEL. He concluded urging partnerships to be action oriented.

The ensuing discussion highlighted the importance of committed individuals for sustaining networks and the need to harmonize local goals with international policy frameworks, as well as information exchange among them.

In summarizing the session, Pink highlighted the importance of partnerships and role of INTERPOL as an enabling platform for capacity building for creating and maintaining vibrant networks. In response to a participant’s comment, Jordan noted that INTERPOL should be a key partner in supporting networks, both enforcement and strategic.

WILDLIFE AND FORESTRY CRIME

On Tuesday, 17 November, Claudia McMurray, Senior Counsellor, Prince of Wales’ International Trust, chaired the session. She opened discussions highlighting the strong interlinkages between wildlife and forestry crime to broader networks of international offenses. She recalled historical initiatives to combat environmental crimes, such as the London Declaration on Illegal Wildlife, noting that political momentum must now be translated into “action on the ground.”

John Scanlon, Secretary General, CITES, put into perspective several actions that have been successfully combating poaching, highlighting in particular the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) and its Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit. He stressed that illegal environmental crimes must be addressed under the umbrella of corruption and transnational organized agendas within the UN. Scanlon called for greater attention to the improvement of national implementation of existing international efforts.

Azzedine Downes, Chief Executive Officer, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), highlighted its three-prong approach, stop the killing and the transit of illegal wildlife products and demand reduction. He highlighted the challenges in creating a mechanism for enabling intelligence sharing and described the tenBoma project in Kenya, a model project to develop a counter-wildlife crime intelligence fusion center.

Crawford Allan, Senior Programme Director, Wildlife Crime and Illegal Trade, TRAFFIC, discussed collaborative actions with the private sector. He emphasized the role of the transport industry and the USAID Routes project focused on collaborative actions along transportation and supply chains. He also noted the work on reducing demand for illegal wildlife online in China. Finally, Allan underscored the role of social media as potentially contributing to the demand for illegal wildlife products. Deborah Harris, Chief of the Environmental Crimes Section, Department of Justice, US, highlighted successes in addressing illegal wildlife trade, including a change in attitude. She provided an overview of US laws used to address illegal wildlife trade violations and successful efforts in stopping trafficking, such as through Operation Crash.

In the ensuing debate, questions focused on the risks of infrastructure growth enabling poaching and wildlife trafficking; institutional synergies; and demand reduction strategies. On enhancing institutional collaboration, Scanlon noted that CITES is in a unique position in which collaboration with multiple constituencies is crucial. He noted the engagement of the transport sector, which can help combat poaching. On demand reduction strategies, Downes noted growing private sector support through advertisement campaigns on the negative consequences of environmental crimes, but cautioned that law enforcement remains the most important action point. Allan highlighted the further need for greater collaboration between NGOs and INTERPOL, through institutional mechanisms for intelligence exchange in order to avoid duplication of efforts.

In summary, McMurray, underscored key lessons, including: the continuous need to improve commitments towards effective action on the ground; intensification of the use of existing tools; boost of the private sector participation, mainly the industries of banking, travel, tourism and transport; greater use of NGOs information; and interagency cooperation.

WASTE MANAGEMENT VULNERABILITIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTIONS

On Tuesday, 17 November, Lawrence Chidi Anukam, Director General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nigeria, chaired a session looking at the illegal trade and disposal of waste. He highlighted Nigeria’s experiences in monitoring transboundary movement of hazardous waste.

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, highlighted the work of the three Conventions in addressing illegal waste traffic, as well as the range of tools available to prevent it. General Donato Monaco, Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Italy, discussed waste management compliance and enforcement events in Italy. Highlighting that the environment is under serious threats of criminal transfer of waste, he emphasized the risks for food security and noted plans to expand technologies related to forest fire to identify sources of pollution and use of pesticides.

Brigadier Bassam Abidah, Director, Royal Department of Environmental Protection, Jordan, discussed Jordan’s experience in combating environmental crimes underscoring strategies to improve law enforcement through greater cooperation with environmental protection agencies. He highlighted the risks of illegal production of chemicals for public health and urged for better: education programs; capacity building; control of procedures and implementation of environmental law. On waste management, he exposed Jordan’s interest in increasing the budget for this agenda but lamented that the Syria crisis has undermined such effort. He added that the increase of refugees in the country also challenges proper environmental measures.

George Burgess, Head of Environmental Quality Division, Scottish Government, UK, discussed waste management vulnerabilities and law enforcement interventions. Steve Moore, Director of Operations, Environment Agency England, UK, noted that environmental crime and waste crime are the same and that a common intelligence system process is necessary.

In the ensuing discussion, participants highlighted the need for an effective transport system for hazardous waste.

FISHERIES CRIME

On Tuesday, 17 November, Tony Long, Director General, Ending Illegal fishing campaign, PEW Charitable Trusts, chaired the panel noting that about one in every five fish is caught illegally, which causes between $10-23 billion USD yearly in terms of revenue losses. He emphasized that patchy regulations remain one of the main causes for illegal fishing and that information sharing is fundamental to overcome this problem.

Susi Pudjiastuti presented on Indonesia’s actions to combat illegal fishing highlighting challenges related to illegitimate authorizations and low monitoring capacity. She reported on positive partnerships to improve intelligence sharing with Google, which make available to the public data on illegal vessels in Indonesia’s oceans helping the government to enforce existing legislation. Miguel Angel Navarro Portera, Ambassador of Spain to Singapore, described Spain’s experience in fighting IUU fishing. Randy Jenkins, Director, National Fisheries Intelligence Service, Conservation and Protection, Canada, highlighted Canada’s fisheries intelligence-led enforcement strategy. He noted that intelligence enriches information available and informs evidence-based decision-making.

In the ensuing discussion, a participant from Norway underscored the relatively new nature of fisheries crime. Portera highlighted the importance of cross-agency collaboration, with Pudjiastuti noting the need to streamline bureaucracy while receiving support from INTERPOL. She also noted the challenge that many vessels use flags of convenience complicating intelligence sharing.

In summary, Long highlighted the need for an integrative approach to addressing transboundary crimes. He noted also that, because resources are scarce, the only way is to invest more in intelligence. He also underscored key conditions for successfully combating criminal waste practices, notably: good governance (such as using a participatory approach and enhancing transparency); taxation and licenses control as effective way of enforcement; collaboration between private and public partnerships; timing information—which should build on feedback from databases—institutional strengthening; and improvement of public education and awareness. One participant raised the difficulties to respond to the requirement of multiple agencies and suggested that more coordination among international organizations could help countries to respond more effectively.

INVESTIGATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE

On Tuesday, 17 November, Chris Warrener, Federal Bureau of Investigation, chaired the panel stressing that organized crime became globalized and highlighting that the establishment of partnerships is vital for successful action against these organizations.

Maria Helena Fazenda, Internal Security System, Portugal, stressed the problems related to corruption, money laundering, financing of terrorism, and criminal networks. She said that investigation and intelligence must work  “hand in hand” to put into evidence causality relationships between regular and environmental crimes. She underlined the role of EUROPOL in assisting EU countries with intelligence capacity and emphasized that the circulation of information of illegal activities must occur in real time, especially in transit countries.

Hemant Malla, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Head of Crime Investigation Bureau, Nepal, described his agency and its various pillars, including the dedicated wildlife crimes pillar. He highlighted the impact of the agency’s work, including: decrease in poaching of rhino and tiger and increase in their numbers; breakdown of illegal wildlife trade networks; arrest of more than 300 poachers and traders; seizures; and a “zero poaching year” for the past three years.

Tilotama Varma, Additional Director, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, India, noted that most of the wildlife poached in India is traded in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar. She underscored the role of prevention, through patrolling, monitoring of ongoing investigations and collaboration with non-governmental organizations. Varma noted the role of analytical tools, including social media analytics and criminal profiling, in addressing illegal wildlife crime.

In the ensuing discussion, a participant emphasized the need to target consumers of wildlife trade products. Another asked about the need to understand what are the gaps in the enforcement of environmental crimes.

In summary, Warrener reported that, especially in intelligence, routine dialogues are required and highlighted that wildlife trafficking will not stop completely but could be reduced through multifaceted approaches to crime, notably with a focus on prevention.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

51st Session of the International Tropical Timber Council: The meeting of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) will consider recommendations for tropical forest-related policies and approve financing for field-level projects. The ITTC serves as the governing body for the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). dates: 16-21 November 2015 location: Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia   contact: Emmanuel Ze Meka email: itto@itto.int www: http://www.itto.int/workshop_detail/id=4240

UNFCCC COP 21: The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC is expected to take place in December 2015, in Paris, France. dates: 30 November - 11 December 2015 location: Paris, Ile-De-France, France contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228 815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email: secretariat@unfccc.int www: http://www.unfccc.int

CITES SC66: The CITES Standing Committee will convene for its sixty-sixth meeting. dates: 31 August - 4 September 2015 location: Geneva, Switzerland contact: CITES Secretariat phone: +41-22-917-81-39/40 fax: +41-22-797-34-17 email: info@cites.org www: http://www.cites.org/

Second Meeting of the UN Environment Assembly: The UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) will convene for the second time in 2016. The UNEA of the UNEP represents the highest level of governance of international environmental affairs in the UN system. The Rio+20 conference agreed in June 2012 to strengthen and upgrade UNEP through measures including universal membership of its Governing Council and ensuring the active participation of all relevant stakeholders. In March 2013, the UNGA changed the designation of the Governing Council of UNEP to become UNEA, reflecting the intention to elevate its status.  dates: 23-27 May 2016  location: Nairobi, Kenya  contact: Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies  email: jorge.laguna-celis@unep.org www: http://www.unep.org/about/sgb/

FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) 32nd Session: The 32nd session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries is scheduled to take place at FAO Headquarters in Rome in June 2016. dates: June, 2016 location: Rome, Italy www: http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/committee-fi/en/

CITES COP17: The Conference of the Parties on the Convention in Trade in Endangered Flora and Fauna will convene for its seventeenth session.  dates: to be determined  location: South Africa  contact: CITES Secretariat  phone: +41-22-917-81-39/40  fax: +41-22-797-34-17  email: info@cites.org www: http://www.cites.org/