{"id":50388977,"date":"2024-02-08T18:01:06","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T18:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialogochino.net\/?p=388977"},"modified":"2024-04-11T15:09:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:09:34","slug":"388977-how-latin-america-is-using-the-law-to-fight-environmental-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/nature\/388977-how-latin-america-is-using-the-law-to-fight-environmental-crime\/","title":{"rendered":"How Latin America is using the law to fight environmental crime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Environmental crime is said to be the fourth<\/a> most lucrative criminal activity in the world. Data from Interpol shows<\/a> that its most common forms \u2013 illegal deforestation, mining, fishing and wildlife trading \u2013 have become a huge global financial engine, which was estimated in 2018 to generate US$110-281 billion in illicit revenue each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Countries such as France<\/a> and Belgium<\/a> have made great strides in creating legal frameworks to curb these low-risk, high-profit environmental crimes, while the global Nature Crime Alliance was launched last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latin America is particularly susceptible to crimes against nature because of its rich biodiversity and abundance of mineral resources. The region is now beginning to take important steps in disrupting the associated transnational criminal networks: Latin American governments are drafting laws that allow for harsher economic sanctions and even establish criminal liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress in the region<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, Latin American countries have implemented a number of strong environmental laws and policies. Several countries, such as Venezuela<\/a> and Brazil<\/a>, have established a range of targeted regulations in the past two decades. Bolivia granted<\/a> legal rights to nature in 2010, following the pioneering example of Ecuador in recognising<\/a> constitutional environmental rights in 2008. The latter added<\/a> specific environmental crimes to its penal code in 2020. In addition, about half<\/a> of the countries in the region have created specialised environmental units to improve enforcement in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this, most countries in Latin America still face difficulties in enforcing environmental laws and policies due to high levels of corruption, according to a report<\/a> by the Chr. Michelsen Institute for Science and Intellectual Freedom (CMI). The report explains that in countries such as Bolivia, Mexico and Honduras, for example, bribes from illegal timber traffickers to police are common. It warns such corruption can lead to \u201cselective or biased\u201d enforcement of environmental laws, such as targeting small-scale offenders rather than the most powerful. Political interference or suppression of judicial or police work are other risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where effective law enforcement is lacking, Latin American countries are seeking to change and strengthen environmental protection and its accompanying legal framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Daniel<\/div>
Daniel Barrag\u00e1n, Peru\u2019s former defence minister, surveys an area affected by forest fires in the Apur\u00edmac region in 2022 (Image: Minist\u00e9rio de Defensa del Per\u00fa<\/a> \/ Flickr<\/a>,\u00a0 CC BY<\/a>)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Uruguay<\/a> provides an example of this change happening. Environmental crime does not currently appear in its penal code, which is why penalties for illegal conduct in this area are limited to fines or administrative mechanisms, such as the decommissioning of businesses. But after years of discussion, in 2023 the Uruguayan senate finally approved a bill incorporating such crimes into the country\u2019s penal code. Currently pending approval in the lower chamber of the parliament, the bill criminalises air, water and soil pollution, contamination by toxic waste, and crimes against biodiversity and environmental management. Prospective prison sentences range from three months to 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to Gerardo Amarilla, the undersecretary of Uruguay\u2019s environment ministry, this bill will be a turning point for environmental defence: \u201cIn recent times, people have been asking us [to formalise] the concept of environmental crime, because it has to be a dissuasive or even punitive measure, in the case of very serious matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chile is another country updating its regulatory framework in the face of growing environmental crime, making significant progress. To provide a sufficient response to social and political demands, in mid-2023 the government approved a reform<\/a> of its penal code that includes environmental crime for the first time. It also widens the scope of criminal responsibility to include, for example, state companies, and has made elements of ecocide \u2013 any kind of activity that knowingly causes significant environmental harm<\/a> \u2013 a criminal offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Di\u00e1logo Chino spoke to Ezio Costa, executive director of the Chilean environmental justice NGO Fima<\/a>. Costa says \u201cthere is currently concern\u201d about the new law among many companies that are suddenly facing severe fines, but adds that such measures are necessary to enforce environmental compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While welcoming the reforms, Costa acknowledges prosecution of environmental crime is \u201cstill difficult\u201d for several reasons: it requires training of prosecutors who will specialise in these crimes; the presentation of evidence \u201cis always very complex in environmental matters\u201d; and the standard of proof in criminal trials is much more demanding, as fines under Chile\u2019s penal code tend to be more severe than those of administrative sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colombia<\/a> has also sought to change its environmental regulations, passing the Environmental Crimes Law in 2021<\/a>. In addition to criminalising deforestation, it also creates five other environmental crimes \u2013 including wildlife trafficking, illegal appropriation of wastelands and the financing of such activities \u2013 and applies stricter criminal penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2008, Peru<\/a> implemented a law that modified its penal code to punish crimes against the environment and natural resources with up to 10 years in prison. Similar debates are also taking place in Mexico, which is currently developing<\/a> its first protocol on environmental justice. In Brazil, President Lula\u2019s government aims to reverse the critical environmental situation in the Amazon rainforest through policies such as the PPCDAm<\/a>, an action plan to counter deforestation with powers including firm enforcement measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the regional level, the Amazonian governments \u2013 Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela \u2013 have highlighted the need for greater regulation of environmental crimes<\/a> at various international summits. The Amazon region is actively affected<\/a> by the illegal activities of transnational criminal organisations, including drug trafficking, logging, mining and cattle ranching in the rainforest. A report last year found<\/a> that crime groups are active in 70% of municipalities in the borderlands of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"group<\/div>
Brazilian authorities return a manatee to its natural habitat in Par\u00e1 state. The Amazon region is affected by various illegal activities, including wildlife trafficking. (Image: Vin\u00edcius Mendon\u00e7a<\/a> \/ Ibama<\/a>, CC BY-SA<\/a>)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

An outlier?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the countries in Latin America lagging furthest behind in terms of environmental regulations is Argentina. It currently has no specific legislation on environmental offences in the criminal sphere, and no courts to judge them. This is particularly relevant, for example, to Argentina\u2019s high levels of deforestation. In 2023, 126,000 hectares of land (approximately 176,470 football pitches) were cleared in the country\u2019s north, which is the most affected area according to a Greenpeace report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Argentina\u2019s penal code, sanctioned in 1921, makes no direct reference<\/a> to the environment. The code only punishes the degradation of nature through property law. For example, if a person causes a forest fire that damages property or causes deaths, they can receive up to 10 years<\/a> in prison. There is nothing in Argentine law that addresses ecosystem damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Facundo R\u00edos, a lawyer and professor of natural resources law and environmental protection at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina is a country of rhetoric rather than action when it comes to environmental law: \u201cThere are very good bills, several under discussion in Congress, but there is little political consensus for them to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Year after year, environmental crimes in Latin America \u2013 particularly illegal logging \u2013 represent a severe problem. As cited in the CMI study<\/a>, in 2017 it was estimated that 50-90% of the timber exported from Latin America had illegal origins. Furthermore, a 2020 report<\/a> by The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime established links between illegal logging in Mexico and international drug-trafficking groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Due to the region\u2019s rich biodiversity, wildlife crime \u2013 the illegal capture, trading, smuggling, poaching, or collecting of endangered species \u2013 is another major problem. Costa Rica, for example, recorded \u201cabout 354\u201d<\/a> confiscations of animals in the first six months of 2019. In the same year, 20 Latin American countries adopted<\/a> the Lima Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade and committed to measures aimed at curtailing wildlife crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The illegal dumping and transport of hazardous waste also plagues this part of the world \u2013 the CMI report describes<\/a> Latin America as a destination for toxic waste from developed countries. As for illegal mining, the Amazon is considered a hotspot: over 2,300<\/a> sites across six Amazonian countries were documented as of 2020. The CMI report warns<\/a> of a \u201cstrong link\u201d between illegal mining and organised crime groups in Latin America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While fresh environmental regulation is welcome news, the scale of the problems it must address suggests the region will face many challenges in implementing new legal frameworks. Enacting and prosecuting these laws will require, for example, securing adequate finances and navigating resistance from the business world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chile\u2019s Ezio Costa says there has been \u201ca certain resentment\u201d from some economic stakeholders as the country\u2019s legislative agenda progresses \u2013 they worry what it could mean for their activities. Similar reactions have emerged in Uruguay, says Marcelo Cousillas, who directs the environment ministry\u2019s legal department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undaunted, Cousillas says improving environmental regulations is increasingly essential for countries participating in the global economy: \u201cExporters and investors look for places that also offer environmental guarantees.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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