Handbook of Transnational Environmental Crime

Edited by Lorraine Elliott, Professor Emerita, Department of International Relations, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University and Past-Chair of the ACUNS Board of Directors and William H. Schaedla, Managing Director, Ecolloquium

Crimes associated with the illegal trade in wildlife, timber and fish stocks, pollutants and waste have become increasingly transnational, organized and serious. They warrant attention because of their environmental consequences, their human toll, their impacts on the rule of law and good governance, and their links with violence, corruption and a range of crossover crimes. This ground-breaking, multi-disciplinary Handbook brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine key sectors in transnational environmental crime and to explore its most significant conceptual, operational and enforcement challenges.

‘This Handbook makes a creative and considered contribution towards this important topic. It provides a well-balanced mix of chapters from scholars and practitioners on issues that we must better understand if we are to successfully tackle these serious transnational environmental crimes. I warmly congratulate the editors and authors for focusing on these critical and contemporary questions, including the criminal networks involved, the pervasive impact of corruption, criminal justice responses and exemplary collaborative initiatives, such as ICCWC. This timely publication will help to further shape our responses and assist us to better combat these highly destructive crimes.’
– John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General

‘This timely and very comprehensive book sheds light on the shadowy areas of environmental policy that we have neglected for too long: transnational environmental crime, ranging from illegal trade in timber and wildlife to criminal use of ozone-depleting substances, illegal fishing and novel “carbon crimes” around emissions trading. The Handbook of Transnational Environmental Crime, superbly edited by Elliott and Schaedla, combines insightful conceptual chapters with in-depth empirical research and practitioner contributions. The book is essential reading not only for scholars of environmental governance but also for criminologists, conservationists, regulators and other practitioners.’
– Frank Biermann, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

‘This extensive work beautifully covers all major transnational environmental crimes, and efforts to combat these crimes, from a broad perspective. It stands out for incorporating chapters written by leading green criminologists but also by policymakers and members of the enforcement community. It is truly a Handbook of great value to the increasing number of academics, practitioners and students who are interested in environmental crimes and green criminology.’
– Toine Spapens, Tilburg University, the Netherlands