Selected research papers on Environmental crime

1. D.H. LIYANAGE
AR / 96082
AF / 18 / 14116
2ND YEAR
GROUP 07

2. Environmental crime consists of illegal activities that damage the
environment through the exploitation and/or destruction of natural
resources, water, air and land or damage to make material gains for
groups or individuals.
Illegal
logging
Land
pollution
Wildlife
crime
Water
pollution
Air
pollution

3. IMPORTANT FACTS
The UN General Assembly has recognized environmental crime as part of other transnational
organized crimes.
Abuse of the environment is the fourth largest criminal activity in the world.
A growing threat to peace, security and stability
Environmental crime is a national priority for 80 per cent of countries.
(The Strategic Report on Environment, Peace and Security titled ‘A Convergence of Threats’ of UN
Environment and INTERPOL)
Often perceived as a victimless crime

4. Environmental crime is characterised by its impact on the natural environment.
This impact manifests itself in;
 increasing levels of pollution
 a degradation of wildlife
 a reduction in biodiversity
 the disturbance of ecological balance.

5. 1) ON THE EXISTENCE AND SHAPE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME KUZNETS CURVE: A CASE STUDY OF
ITALIAN PROVINCES
2) ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION AREA (EPA) ADOLPHO DUCKE IN
THE CITY OF MANAUS
3) ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LAW NUMBER 32 YEAR 2009 CONCERNING
THE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT
4) DOES EDUCATION AFFECT ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME? A DYNAMIC PANEL DATA APPROACH AT
PROVINCIAL LEVEL IN ITALY
5) ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES: A FRAMEWORK FOR DETECTION, MONITORING, AND ENFORCEMENT IN
THE MALDIVES

6. RESEARCH PAPER - 01

7. On The Existence and Shape of an Environmental Crime Kuznets Curve: A
Case Study of Italian Provinces
AUTHORS :
Anna Rita Germania, Alan P. Kerb & Angelo Castaldo
ANALYSIS METHOD OF THE RESEARCH :
Quantitative method – Descriptive research
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH :
- to extend the literature in this vein by understanding the main determinants of environmental criminal activities
- Investigate the shape of an Environmental Crime Kuznets Curve while controlling for demographic, judicial, and
socio-economic heterogeneity
- Assist policymakers in disentangling the drivers of environmental crimes, thereby enhancing enforcement efforts
due to the recent law reform in Italy towards the strengthening of criminal enforcement in the environmental field
(Law 68/2015)
METHODOLOGY :
Using a unique panel-level dataset on environmental crimes at the provincial level in Italy from 2010 to 2015,
researchers had empirically investigated the existence and shape of an Environmental Crime Kuznets Curve over the
six-year period 2010 to 2015.

8. CONCLUSION/ RESULTS :
The analysis on the determinants of environmental crime yields new insights highlighting the existence of an inverted U-
shaped relationship between environmental crime and income.
Environmental crime increases with per capita income until it reaches a maximum, and then decreases as income keeps rising.
PLUS POINTS :
• Presented an assessment based on the existing literature
• Had identified the research gap [there is no economic empirical evidence on the relationship between economic
conditions and environmental crime]
• Calculated and built a model to represent the relationship between environmental crimes and income using fixed
effect panel models
• Also briefly explained the relationships between other socio-economic factors such as area, density, unemployment,
entrepreneurship and education
• Suggests their recommendations based on the research

9. RESEARCH PAPER - 02

10. Environmental Crimes in the Environmental Preservation Area (EPA)
Adolpho Ducke in the city of Manaus
AUTHORS :
Bruna Stefany Motta Costa, Andréia Vieira Lima, Naísa Lima de Souza Neta, Fabiana Rocha Pinto
ANALYSIS METHOD OF THE RESEARCH :
Quantitative method - descriptive and exploratory methods.
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH :
- to show through quantitative data the infractions that occurred in the years 2016 to 2019
- aims to analyse the records of environmental crimes carried out by IPAAM in the period from 2016 to 2019 around the
Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve in Manaus - AM, in order to verify the main causes of crimes and compare the advance on
the preservation area
SOURCES THAT HAD BEEN USED :
the files related to the notices of infringements - obtained through the Transparency Portal that is on the IPAAM
website

11. SOURCES THAT HAD BEEN USED :
The panel consists of annual data for the 110 Italian provinces
CONCLUSION :
- Though the environmental protection areas were created with the objective of total preservation of its
location, still occurrences were detected.
- Among the period analysed, the year 2016 was where the most occurrences recorded.
- Offences such as dumping solid waste and mineral extraction were recurrent in the years studied, showing
the difficulty in containing population occupation and fulfilling the function of safeguarding.
PLUS POINTS :
• Presented important recommendations
• the types of environmental violations that occurred in neighbourhoods that are in the vicinity of the APA are
identified and compared the data between years
• Used graphs for better data presentation

12. RESEARCH PAPER - 03

13. Environmental Crimes in the Perspective of the Law Number 32 Year 2009
Concerning the Protection and Management of the Living Environment
AUTHOR :
Syamsul Arifin
ASPECT OF THE STUDY :
Legal aspect
RESEARCH APPROACH :
normative and normative juridical empirical approach through statutory, conceptual and case study approach
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH :
Seek the root of problem of causation of environment problems through the discuss of environmental crime

14. METHODOLOGY :
- review the legislation consisting of primary and secondary legal materials that relate to the substance and
problems
- review views, opinions, doctrines that develop in the settlement of environmental crimes
- discuss cases relating to environmental crimes from the relevant agencies and analyse decisions that have
permanent legal force over environmental crimes.
CONCLUSION :
The Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 32 Year 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management
(UUPPLH) formulated the provisions which are intended to protect the environment as a whole or its parts
PLUS POINTS :
- Identified various definitions
- Identified the types of environmental crimes, related legislations of the country

15. RESEARCH PAPER - 04

16. Does Education Affect Environmental Crime? A Dynamic Panel Data
Approach at Provincial Level in Italy
AUTHORS :
Angelo Castaldo,
Anna Rita Germani
Antonio Pergolizzi
ANALYSIS METHOD OF THE RESEARCH :
Quantitative method
OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH :
Investigate the role of education on environmental crime in Italy, using a panel of 110 Italian provinces over the period
2010 to 2015.
METHODOLOGY :
A system-GMM dynamic panel data approach
SAMPLE :
Composed of annual data for the 110 Italian provinces (NUTS-3) over a six year period time (2010 to 2015).

17. CONCLUSION :
Education might be a prime driver of environmental crime and that there is support for a U-inverted shape in
such relationship.
PLUS POINTS :
Researchers had given their suggestions for policy makers
Reasoned the fact of using Italy as the sample of the research
CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS :
- Though the article stated that 8 environmentally harmful violations were reported were filed with IPAAM
between 2016 and 2019, only 5 categories were listed and graphed.
- A number of abbreviations had been used in the article and thus it is better if all abbreviations were put in a
chart for the easement.
- The article only includes graphs with total amount [ ex: number of complaints identified in 4 years, number of
offenses identified in the years from 2016-2019. It is better if researchers had provided some comparison
between statistics over years for the better understanding.
- Any recommendations were not provided

18. RESEARCH PAPER - 05

19. Environmental Crimes: A Framework for Detection, Monitoring, and
Enforcement in The Maldives
AUTHORS :
Ahmed Adham Abdulla & Erika J. Techera
ASPECT OF THE STUDY :
Legal aspect
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH :
explores the existing environmental laws, current challenges, and enhanced responses to suppress environmental
crimes in the Maldives
METHODOLOGY :
Secondary data
CONCLUSION :
The article has analysed existing legal measures and offered recommendations to improve the law to detect, monitor,
and punish such crimes.
The recommendations are designed to assist the country to comply with the obligations under applicable international
law and to enhance national legislation.

20. PLUS POINTS :
- Has identified main categories of environmental crime in Maldives and explained each crime to the depth
- Identification of further empirical research in this area
- Included researchers’ recommendations on legislation and proposed a legal framework
- Investigated international laws and regulations regarding the subject
- The first study focusing on environmental crimes in the Maldives
CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS :
• The research had identified main categories which can be seen in Maldives and elucidated each and every category by
defining the crime, importance of the legal act, current laws and regulation, the ways of criminal act can be done,
National statistics and the government’s view on current existing laws.
This is certainly helpful as it educates readers by giving a clear view on the current legislation of the country
• It is better if the researchers have provided some comparison with other countries which will allow to adopt their rules
and regulations into the proposed framework.

21. RESEARCH GAP
• Lack of researches on Sri Lankan context on the subject matter
A minimal attention was given to researches based on environmental crime
Due to cost, problems in enforcement and difficulty in prosecuting
• Researches on laws and regulations which were introduced in international conventions and how
their implementation affect the global environmental crime rate
Though some researches on environmental crime has briefly conversed on this topic, a vast investigative
researches can not be found
• Lack of Region – wise studies on Environmental crime

22. Intended Research Area
RESEARCH PROBLEM :
How much is the robustness of existing environmental laws and legal measures in Sri Lanka?
METHOD OF RESEARCH :
Quantitative method
ASPECT OF RESEARCH :
Legal aspect
METHODOLOGY :
- Explore the existing environmental laws, punishments and challenges which can be seen in the field of
environmental crime
- Compare the Sri Lankan legal measures with countries in the region
- Propose a framework to identify, monitor, and enforce environmental crimes in the country