Importance of deepening integration of crime and conservation sciences

Abstract

Conservation crime is a globally distributed societal problem. Conservation crime science, an emerging interdisciplinary field, has the potential to help address this problem. However, its utility depends on serious reflection on the transposition of crime science approaches to conservation contexts, which may differ in meaningful ways from traditional crime contexts. We considered the breadth of crime science approaches being used in conservation as well as the depth of crime science integration in conservation. We used the case of sea cucumber (Holothuria floridana, Isostichopus badionotus) trafficking in Mexico as an example of why the interdisciplinarity of crime and conservation sciences should be deepened and how integration can help ideate new solutions. We first conducted a review of literature to capture the range of interdisciplinarity applications. We identified 6 crime science approaches being applied to the conservation contexts of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; wildlife and plant crime; and illegal logging. We then compared this knowledge base to the case of illegal sea cucumber fishing in Mexico. We identified 5 challenges in the application of these approaches to conservation contexts: the relative diffusion of harms and victims in conservation crimes; scalar mismatches in crime, authority, and the conservation issue itself; interactions between legal and illegal networks; communities and their authority to define and control crime; and the role of natural science in the rule of law. Considering these 5 factors may enhance the depth of interdisciplinarity between crime and conservation sciences. Nurturing interdisciplinary crime and conservation science will expand innovation and help accelerate successful risk management programs and other policy agendas.

Sea cucumbers: an emerging system in evo-devo

“…Some sea cucumber species are also considered luxury food in Asia and commercial interest is expanding to species from the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean areas. The consequence of sea cucumbers' increased economic value has led to their illegal and unsustainable fishing to fulfill the market [ 20 , 59 ], but also prompted many detailed studies for their rearing in animal farms. In fact, although most studies are performed on the adults (including ecotoxicological assessments, isolation of bioactive compounds from adult tissues, exploration of their regeneration capacities, reviewed in [ 23 , 108 , 144 , 145 ], there is significant growing interest in dissecting the factors that regulate and/or influence sea cucumbers’ embryonic and larval development, for both aquaculture and basic research purposes.…”

Learning from perpetrator replacement to remove crime opportunities and prevent poaching of the Sundarbans tiger

“…Consequently, governments and conservation agencies have made significant investments in conservation law enforcement initiatives to ensure the protection of species (Fukushima et al., 2021). Although some of these initiatives appear effective, a better understanding of the nature and scope, the opportunities, and those involved can help design the most effective crime prevention measures (Cornish & Clarke, 2003; Kurland et al., 2017; Moreto & Pires, 2018; Warchol, 2017; Lemieux & Pickles, 2020; Gore & Bennett, 2022).…”

Advancing Applied Research in Conservation Criminology Through the Evaluation of Corruption Prevention, Enhancing Compliance, and Reducing Recidivism

“…We echo Gore and Bennett's (2021) call for an increased breadth in the number of crime theories being applied in conservation as well as an increased depth of synthesis between crime and conservation sciences in IWT research. However, research related to IWT and the resulting policy and enforcement responses are increasingly contentious with concerns related to the "militarization of conservation" (Duffy et al, 2019) and philosophical biases associated with the use of wildlife among the scientists conducting IWT research (Natusch et al, 2021) to name just a few.…”