Lieselot Bisschop

Out of the woods: the illegal trade in tropical timber and a European trade hub

This article responds to the call for more empirical knowledge about transnational environmental crime by analysing the illegal trade in tropical timber. It aims to provide insights into the social organisation of the illegal transports of tropical timber within the local research setting of the port of Antwerp (Belgium) but meanwhile pays attention to elements throughout the flows from locations of origin over transit to destination. It is often difficult to determine which legal and illegal actors are involved in transnational environmental crime. This research sheds light on the legal–illegal interfaces in tropical timber flows connected to this European setting. The results show that the social organisation of transnational environmental crime is shaped by the global context of the places of origin, transit and destination, where it is continuously on a thin line between legal and illegal.

Environmental Victimisation and Conflict Resolution: A Case Study of e-Waste

Environmental crime and the victimisation it causes is a topic that has been neglected in both victimology and criminology for a long time. In the last decades, criminology has had an increasing focus on environmental crime (White, 2009). This fits within a broader critical development, which looks beyond crime towards legally ambiguous behaviours that cause social harm (Hillyard et al., 2004). The harmful effects of several transnational environmental crimes are the impacts on the quality of water, soil, and air, as well as on the survival of endangered species and on climate change (Walters, 2007; Stretesky and Lynch, 2009). Identifying the victims is not straightforward, because it requires thinking about both geographical and temporal dimensions of victimisation, evoking a more abstract and hidden victim (Goodey, 2005).

Waste pickers in the informal economy of the global south : included or excluded?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the role and practices of informal waste pickers and the implications for waste management policy in urban contexts of the Global South. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative case studies were used, including interviews, observations and document analyses. The authors compared informal waste management in two cities of the Global South: Accra (Ghana) and Porto Alegre (Brazil). Findings The analysis points out that informal waste pickers play a crucial role in the implementation of waste policies in both cities, despite differing economic, social and institutional contexts. The study of the waste management system also points to multiple connections between informal and formal parts of the economy. Although the informal waste pickers are integral to the waste management systems, their economically disadvantaged position excludes them from the formal labour market. Faced with these challenges, they develop creative solutions to guarantee their livelihood and gain more effective collective voice. Research limitations/implications The comparison of two case studies, conducted about the same social phenomenon in two different economic, institutional and social contexts, has limited generalisability but is theoretically and practically important. Practical implications The findings are relevant to policy-makers who deal with urban waste management and for organisations who develop support actions for informal workers. Originality/value The authors draw on a comparison of qualitative case studies to explore the multidimensionality of the waste picker’s phenomenon. This paper sparks discussion among scholars and experts who study the informal economy from different perspectives, in this case bridging insights from sociology and victimology.

Keeping the horn on the rhino: a Study of Balule Nature Reserve

Wildlife trafficking, as a form of transnational environmental crime, is a lucrative illicit endeavor that is rivaled only by trafficking in arms, humans, and drugs. The illegal trade in wildlife, timber, and fish is worth approximately 10–15 billion US dollars annually (Braun 2012). Poaching of animals is a threat to the livelihood of local communities, which depend on wildlife tourism. In 2012, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, labeled poaching a national security threat (rather than a mere conservation issue) and advocated for more law enforcement training and expertise to stem the surge of poaching (Braun 2012; Rhino Mercy 2013). Undercover investigations have shown that the proceeds of wildlife poaching are currently financing terrorist organizations (e.g., Lord’s Resistance Army, Al Shabaab, see Kalron and Crosta 2013; Christy and Stinton 2015). Calls for integrated anti-poaching and wildlife trafficking approaches have led to the emergence of multi-stakeholder initiatives and public–private partnerships (Johannesen and Skonhoft 2004; Poudyal et al. 2009; Hauck and Sweijd 1999). Despite these initiatives, the poaching of rhinos in South Africa continues unabated and is occurring through the use of increasingly sophisticated methods. In fact, poaching numbers have increased from a few per year to three a day.