International Training Course on Environmental Crimes Organized by the I2LEC Initiative
The International Initiative of Law Enforcement for the Climate (I2LEC), in collaboration with EnviCrime Academy, Colombia, Ecuador, ESRI, and the Climate Crime Analysis Center (CCCA), hosted an online training course on environmental crimes via Zoom. This two-day workshop aimed to enhance the expertise of participants in investigating environmental crimes, focusing on illegal logging through real-life case studies from Ecuador and Colombia.
Part of a series of courses offered by I2LEC, this training addressed both foundational and advanced concepts related to environmental crime investigation. It emphasized the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, specifically ESRI technology, to support law enforcement efforts in detecting deforestation and improving responses to environmental violations.
Experts from the participating organizations led discussions on the first day, delving into illegal logging issues in South America. They examined the key drivers of deforestation, identified the most affected regions, and explored the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in tackling these issues.
On the second day, the focus shifted to the practical applications of GIS tools in combating illegal logging. Participants learned how to utilize GIS for real-time forest monitoring and detection of illegal activities. Presenters from CCCA discussed investigative techniques for illegal logging and highlighted the advantages of using ESRI tools to monitor forest loss in real time.