Illegal Trade In Forest Produce And Protected Species: A Green Collar Crime Perspective In India
- IJLLR Journal
- May 31
- 1 min read
Anindita Saha, Research Scholar, Faculty of Law, ICFAI University
Dr. Zigisha Pujari, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, ICFAI University
ABSTRACT
Illegal trade in forest products and protected species has emerged as one of the most organised forms of environmental criminality in India. Increasing incidents of timber smuggling, poaching, trafficking of wildlife parts, illegal extraction of medicinal plants and cross-border movement of endangered species demonstrate that environmental offences have evolved beyond ordinary forest violations and now resemble organised economic crimes. Such offences generate substantial illicit profits while simultaneously causing biodiversity loss, ecological degradation and weakening environmental governance. Within environmental criminology, these activities may be examined through the concept of Green Collar Crime, which refers to environmentally harmful acts committed for economic benefit against forests, biodiversity and ecological resources.
India possesses an extensive legal framework through the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Nevertheless, environmental offences continue due to fragmented enforcement mechanisms, inadequate data systems, low conviction rates, jurisdictional overlaps and transboundary trafficking networks. NCRB statistics indicate continuing environmental offences across India, while wildlife-related crimes remain inadequately reflected because many cases are investigated outside conventional policing mechanisms.
This article examines illegal trade in forest produce and protected species from the perspective of green criminology and environmental governance. The study analyses Indian legal provisions, NCRB trends, institutional responses, judicial developments and existing lacunae and argues for formal recognition of green collar crime within Indian environmental jurisprudence.
Keywords: Green Collar Crime; Forest Produce; Wildlife Trafficking; Environmental Crime; Biodiversity Protection; NCRB; Environmental Governance.
