The Landscape of Environmental Crime in the Philippines: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Keywords:
Environmental crime, Philippines, environmental law enforcement, illegal loggingAbstract
Environmental crime poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, natural resources, and sustainable development. In the Philippines, an archipelago renowned for its rich biodiversity but also highly vulnerable to environmental degradation, these illicit activities are rampant and multifaceted. This article presents a comprehensive literature review examining the various forms, drivers, impacts, and challenges associated with environmental crime across the Philippine islands. Drawing upon academic studies, government reports, and news archives, it synthesizes findings on illegal logging, mining, fishing, wildlife trade, and waste management violations. The review highlights critical issues such as weak law enforcement, socio-economic pressures, and insufficient public awareness as key perpetuating factors. By adopting an IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) framework, this study aims to consolidate existing knowledge, identify persistent gaps, and underscore the urgent need for integrated and robust interventions to safeguard the Philippines' ecological heritage and foster sustainable development.
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