Alliance Director joins IUCN Specialist Group on environmental crime

The Director of the Nature Crime Alliance has joined a new IUCN Specialist Group focused on implementing IUCN Resolution 8.048 on Crimes that Affect the Environment, which was adopted at the World Conservation Congress in October.

Dr Charles ‘Chip’ Barber, who serves as Director of Natural Resources Governance and Policy at World Resources Institute (WRI), which hosts the Alliance, has been invited to join the IUCN Specialist Group on Crimes Affecting the Environment, which functions under IUCN’s World Commission on Environmental Law.

Chaired by John Scanlon AO, Executive President, International Council of Environmental Law, with Ana Motamayor, Policy Advisor at the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, serving as Deputy Chair, the group brings together a wealth of expertise on environmental crime and conservation.

Other members include:

Alice Pasqualato, Global Policy Specialist – Wildlife Conservation Society
Brian Gonzales, Head of Protection of Endangered Species, WWF-Hong Kong
Greta Francesca Lori, Lead, Partnerships & Coalition Building, Daughters for Earth
Maud Lelievre, President, IUCN France National Committee 
Matthew Baird, Director, Asian Research Institute for Environmental Law
Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director, Wildlife Justice Commission
Rodrigo Herrera, Director, Fundación para el Desarrollo de la Conservación (Bolivia)
Scott Hajost, Senior Environmental and Wildlife Policy Advisor, National Whistleblower Center
Zara Bending, Expert – Jane Goodall Institute Global

Resolution 8.048 was adopted with strong support at last year’s Congress following fruitful coordination between the International Council on Environmental Law, WRI, and many IUCN member organisations, including members of the Nature Crime Alliance. 

Dr. Barber said: “Environmental crime fuels deforestation, drives biodiversity loss, and causes immense human suffering, stealing resources and revenue from communities and countries alike.

“I’m looking forward to working with leading experts in the Specialist Group to support the implementation of Resolution 8.048, which provides a mandate for IUCN to incorporate efforts to tackle these crimes within its workplan and encourages governments to address this issue at the national level.”

Parties interested in joining the Specialist Group can contact Ana Motamayor at ana.icelinternational@gmail.com