Environmental crime or wildlife crime are crimes which are destructive or extractive to nature
"Crime and punishment in the outback: A review of extractive and destructive green crime cases in Australia's criminal justice system."

" Illegal activities harming the environment and aimed at benefiting individuals or groups or companies from the exploitation of, damage to, trade or theft of natural resources, including, but not limited to serious crimes and transnational organized crime"

"In 2018 a farmhand in rural Victoria, Australia, was found guilty of the illegal killing of over 400 wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), a large and long-lived bird of prey which is protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 (Vic) "
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Onley, I. R., Alber, J., Smith, K. A. F., Toole, K., Chadwick, D. L., Williams, C., & Cassey, P. (2026). Crime and punishment in the outback: A review of extractive and destructive green crime cases in Australia's criminal justice system. Conservation Science and Practice, e70232. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70232

#Biodiversity #extractivism #CITES #monetisation #TakeCulture #WildlifeTrafficking #LandClearing #Fishing #WildlifeTrade #reptiles #WaterTheft #CriminalJusticeSystem #WEC #harm #exploitation #CompanionSpecies #GreenCrimes

Crime against wildlife is surging in Australia
Flogging off native animals and plants

" Around the world, wildlife and environmental crime is surging. It is estimated to be the fourth largest organised transnational crime sector, and to be growing at a rate two to three times faster than the global economy."

"This is a considerable problem, because Australia has unique and endemic wildlife species, high extinction rates, and is a country that is difficult to police due to its sheer size and vast remote areas. Our new, Australia-first study addresses this knowledge gap."

"We don’t understand the full extent and impact of these crimes in Australia, but we do know they can be disastrous. Wildlife trafficking and illegal trade erodes biodiversity through the removal of native species from their habitats. It also fuels the spread of invasive species, parasites and diseases."

"Over half of the environmental crimes (61.3%) occurred in outer regional and remote areas of Australia. "
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https://theconversation.com/crime-against-wildlife-is-surging-in-australia-these-4-reforms-can-help-tackle-it-273006
#Biodiversity #extractivism #CITES #monetisation #TakeCulture #WildlifeTrafficking #crime #loggingImpacts #deforestation #LandClearing #ecosystems #destruction #Trade #pets #consumption #NativeSpecies #flora #reptiles #birds #extinction #WEC #fishing #harm #exploitation

Water Extraction

"The Great Artesian Basin covers a fifth of Australia and contains water that has been there for millions of years. Now, decades of extraction are taking their toll and traditional owners are fighting a mining giant for compensation. But there are limits to what he can do, with BHP’s extraction out of his control."
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-23/water-is-under-pressure-in-the-great-artesian-basin/106002448
#water #OverExtraction #mining #irrigation #TakeCulture #limits #Ramsar #GroundwaterDependent #ecosystems #NSW #GAB #extractivism #IndigenousPeoples

Legal stoush between NSW and commonwealth halts crucial water flows into Murray-Darling

“This delay of critical water for the rivers is a result of a system that has been designed to prioritise irrigators over environmental water."
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/20/legal-stoush-between-nsw-and-commonwealth-halts-crucial-water-flows-into-murray-darling
#water #wetland #rivers #biodiversity #MDB #Ramsar #NSW #TakeCulture #FoamAndBlooms #extractivism

Australia’s Limestone Coast is drying up

"The once crystal-clear lake now often appears steel-grey or green, its water quality compromised by persistent algae blooms caused by excess nutrients in the water from agricultural runoff and wastewater. Waste from the lake’s thousands of visitors also built up, with some guests reporting seeing human faeces littering its perimeter before a portable toilet was installed in January."

“If we don’t do something about it in the next few years, it rests upon our soul. We really should have spoken up and influenced some people to care for it a bit better rather than just take, take, take.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/05/that-sinking-feeling-australias-limestone-coast-is-drying-up
#water #OverExtraction #irrigation #cattle #runoff #pollution #plantations #TakeCulture #SA #Ramsar #birds #biodiversity #EPBCAct

Floods are essential for wetlands

"The largest wetland on Australia’s second longest river, the Murrumbidgee in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, is drying up.The lack of floods has devastated the floodplain, causing black box and river red gum forests to die. Waterbird numbers also plummeted."
"Australia’s rivers are at risk, but it’s not too late to act. By reducing over-allocation and returning water to the environment we can protect threatened and endangered species, reduce the impacts of climate change, and honour the cultural heritage of First Nations Peoples."

https://theconversation.com/dams-have-taken-half-the-water-from-australias-second-biggest-river-and-climate-change-will-make-it-even-worse-242192
#rivers #MurrumbidgeeRiver #MDB #dams #TakeCulture #Biodiversity #birds #FirstNationsPeople #wetlands

Emptying the ocean

"Dozens of fisheries officers in New South Wales have been threatened with assault while on the job, protecting oceans, rivers and estuaries." The dangers for compliance officers when confronting fishermen.
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-29/fishery-officer-safety-police-poaching-organised-crime/104393474
#ocean #poaching #crime #violence #NSW #fishing #enforcement #TakeCulture #biodiversity #Abalone #GlenTurner #Law_enforcement #conservation

Hundreds rally against plan to establish more National Parks in Victoria

No SUVs, no dirt bikes, no hunting, no fishing, no prospecting fears - just biodiversity?

"Australians protest against plans to create more national parks in Victoria. They have gathered in Victoria's West Gippsland region to protest against a proposal to turn several state forests into a National Park.The proposal follows the closure of the logging industry and consultation into how that land should be used."
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-26/national-parks-state-forest-rally/103894648
#biodiversity #conservation #NationalParks #StateForests #Australia #Victoria #LoggingIndustry #TAKECulture