National Wildlife Legislation and Law Enforcement Policies

Abstract

This chapter examines aspects of national wildlife legislation from within a green criminological perspective, explaining how different models of wildlife legislation and enforcement exist. It includes discussion of national wildlife law’s basis as criminal law or civil law, and the nature of wildlife law sanctions. In considering the purpose of wildlife law this chapter also considers federal wildlife law enforcement, for example, the US and Canadian Fish and Wildlife Service approach of a specialist state wildlife enforcement agency, the NGO-led approach of the UK and the UK’s Wildlife Crime Officer network, and the role of CITES and other enforcement authorities. It also briefly discusses wildlife law enforcement through conservation legislation, national parks and wildlife services and conservation bodies, themes expanded upon in later chapters.