Crime in the forestry sector: criminology principles

The scientific article is devoted to a comprehensive criminological study of illegal activities in the forestry sector, the scale of which is becoming critical in the context of the global ecological crisis. The relevance of the study is due to the processes of climate change, the disappearance of species diversity and the catastrophic consequences of the armed conflict in Ukraine for the natural environment. The authors emphasize the key role of forests in maintaining biospheric balance, and the illegal use of forest resources poses a danger to both the national interests of Ukraine and the survival of civilization. The impact of large-scale hostilities on the country’s forest resources is considered. The concept of forestry as a complex institutional system of social relations, including the exploitation, regeneration, protection and management of forest territories is argued. The functioning of the «forest cartel» is confirmed - a well-coordinated criminal network with numerous corruption mechanisms, support from government structures and foreign channels for the sale of illegal timber. The international scale of forest offenses implemented through combined schemes, where illegal logging is disguised as legal export agreements, is established. The transformation of forestry activities into a profitable business, which contradicts the environmental protection mission defined by forest legislation, is proven. The study reveals the systemic nature of forest crimes as an interdisciplinary phenomenon that combines economic, environmental and organized crime components with elements of political corruption. The critical need for strengthening transnational partnerships, transforming forest asset management mechanisms, eliminating corrupt practices and reorienting the forestry sector from commercial profit to environmental responsibility is emphasized. It is proposed to consider environmental challenges as a factor in the loss of sovereignty, which requires a global approach to solving the problem in the context of preserving the vital functions of the planetary ecosystem and protecting the rights of future generations to exist.