Spatio-temporal trends of environmental crime in South Africa

Environmental crime is becoming a significant developmental and regulatory challenge, especially in developing regions. The increasing prevalence of wildlife theft, land and atmospheric pollution, and illegal mining, among others, has severe impacts on the economic and the sustainability of social and environmental ecosystems. Against this backdrop, this study aimed to analyse the spatial and temporal dynamics of environmental crime in South Africa to inform preventative and remedial actions. We collected time-series data from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) on the occurrence of environmental crime, classified into brown, green, and blue types, from 2017 to 2019.