Integrating Environmental Forensics in Criminal Investigation: Needs and Methods

Environmental crimes are increasing day by day. There is a need to implement stringent measures to protect the environment. This paper addresses the approaches adopted by different international organizations in tackling environmental crimes, the increasing trend of environmental crimes in India, and the legal redress mechanisms followed in India against environmental wrongs. Our assessment of the global environmental crime scenario revealed that the convergence of environmental crimes with other types of crimes causes complexity in different stages of law enforcement. We recommend integrating environmental forensics into criminal investigation to address the issue and suggest ways to do so.