Deadline: January 10, 2025
Contact: Mohamed Mliless
Email: m.mliless@edu.umi.ac.ma

Introduction
We invite researchers, legal professionals, environmental experts, and multidisciplinary scholars to contribute papers for a forthcoming collaborative study on “Emerging Trends and Challenges in Environmental Law Enforcement”. This issue seeks to investigate the fast-changing landscape of environmental protection, the complex characteristics of environmental crimes, novel enforcement strategies, and cutting-edge techniques and instruments used to combat these offenses. The environmental concerns of the twenty-first century have grown more complex and pressing as we work through their intricacies. Threats such as resource
depletion, pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss are now realities that must be addressed quickly and effectively.
Project Aims
This project aims to bring together varied perspectives and cutting-edge chapters on the complex interplay of law, science, technology, and society in the field of environmental protection. Environmental crimes have evolved significantly in response to global developments, necessitating a multifaceted approach to combat them effectively. As climate change, technological advancements, and socioeconomic transformations reshape our world, so too do they influence the nature and scope of environmental offenses. In light of these changes, novel legal frameworks and enforcement techniques have emerged to address pressing concerns such as international environmental crimes, ecocide, and offenses committed in digital spaces. These innovative approaches are further bolstered by the integration of sophisticated technologies, with artificial intelligence, blockchain, and remote sensing playing pivotal roles in detecting, preventing, and prosecuting environmental isolations. Complementing these technological advancements is the growing involvement of
non-state actors in environmental protection efforts. NGOs, indigenous groups, and citizen scientists are increasingly contributing their unique perspectives and resources to environmental law enforcement and crime prevention, creating a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to safeguarding our planet.
The emergence of new enforcement strategies and technologies in environmental law enforcement raises important ethical implications and potential unintended consequences. For instance, while these innovations aim to improve efficiency, they may inadvertently lead to issues such as bias or the infringement of civil liberties. Concurrently, evaluating the effectiveness of international cooperation and global governance structures reveals that while they are essential in combating environmental crimes that transcend national boundaries, they often face challenges due to differing legal frameworks and enforcement capabilities. Recent global events, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, have further impacted environmental
crime patterns and enforcement capabilities, complicating existing efforts.
To address these challenges, it is crucial to propose novel theoretical frameworks or interdisciplinary approaches that can enhance our understanding of environmental law enforcement. Additionally, examining the intersection of environmental justice, human rights, and law enforcement practices across various cultural and geographical contexts provides valuable insights into how these issues manifest differently around the world. Finally, analyzing case studies that highlight both successful strategies and persistent challenges in environmental law enforcement can inform future practices and policies, ultimately leading to more effective and equitable outcomes.
In this regard, maintaining a sustainable future for future generations and protecting the planet’s ecosystems depend heavily on environmental law enforcement, with the contribution of specific case studies or regional examples that would align well with the goals of the project to enhance the practical appeal of the chapters. Such case studies could include the deepwater horizon oil spill, Amazon deforestation enforcement, countrys’ war on pollution, car industry emissions scandals, great barrier reef protection measures, plastic ban implementation, and
enforcement of indigenous land rights in pipeline projects.
By bringing together diverse scholarly perspectives, this project aims to contribute to the development of more effective, equitable, and innovative approaches to environmental protection. We encourage submissions that not only advance academic discourse but also offer practical insights for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and environmental practitioners working on the frontlines of environmental protection.
Your contributions will be crucial in shaping the future of environmental law enforcement research and practice, ultimately supporting global efforts to create a more sustainable and just world. We look forward to receiving your groundbreaking work and engaging in this vital academic dialogue.
Topics of Interest
This project seeks to keep a balance between theoretical foundations and practical applications in environmental law enforcement. While robust theoretical frameworks are essential for understanding the complexities of environmental challenges and legal mechanisms, the real-world impact of these laws is equally important.
Theoretical contributions might explore:

 The evolution of environmental law principles
 Philosophical underpinnings of sustainability and conservation
 Comparative analysis of legal frameworks across jurisdictions
 Emerging concepts in environmental justice and rights of nature
Practical contributions could focus on:

 Case studies of successful (or failed) enforcement efforts
 Innovative techniques in monitoring and compliance
 Challenges faced by enforcement agencies and how they’re overcome
 Economic and social impacts of environmental law implementation
Contributions may focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:
Environmental Protection in the Age of Climate Crisis

 Adaptive Legal Frameworks for Climate Action
 Global Environmental Governance
 Legal Aspects of Nature-Based Solutions
 Environmental Justice and Equity

Environmental Crimes: New Trends and Responses

 Transnational Environmental Crime and Organized Crime
 Ecocide: Legal Aspects and Global Impact
 Environmental Terrorism: Ecosystem and Community Effects
 Digital Platforms and Environmental Offenses
 Environmental Crimes in Conflict Zones
 Advanced Forensics for Environmental Crime
Emerging Trends and Challenges in Environmental Law Enforcement

 AI and Environmental Crime Prevention
 COVID-19’s Impact on Environmental Crime
 Climate Change as Crime Catalyst
 Enforcing Environmental Laws Beyond Borders
Innovative Investigative Techniques in Environmental Law Enforcement

 Geospatial Tech in Environmental Monitoring
 Mapping Environmental Crime Networks
 Drones and Autonomous Vehicles in Eco-Surveillance
 Citizen Science in Environmental Crime Detection
 Dark Web and Wildlife Trafficking
 Techniques of Enviroenmental Crime Scenes
Innovative Legal Approaches to Eco-Protection

 Rights of Nature: Enforcement Challenges
 Restorative Justice for Environmental Crimes
 Human Rights and Environmental Protection
 Green Criminology Frameworks
 Environment Personhood
Cross-cutting Themes

 Ethics in Environmental Law Enforcement
 Capacity Building for Environmental Enforcement
 NGOs Supporting Environmental Law Enforcement
 Comparative Environmental Enforcement Strategies
 Interdisciplinary Environmental Crime Prevention
Submission Guidelines
Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word format and should not exceed 7000 words, including references and appendices. All submissions must be accompanied by an abstract of no more than 300 words and a list of up to 5 keywords. References should be formatted according to the APA style guide. Authors are encouraged to include interdisciplinary perspectives and utilize mixed-method approaches where appropriate.
Important Dates
• Abstract / Proposal Submission deadline: January 10, 2025
• Notification of acceptance of abstracts and Proposals: January 15, 2025
• Submission of chapters: May 15, 2025
• Submission of the project to the publisher: September 30, 2025

Abstracts/Proposals should be submitted to these emails:
m.mliless@edu.umi.ac.ma
drmamdooh@outlook.com
hrgarcia@proton.me

Posted on December 3, 2024