Why Blockchain Can Be an Effective Tool for Fighting Environmental Crime

May 10, 2018 | Samantha Radocchia
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The effects of environmental crime and illicit trade are vast and often irreversible. For illustration, look no further than the recent death of the last male northern white rhino, a species that was ruthlessly hunted to the brink of extinction in pursuit of its horn. The illegal trade in animal parts—rhino horn, ivory, pangolin, and many more—is still thriving in many parts of the world.

Individual species are not the only things suffering. Illegal logging and agricultural demands have led to massive deforestation and loss of habitat around the globe. In particular, the palm oil industry has devastated forests in the past through unscrupulous slash-and-burn techniques for clearing land. Such deforestation further accelerates the extinction of several endangered species.