CITIES AND REGIONS UNITED FOR BIODIVERSITY
Coalition Against Illicit Economies
Environmental crime is on the rise around the world, particularly in Africa, South America and Asia, where it has become one of the most profitable activities within local economies.
These crimes are particularly hard to prevent and control due to weak regulations, poor enforcement, limited technical capacity to monitor illegal activities and the complex networks behind these criminal enterprises. As a result, countries rich in natural resources are suffering increasingly severe economic, social and environmental damage.
In response to this growing threat and the serious consequences for ecosystems and communities, a new international cooperation strategy has been proposed to unite transnational efforts.
The Coalition Against Illegal Economies is an inter-institutional platform that brings together a diverse range of actors across countries and sectors. Its goal is to foster continuous learning and the exchange of knowledge, tools and best practices, with an innovative approach to tackling environmental crime.
At the heart of the Coalition are local mayors, as the leaders responsible for implementing policies tailored to their territories, mobilizing teams and coordinating resources.
They play a key role in facilitating dialogue with their counterparts and with national and international stakeholders. Mayors are on the front lines, seeing first-hand the devastating effects on nature and communities.
The Coalition recognizes the central role of mayors and their teams in fighting criminal economies and aims to support them more effectively by providing platforms to share experiences, address challenges and discuss lessons learned.
Beyond creating a network of solidarity, the Coalition will offer training and capacity-building programmes.
The Coalition was officially launched at the Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities held during the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, in October 2024.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime will serve as the Coalition’s technical secretariat, coordinating knowledge exchange, identifying priority training topics and strengthening governance across the network.
Member cities and regions
Cali, Colombia
Mayor: Alejandro Eder
Main environmental challenge: Pressure from illegal mining in buffer zones (forests/hills), urban waste management/illegal dumping, moderate risk of wildlife trafficking.
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Mayor: Aquiles Álvarez Henríquez
Main environmental challenge: Major challenge with trafficking/improper disposal of solid waste, clandestine dumps; risk scenario for illegal wildlife transit due to the port’s location.
Panama City, Panama
Mayor: Mayer Mizrachi Matalon
Main environmental challenge: High risk of wildlife trafficking due to its role as a logistics hub; also transit/entry of illegal waste through the port.
Limón,
Costa Rica
Mayor: Ana Matarrita McCalla
Main environmental challenge: Trafficking of coastal/marine species; arrival of marine debris and challenges in waste management along the Caribbean coast.
Cuenca,
Ecuador
Mayor: Cristian Zamora Matute
Main environmental challenge: Urban waste management; in rural areas of the province, mining pressure and dumping affecting moorlands and watersheds.
Mykolaiv,
Ukraine
Mayor: Oleksandr Syenkevych
Main environmental challenge: Pollution/waste from war infrastructure and industrial waste; species trafficking is less frequently cited, but waste management is critical.
Colón,
Panama
Mayor: Diógenes Galván
Main environmental challenge: High risk of waste and species trafficking due to its status as a port and free trade zone; port waste management as a key challenge.
Quibdó,
Colombia
Mayor: Rafael Andrés Bolaños Pino
Main environmental challenge: Illegal mining (gold, other minerals) severely impacts rivers and forests; trafficking of species also high due to biodiversity; in addition, waste and dumping in rural areas.
Belém,
Brazil
Mayor: Igor Normando
Main environmental challenge: Illegal mining (garimpo) in Amazonian rivers; trafficking of species due to proximity to the Amazon rainforest; transit of waste/port logistics effects as a factor.
Manta,
Ecuador
Mayor: Marciana Valdiviezo
Main environmental challenge: Trafficking of port waste; risk of illegal fishing/trafficking of marine species; urban and port waste management.
Valle del Cauca,
Colombia
Governor: Dilian Francisca Toro Torres
Main environmental challenge: Illegal mining in rural and border areas; waste management/final disposal; trafficking of species in areas of high biodiversity.
Buenaventura, Colombia
Mayor: Ligia del Carmen Córdoba Martínez
Main environmental challenge: Illegal mining financed by armed groups and criminal networks. These operations cause deforestation, sedimentation, and mercury pollution, seriously affecting water quality and coastal ecosystems.
Governance documents
Governance document
Work Plan -
Year 1
First Plenary Session - Meeting Minutes
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