Adapting Place-Network Investigations to Address Conservation Crimes

• In Event: Lightning Talk: Critical Criminology, Green Criminology, and the Law

Abstract

This study applied Place Network Investigations (PNI), an urban violence reduction strategy, to the context of conservation crime, specifically, wildlife poaching in Vietnam's Pù Mát National Park. Through participatory mapping in 2023, we identified spatial patterns of four crime-associated place types: crime sites, corruption spots, comfort spaces, and convergent settings. These locations varied in form and function, displaying spatial commonalities and distinctions between conservation and violent crime, reflecting the distinct social, environmental, and historical contexts of conservation crime. Analyses revealed overlooked spatial clusters beyond park boundaries, underscoring the value of looking beyond protected areas when designing interventions. Stakeholder feedback highlighted challenges in applying urban crime categories—such as comfort spaces—in rural settings with fluid privacy norms. To improve applicability, we proposed conceptual refinements, including subdividing place categories and adding a new element, connection routes, to capture spatial and virtual linkages. The adapted framework enhances the precision and utility of PNI in non-urban environments. Our approach broadened understanding of the poaching landscape, facilitated knowledge exchange, and offered theoretical advancements relevant to both conservation and traditional crime prevention. This study demonstrates the potential of adapting problem-oriented policing strategies for nature crime contexts, encouraging cross-sector collaboration and place-based interventions informed by local knowledge.

Authors

• Elle Jingjing Xu, University of Maryland, College Park

• Meredith Gore, University of Maryland, College Park