A new report from the United Nations highlights the global cost of the illegal exploitation of natural resources and its role in preventing sustainable development for the world's poorest people.

Titled 'The Environmental Crime Crisis' the report estimates the illegal trade on natural resources is worth between US$70 and US$213 billion a year.

Illegal logging in Papua New Guinea and the SABL land grab are a part of this global phenomena. 

The illegal trade in natural resources is depriving developing economies of billions of dollars in lost revenues and lost development opportunities, while benefiting a relatively small criminal fraternity 

The report says the impacts of the illegal trade and environmental cram go well beyond just environmental impacts 

by seriously undermining economies and livelihoods, good governance, and the rule of law. Even the security and safety of countries and communities is affected:

But while the illegal trade and environmental crime are widely recognized as 'significant treats on a global scale' and need to be 'tackled with urgency', the report finds the response so far has been 'too modest and inadequate'.

You can download the report here - http://www.unep.org/unea/docs/RRAcrimecrisis.pdf - warning it is 13Mb!