Amazon Countries Launch Major Crackdown on Environmental Crime
In a coordinated effort, police forces from five Amazon countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru—have conducted a large-scale operation targeting environmental crimes in the Amazon rainforest. Operation Green Shield 2026, which took place from July 15-31, resulted in the arrest of 839 individuals and the seizure of significant quantities of illegally harvested timber, minerals, and wildlife. The operation, supported by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate, aimed to combat illegal activities such as mining, logging, and wildlife trafficking, which are major threats to the Amazon's biodiversity. 
