This book provides an interdisciplinary exploration of the convergence between drug trafficking and environmental conservation within Protected Areas in Mexico. Bridging environmental studies, green criminology, and political geography, it examines how criminal groups exploit these territories for the production, processing, and transit of narcotics, posing significant challenges to public security, environmental conservation, and social justice. Through a critical analysis of geographical, social, cultural, environmental, economic and governmental factors, the book addresses the historical context of drug trafficking in Mexico, the impact of policies such as the Mexican War on Drugs, and the emergence of new illicit economic markets in protected areas. By incorporating testimonies from environmental inspectors, it highlights from a green criminological perspective, the complexities of managing environmental conservation in regions under the influence of organized crime. Drug Trafficking and Protected Areas in Mexico is a timely contribution that emphasizes the need for integrative approaches to understanding the nexus of public security and environmental protection. It challenges traditional disciplinary boundaries by foregrounding the intricate links between ecological sustainability, governance, and the socio-economic dynamics of organized crime.
