Exploring neglected places enabling conservation crime through place network investigations

Integrating local community knowledge can enhance understanding of conservation crimes when existing knowledge relies primarily on expert elicitation. We adapted place network investigations (PNI) to structure community and expert knowledge gathering about wildlife poaching around Pù Mát National Park, Vietnam. Using participatory mapping, we identified the distribution of PNI's four crime-associated place types: corruption spots, comfort spaces, convergence settings, and crime sites. We compared knowledge between conservation experts and local villagers, then explored spatial patterns of these locations. Analyses revealed previously neglected places extending beyond park boundaries. Communities contributed more extensive knowledge than experts, particularly regarding convergence settings and corruption spots. Three crime-associated place types showed positive spatial autocorrelation, with identified clusters indicating intervention priorities. This participatory approach facilitated stakeholder knowledge exchange and broadened understanding of poaching-associated spaces. Findings suggest theoretical advancements concerning spatial commonalities and distinctions between conservation and violent crime, offering a replicable model for conservation crime prevention.