Full Report
Bellingcat is looking for wildlife and environment related pitches grounded in open source methods and tools. What is open source? Open-source methods can include using satellite data to expose illicit mining or logging. Ship tracking data to follow fishing vessels, monitor oil spills, or detect waste dumping in the ocean. Social media analysis can help […] The post Pitch Wildlife and Environmental investigations to Bellingcat appeared first on bellingcat.
Analysis Summary
# Main Topic
The Bellingcat Environmental Investigations Team is soliciting pitches for wildlife and environment-related investigations that utilize open-source methods and tools, focusing on exposing environmental crimes and ecological destruction.
## Key Points
- The focus is strictly on investigations grounded in **open-source methods (OSINT)**.
- **Examples of applicable data/methods** include:
- Using satellite data to expose illicit mining or logging.
- Utilizing ship tracking data to monitor fishing vessels, oil spills, or detect ocean waste dumping.
- Employing social media analysis to geolocate videos and track usernames related to wildlife trafficking networks (e.g., pet trade, animal part trafficking, exploitation).
- Examining large public databases to expose greenwashing.
- Training AI models to detect illegal mines.
- Pitches must demonstrate **initial findings supporting a working hypothesis** and originality; loose ideas are insufficient.
- Investigations that meet Bellingcat's rigorous editorial standards (impartiality, transparency, accuracy) will be published, with payment offered.
- Collaboration with local newsrooms and larger media partnerships is welcomed, provided partners adhere to strict ethical standards (prohibiting hacking, lying, source payment, etc.).
## Threat Actors
- **Threat Actors:** Illicit miners, illegal loggers, illegal fishing operators, wildlife traffickers (involved in pet trade or trading animal parts), and entities engaged in environmental exploitation or greenwashing.
- **Motivations:** Financial gain from illegal resource extraction, trafficking, or deceptive practices.
## TTPs
- **OSINT Techniques Mentioned:**
- **Geospatial Analysis:** Use of satellite imagery and ship tracking data.
- **Social Media Analysis:** Geolocating media, tracking usernames.
- **Database Analysis:** Examining public datasets to uncover greenwashing.
- **Machine Learning:** Training AI models to detect illegal activities (e.g., illegal mines).
- **Associated Activities:** Illicit mining, illegal logging, illegal waste dumping, tracking wildlife trafficking networks, and exposing greenwashing.
## Affected Systems
- **Affected Assets (Indirectly):** The environment, wildlife populations, and public trust (through greenwashing).
- **Data Assets:** Publicly available satellite data, ship tracking databases, and established social media platforms.
## Mitigations (Investigative Reliance)
- **For Researchers/Reporters:** Strict adherence to internationally recognized investigative journalism standards (no hacking, source payment, misrepresentation).
- **For Content Vetting:** Drafting must meet Bellingcat's rigorous editorial standards, including significant revision for clarity and accuracy, alongside comprehensive fact-checking.
## Conclusion
Bellingcat is actively seeking rigorously researched, OSINT-driven investigative leads concerning wildlife crime and ecosystem destruction. Successful pitches must move beyond concept and include demonstrable initial evidence derived from public sources like satellite and maritime tracking data, along with social media exploitation to unmask environmental bad actors. Adherence to strict journalistic ethics is paramount for collaboration.