# The use of molecular genetics in environmental harm studies: eDNA as a method for ecological damage in the ecocriminological analysis

## TL;DR

This paper explores how environmental DNA (eDNA) can help detect and assess ecological damage, combining it with green criminology to promote ecological justice and restore ecosystems.

## Contribution

The paper introduces eDNA as a novel tool for assessing environmental harm from an ecocentric and criminological perspective.

## Key findings

- eDNA provides objective data on biodiversity loss and ecological damage caused by pollutants.
- eDNA complements traditional methods by detecting non-visible ecological changes.
- The integration of eDNA with green criminology supports preventive and restorative environmental interventions.

## Abstract

This research aims to explore the potential of molecular genetics in general, but in particular the use of environmental DNA (eDNA), as an innovative tool to complement the assessment and valuation of environmental harm from the perspective of green criminology or ecocriminology. In the face of the planetary crisis and the possible collapse of ecosystems, it proposes to overcome the limitations detected in traditional criminal law by adopting an ecocentric approach. This implies recognising the intrinsic value of nature and the need to commit to ecological justice. To this end, the use of eDNA makes it possible to visualise the biological and ecological transformations induced by pollutants, even when they are not visible to the naked eye. This provides objective, and even quantified, data on damage such as biodiversity loss, community alterations or possible genotoxic effects. It is presented as a complement to support preventive and restorative interventions in environmental crimes. Through dialogue between science, law and ethics, an integrated paradigm of environmental harm analysis is advocated, in which molecular genetics reinforces the ability to detect, understand and respond to ecological damage. The convergence between green criminology, eDNA and ecological justice allows us to refocus institutional responses towards restoring the integrity of ecosystems and defending the rights of nature.

This article explores how new scientific tools can help us detect and understand environmental damage more effectively. It focuses on a method called environmental DNA, or eDNA, which allows scientists to collect tiny genetic traces that animals and plants leave behind in water, soil, or air. By analyzing these traces, we can know what species are (or were) present in an ecosystem, even if they are no longer visible. This is very useful when trying to identify pollution or the disappearance of certain species due to human activity. The article also connects this scientific method with green criminology, which studies how human actions harm the environment—even when those actions are legal. It argues that we need to recognize nature as something that has value in itself, not just because it benefits humans. By combining science, law, and ethics, the study suggests new ways to identify who is responsible for ecological damage and how we can restore the natural balance and protect the rights of nature.