PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Environmental crime has become one of the world’s most profitable organised criminal activities and has a significant impact not only on the environment, but on society and the economy in general (EU council conclusions on countering environmental crime, 8/12/2016). These crimes enjoy a high level of impunity, leading to very few convictions. This shows a lack of awareness among certain sectors of society towards their natural heritage and the importance of protecting it from illegal harm. This shortcoming can be solved by introducing measures to enforce environmental-legislation by improving legal, investigative and information-giving measures to raise awareness of these criminal actions and their impact.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Nature Guardians project’s main aim was to improve environmental conservation by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of actions against environmental crimes in Spain, Portugal and other EU countries. In particular, the project aimed to:
- Guarantee and strengthen the enforcement of criminal and environmental law as a means of environmental protection, increase the detection of criminal activities, bring more crimes to trial and improve determination of perpetrators’ liability;
- Improve the conservation status of the environment and in particular of EU species and habitats by reducing the criminally induced death rate, as well as adopting a suitable legislative framework;
- Boost the operational capability of agents and organisations in charge of preventing, investigating, prosecuting and dealing with environmental crime, by exchanging information and experiences and establishing best practices;
- Raise awareness of the importance of preventing environmental crime and promote a socio-cultural mind-set towards more environmentally-friendly behaviour;
- Reduce the level of environmental-crime impunity;
- Raise awareness of the dimension of environmental crime and the motives behind it.
RESULTS
LIFE Nature Guardians introduced and implemented measures that enhance legal enforcement, effective investigative processes, national and cross-border cooperation, and information dissemination that can effectively raise awareness about environmental crimes and their impacts, leading to better compliance with environmental legislation and improving the conservation of species and habitats in the EU.
The project has contributed to the defence of the environment by increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of actions aimed at combating environmental crimes. The Law Enforcement Officials has increased crime detections by 110% in Spain (95% more than planned in the proposal) and a 87% increase in Portugal using environmental intelligence and specialized equipment. Significant improvements in legal compliance and a reduction in impunity have been noted, with a 34.5% increase in legal proceedings against wildlife and plant crimes. In Spain, 70.8% of the population consider environmental crimes to be as important as other crimes (an increase of 6.4% compared to 2018, when the project was launched). Moreover, 21.3% of the population consider that authorities give sufficient importance to environmental problems (an increase of 4,6% compared to 2018). As a result of these efforts, a remarkable 62% reduction in wildlife mortality caused by illegal acts has been achieved. Since 2018, fewer animal deaths due to illegal acts have been registered, which is the main objective of all actions designed by LIFE Nature Guardians.
These achievements have been made possible through various initiatives, including the training of over 1,500 EU law enforcement agents in the investigation of environmental crimes and the establishment of the EU's inaugural environmental police intelligence unit, the National Central Bureau (known as OCN in Spanish). Additionally, efforts have been focused on targeted police operations against environmental crime. Furthermore, progress in combating environmental crime has been bolstered by the creation of the first Police Investigation Manual for biodiversity crimes and infraction (available in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Greek) or a practical guide has been created to address legal dilemmas in criminal proceedings against environmental crimes, directed at legal professionals. Other endeavors include the development of methodologies for constructing databases on environmental crime (which has led to the creation of the Information System on Captures and Accidental Deaths (SICMA) in Spain) and the economic valuation of wildlife, as well as an unpublished international study on the motivations behind environmental criminality. To combat impunity, over 30 cases have been brought to court for various offenses, resulting in judgments that protect the environment. Additionally, measures have been taken to establish a Complaints web Portal for citizens, which has received and managed over 1,000 written complaints. From a perspective of raising social awareness, initiatives such as an exhibition space in the National Museum of Natural Sciences focusing on Article 45 of the Spanish Constitution (which recognizes the right and duty to preserve the environment) and the human right to a healthy environment have been launched. This exhibition has been visited by 300,000 individuals. Furthermore, a symbolic flag representing the fundamental right to a healthy environment has been placed on the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano of the Spanish Navy during its global voyage. Additionally, eight murals addressing wildlife crime have been erected in areas with high crime rates, aiming to raise awareness among residents and their families.
