The main objective of the project is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of actions aimed at combating environmental crimes in Portugal and Spain, especially those committed against Wildlife.
A large number of species of wildlife, including birds in Annex I of the Birds Directive and considered by the Ornis Committee as to be priority financed by Life+ Program, suffer in Spain and Portugal the loss of thousands of specimens due to criminal acts such as shooting, intentional poisoning, illegal trafficking or the destruction of their habitat. Nowadays most of these actions enjoy of a high level of impunity, with little resolution of cases, low prosecution and sentencing in criminal proceedings, which poses a threat to the recovery of their populations.
This situation indicates, moreover, the lack of sensitivity and knowledge of certain sectors of society about the value of Europe’s natural heritage and the importance of its conservation. This situation could be corrected through the implementation of measures promoting better compliance with environmental legislation and the improvement of investigation, information and awareness on criminal actions and their impact on the environment.
Increase the exchange of knowhow and best practices among officers and bodies responsible for the prevention, investigation, prosecution and resolution of environmental crimes.
Ensure and strengthen adequate compliance and enforcement of environmental and criminal law as a tool for environmental protection.
Prevent environmental crime, raise awareness and promote cultural changes to generate more respectful of wildlife environments.
Improve the conservation status of species and habitats of community interest by reducing mortality by criminal actions.
Reduce impunity in the commission of crimes by shooting, habitat destruction, poisoning and illegal trafficking of priority species and increase the determination of criminal responsibility for the events.
Increase awareness about the dimension of environmental crimes, criminal motivation and effectiveness of criminal law in the protection of species of Community interest.
Study on the dissuasive, effective and proportionate nature of the penalties imposed in Spain for crimes against the environment and its adaptation to Directive 2008/99/EC.
European Workshop on police investigation of crimes against priority bird species and its habitat destruction.
Report on wildlife species valuation and proposal of regulation.
Origin and motivations of crimes against wildlife and habitat destruction.
Legal actions against wildlife crimes.
Creating a national database to collect data on non natural wildlife mortality.
Manual on police investigation of crimes against wildlife and protocols for action and coordination of the national and EU law enforcement officials in cases of non-natural mortality of priority species.
Training and sensitization of legal professionals in charge of enforcement of environmental and penal legislation.
Training of police officers in the action against environmental crimes.
Specific operations for reducing wildlife crimes and habitat destruction and clarification of criminal responsibility in these types of cases.
Creation of a specialized Central Intelligence Office in the Spanish Guardia Civil.
SEO/BirdLife is the coordinating partner of the project; and the Service for the Protection of Nature (Seprona) of the Guardia Civil, the Junta de Andalucía and the Portuguese Society for or Study of Birds (SPEA) are beneficiary partners.
Sociedad Española de Ornitología
Regional Ministry of Environment and Land Management
Portuguese Society for or Study of Birds
Nature protection service. General Directorate of the Guardia Civil
The project has a budget of € 1,974,932, of which the European Commission finances 60%, through the Life Program. In addition, it has the co-financing of:
Dirección General de Protección de la Naturaleza
Conselleria de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente, Cambio Climático y Desarrollo Rural
Ministerio para la transición ecológica
(Ministry for the ecological transition)