The involvement of the judicial authorities in current topics in the protection of nature and the environment is key to the combatting of environmental crimes. This was concluded at the international workshop on the role of public prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving environmental crimes. The workshop, which took place on the 8th of November in Madrid, Spain, was organized by the Vulture Conservation Foundation together with the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office. From North Macedonia, Spasenka Andonova from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office and Susana Mircheska Kuzmanovska from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption were present.
The workshop was organized within the framework of the BalkanDetox LIFE project, which aims to strengthen the capacities of state institutions in dealing with illegal wildlife poisoning, but also to raise public awareness of this problem. When it comes to wildlife poisoning, the active involvement of several sectors and state institutions is required in order to be able to act effectively in investigative activities and to appropriately sanction this crime. The goal is to reduce such cases, and this can be achieved not only by raising public awareness and conducting criminal investigations, but also by giving appropriate criminal punishments that would reflect the real danger of using such an indiscriminate method of killing an animal, or a person.
The workshop was started by the Chief Public Prosecutor for Environment and Urbanism in Spain, Dr. Don Antonio Vercher Noguera with a presentation on the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Environmental Protection and Spatial Planning. Furthermore, public prosecutors Cristina Zurdo Garai – Gordoville for crimes against Spanish artistic and historical heritage, and Carmen de la Fuente Mendez for the elimination of electrocution and bird collision cases in Spain, delved into cases in more detail. José Antonio Alfaro Moreno, Senior Specialist for EU Organized Crime at Europol, was also present at the workshop.
“The study visit in itself made it possible to establish personal contacts and network with people who are truly dedicated to this serious and challenging topic, for which I am truly grateful. It also gave me access to new ways of approaching the issues, as well as the types of commitments of the state and the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the prevention of various actions aimed at wildlife. First of all, towards the protected species of vultures, but also other species of birds”, says Spasenka Andonova from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in North Macedonia.
In 1990, the Regional Government of Andalusia in southern Spain introduced a decree to strengthen the regulation of the construction of power lines, to make them safer for birds (Decree 194/1990). After 18 years, the Government of Spain introduced in the basic legislation at the national level an order for the appropriate construction of transmission lines, but also the isolation of already installed energy poles (RD 1432/2008). Such measures can and should be taken into account if state institutions want to act in a preventive manner when it comes to nature protection.
“The event was short, concentrated, interesting and useful. The experiences and the very existence of a specialized prosecutor’s office for dealing with EnviCrime (environmental crimes) for us is of great importance and an asset in hiring for the creation of a specialized prosecutor’s office in our country” – Suzana Mircheska Kuzmanovska, Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption in North Macedonia.
“I think that these experiences of the Spanish public prosecutor’s office for the environment can serve as a positive example that can be applied in our country as well. Especially in relation to the more active role and opportunities that non-governmental organizations that work for biodiversity have. It can be applied from their reporting, knowledge gaps, field experience, expertise and contacts with people who are experts in certain areas, in coordination with competent prosecutors and competent inspectors and representatives of the Ministry of Interior Affairs” – Spasenka Andonova, Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in North Macedonia.
