Rome Strategic Plan: Objective 5: To ensure effective and efficient justice for IKB-related offences
The fifth result-oriented objective of the Rome Strategic Plan is to ensure efficient and effective justice for offences related to illegal killing, taking and trade of wild birds (IKB).
The Rome Strategic Plan sets four targets in relation to efficient and effective justice:
i) The average period between initiation and conclusion of administrative and criminal court proceedings in IKB cases is to be reduced. This target has emanated from the finding that the, often, slow conclusion of IKB cases makes penalties and sanctions less deterrent;
ii) All criminal or administrative proceedings in IKB cases where conviction is achieved shall result in imposition of penalties that are in line with sentencing guidelines, including the adoption of those if none exist yet;
iii) A core group of prosecutors and judges (who deal with wildlife crime) are to receive training in IKB-related aspects;
iv) Information on judicial processes and sentencing statistics is to be made publicly available in all countries.
In May 2018, the CMS Secretariat and the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) jointly organized a ground-breaking Workshop for Government Prosecutors on the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean Region in Segovia, Spain, where all aspects of legislation, enforcement and justice were discussed and analysed. The outcome from this workshop was a training kit that is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek and Arabic.
Click here to see the targets, indicators, and actions on Justice in the Rome Strategic Plan.
Back to MIKT Website Rome Strategic Plan
The European Union was recognized as Champion Plus for their generous support and commitment towards addressing Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean for the period 2018 - 2023. This activity has been funded with the contribution granted by the European Commission under the Migratory Species Champion Programme and through the Global Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC Programme) Cooperation Agreements with UNEP.
Key Documents and Resources
Training kit from Workshop on Prosecutors for the Environment in May 2018
Training Pack I and Training Pack II in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek and Arabic
Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit (2012) A toolkit developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in partnership with other members of International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna. Available in English, French and Spanish.
Compilation d’outils pour l’analyse de la criminalité liée aux espèces sauvages et aux forêts (Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit in French)
Herramientas para el análisis de los delitos contra la vida silvestre y los bosques (Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit in Spanish)
National Documents
Crimes against wild birds. A thematic focus for an effective law enforcement (2022) (in Italian only) A document to contribute towards the implementation of Italy's National Action Plan on IKB, particularly Action 2.1.2 which aims to “promote greater awareness among prosecutors and judges of wildlife crime, with particular reference to the various illegal practices and the repercussions they may have on the state of conservation of the ornithological species involved”. The document edited by ISPRA with the contribution of Carabinieri forestali and several experts is addressed to all those called upon to enforce the rules for the protection of wildlife.
Reports, Guidance and Analyses
Combating environmental crimes and related infringements
Environmental compliance assurance: guidance document, European Commission (2021)
Available to download in many languages.
The Guidance supports the work of environmental inspectors, police officers, customs officers, prosecutors, judges and others in combating environmental crime and related infringements. Environmental infringements are contraventions of obligations aimed at protecting the environment.
This summary guide explains how EU Member States can combat environmental crimes, wildlife crimes
Available to download in many languages.
Police Investigation Manual of Offences against Biodiversity A manual to aid police investigations of crimes against biodiversity produced by SEO/BirdLife, 2022.
Methodology for the Development of an Environmental Crime Database. SEO/BirdLife, Proyecto LIFE Guardianes de la Naturaleza. Madrid, 2022.
Report on the economic valuation of protected animal species. LIFE Guardianes de la Naturaleza. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid, 2020.
Illegal use of poisoned baits, legal analysis and investigation A report on the illegal use of poisoned baits produced by SEO/BirdLife, 2016.