Page 224 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

maJ. gen. enzo Bernardini

Everybody can see as this activity of organized crime groups hampers
many interests: the legal economy, the public health, the protection of environ-
ment, and so on.

The international experience and the lessons learned at national level
show the importance of combating environmental crime with a “comprehen-
sive approach”, with a multidisciplinary capability that can match the comple-
xity of this issue. We’ll need to carry out investigations against organized crime
groups, national and transnational, combined with the technical expertise to
apply environmental legislation, especially on waste trafficking, as well as the
capability to prevent and combat violations on food security and frauds. In one
word, protecting and controlling the territory, as has been our mission for more
than 200 years.

And now let me say a few words about the reorganization of the State
Forestry Corps within the Carabinieri Corps. In particular I would like to point
out that the decision made by the Government is aimed at increasing and pro-
moting the capabilities of both the Institutions “merging their forces”, with an
obvious multiplying effect on their efficiency. In fact, the structure of the State
Forestry Corps becomes an even more significant resource, if imagined con-
nected in synergy with a Police Force, with a general competence, consisting of
more than 100.000 personnel and widespread on the territory with expertise in
different areas. This is the origin of a major development of the control of ter-
ritory, since more than 800 Stations of the Forestry Corps could benefit from
the network of Carabinieri stations.

Moreover, connecting the capabilities of the State Forestry Corps with
those of the Carabinieri Command for the Environment Protection and
Agriculture and Food will lead to the creation of an hub of excellence in the
field of the protection of the environment as a unicum at an European level,
able to export the Italian culture for the safeguard of the environment to other
Countries.

That’s all. I will finish there.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.

222