Page 5 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

Tackling Environmental Crime throUgh standardized Methodologies

and to contribute to the safeguarding of the national landscape and environ-
mental heritage.

Today the Environmental Protection Command is an important unit
within the Carabinieri Corps, just like the Comando Carabinieri Politiche
Agricole e Alimentari, TPA (Agricultural and Food Policies Unit of the
Carabinieri), which is another institution of high investigative potential functio-
ning under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

The State Forestry Department operates, therefore, in an important sec-
tor: with its 8,000 officers and 1,300 districts, it has been involved in protecting
and monitoring the national forestry heritage and in safeguarding the nation’s
biodiversity for nearly two hundred years.

The Department, following the reform of 2004, took on a strategic role
as a police force specialising in the protection of the nation’s forestry, landscape
and ecosystems with particular attention on the agricultural supply chain, aimed
at protecting the “Made in Italy” brand on a national and an international level.

The effective prevention of environmental crimes which the State
Forestry Department has achieved in recent years has been extended to the tac-
kling of organised crime, especially in the sector of “ecomafia”.

By taking action that requires both passion and a sound technological-
scientific background, the State Forestry Department has successfully accom-
plished tasks such as tackling the international trade in protected plant and ani-
mal species; the trade in timber and products made from timber; the safeguar-
ding of sites belonging to the European biodiversity observation network
“Natura 2000”; the prevention of forest fires; cooperation with the Regions
regarding forestry police; safeguarding the national territory and its landscape;
hydrogeological constraints; and, very importanlyt, the management of 130
nature reserves and 20 national parks.

The operational overlap with the Carabinieri makes them the force best
suited to absorb the duties and staff of the State Forestry Department. This
will allow a complete reorganisation of responsibilities relating to the environ-
ment and farming, and will make it possible to streamline and strengthen the
efficiency of police operations and their presence in the territories of their mili-
tary districts. This avoids any duplication and produces savings.

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