Editorial Board note

Abstract

At a time when climate issues are in the spotlight, for the worst reasons and with even worse consequences for Earth and humanity, CEPOL has taken on the responsibility of launching a thematic issue on environmental crime. 
How should we look at it? Crimes against the environment cover a wide range of activities that have in common the violation of environmental legislation. The focus is frequently on preventing harm to human health and preserving biodiversity, particularly in protected areas.
Environmental crimes should be considered significant threats to ecosystems, which carry high risks and exploit growing vulnerabilities. They represent significant threats to the physical environment, its resources, biodiversity, human health, the economy and, more generally, society.