Guidance for effective environmental crime national strategies

Environmental crime, including wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and illegal fishing, is worth over a trillion US dollars a year worldwide. It damages ecosystems, threatens human health and security, and undermines efforts to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises.

On 15 July 2026, the European Commission launched infringement action against 23 EU Member States that had failed to transpose new EU rules to tackle environmental crime into their national laws on time.

EU Member States must transpose and implement the Directive (EU) 2024/1203 on the protection of the environment through criminal law without further delay. A key step for Member States will be the development of national strategies to combat environmental crime by 21 May 2027. IFAW and six partner organisations have developed practical guidance to help governments develop, implement, monitor and review these strategies. This guidance sets out clear, practical recommendations for governments preparing their national strategies. It covers:

• A science-based approach, rooted in solid data and a proper assessment of the national situation;
• An open and inclusive process, that brings in ministries, enforcement bodies, civil society and independent experts from the start;
• What every strategy should contain, including clear objectives, defined roles and responsibilities, adequate resources, and measures for prevention and knowledge building;
• How to monitor and review progress, through indicators, annual reporting and a formal review at least every five years.

The guidance was developed jointly by BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, Born Free, EuroNatur, the European Environmental Bureau, IFAW, Pro Wildlife and WWF.