Sabaudia:The Ministry of Interior (MOI), in collaboration with Italian police, has concluded a two-week training program titled 'Transnational Environmental Crime A Security Challenge' in Sabaudia, Italy. The program was conducted at the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Protection, part of the Carabinieri Forestry School, from October 19th to October 30th.

According to Wam, the training aimed to enhance the participants' capabilities in combating transnational environmental crime and to improve international police cooperation. The participants were exposed to advanced expertise and specialized practices in the field.

The program included theoretical lectures and practical exercises focusing on the responsibilities of the Carabinieri Forestry, Environmental, and Agri-food Unit. Participants learned about the protection of forests and national parks, combating illegal trafficking in waste, and endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Topics such as forest fire prevention, illegal logging, encroachment on natural resources, and international legal frameworks were covered. The training also emphasized the importance of cooperation between police and judicial authorities and the role of international organizations like Europol, Interpol, Eurojust, and the IMPACT platform in facilitating information exchange and coordination to combat environmental crimes.

Practical training exercises included field visits to protected areas such as Circeo National Park. Participants received instruction in environmental patrols, monitoring, investigation techniques, and evidence collection, focusing on procedures for investigating offenses in protected areas.