This electronic publication is comprised of cases of environmental crime reported by the media and environmental associations and developments around this issue in our country. It was created by environmental organization and members of the environmental crime advisory group in Albania as an instrument to collect and communicate specific cases of environmental crime with the help of law enforcement authorities.

In most cases, environmental crime occurs away from the eyes of the public and institutions. Environmental vandals mostly choose night schedules and areas frequented by human beings to commit their crimes as they are aware of the harm they are causing, which are categorized as a criminal offense and as such are punished. This way of organizing crime environmental makes the control or monitoring work of the responsible institutions very difficult for good environmental management.

We know that the country remains affected by environmental crime, which is sometimes very organized and sophisticated, and to combat this act requires resources, institutional cooperation, legislative change and cooperation with civil society and environmental activists.

By uniting their expertise, civil society, academics, and the media become an important factor in raising awareness at all levels and helping to increase the efficiency of the work of institutions to address these crimes.

In this context, REC Albania and the OSCE Presence in Albania have taken the initiative to publish a publication entitled “Environmental Crime Digest” with the contribution of all members of the Environmental Crime Advisory Group, as a useful contribution to strengthen a cooperation much needed among all civil society actors.

We hope that the issues included in this publication and those that will follow throughout the year provide recommendations, good practices, case studies and important information, to help relevant agencies make informed and evidence-based decision-making.

To download the newsletter, please click here: Environmental Crime Digest, June 2021.