Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime in the Danube-Carpathian Region

This report examines the state of wildlife and forest crime within the Danube-Carpathian region of Central and Eastern Europe. It assesses the prevalence and impact of illegal logging, the illicit trade of sturgeon and caviar, the illegal killing of wild birds, and the poaching of large carnivores. The analysis highlights that inadequate implementation and enforcement of national legislation, combined with complicated and lengthy criminal law procedures, facilitate these activities. Furthermore, the report identifies gaps in available information, monitoring, and institutional cooperation. It concludes that effective regional progress requires stronger preventive measures, increased capacity building, improved transparency, and coordinated efforts between authorities, civil society, and the European Union to secure sustainable development and protect the area’s unique biodiversity.