Environmental crime has diverse appearances and impacts. The ecological consequences range from the destruction of forests to the pollution of water, soil, and air and even to species extinction. Moreover, many types of environmental crime also affect human health, and organised forms of environmental crime undermine state structures. Environmental crime is increasingly being discussed again at international and EU level. However, it is always emphasised that there is a lack of a robust database and thus also a gap in the knowledge base.

The project "Environmental criminal law: status quo and further development" aimed to fill knowledge gaps about environmental crime and ways to combat it, with a focus on Germany. The project was funded by the Federal Environmental Agency. This workshop served to present and discuss the compiled results and recommendations of that project.