The Chamber of Deputies of the province of Entre Ríos will begin to discuss the creation of Environmental Prosecutors Offices. They would be under the jurisdiction of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the province.
The discussions will begin with a joint meeting of the Budget and Finance and Natural Resources and Environment committees of the chamber. They will analyze the text presented by Deputy Lorena Arrozogaray (PJ).
Entre Ríos: how the Environmental Prosecutors Offices would work
The initiative aims to create a Prosecutorial Unit for the Investigation of Environmental Crimes in Gualeguaychú.
It would have territorial jurisdiction over the departments of Concordia, Villaguay, Federación, San Salvador, Colón, Uruguay, Gualeguaychú, and Islas del Ibicuy.
Furthermore, it proposes the establishment of another Prosecutorial Unit in Paraná, with territorial jurisdiction over the departments of Paraná, La Paz, Diamante, Victoria, Nogoyá, Gualeguay, Federal, Feliciano, and Rosario del Tala.
The project thus proposes to create a position of Environmental Prosecutor in the city of Paraná, another one for Gualeguaychú, two positions of Assistant Environmental Prosecutors in the city of Paraná, and two assistant positions also in the city of Gualeguaychú.
According to the proposal, they would be technically and professionally assisted by a Scientific Investigation Body, made up of university professionals specialized in environmental careers and disciplines, with at least five years of professional experience.
The arguments: why the need for Environmental Prosecutors Offices
The legislator stated that the creation “will help improve the delivery of justice services, providing specialization and efficiency in the processing of judicial proceedings on these matters.”
In this regard, she indicated that the goal is to facilitate citizens’ access to environmental justice and provide the judiciary with technical precision in the subject.
“It seeks to respond from the judiciary to a demand related to the protection of environmental rights, allowing the Environmental Prosecutors Offices to investigate conflicts where collective interests and animal protection are at stake,” she expressed.
“It is encouraged that the legal tools available under current regulations be carried out by legal operators specialized in the subject, in order to ensure effective judicial protection of the right to a healthy environment for the community,” she added.
The importance of having specialized prosecutors and agencies
Environmental prosecutors, as well as specialized agencies or organizations in this type of crimes, are very important.
They contribute to protecting public health and preserving natural resources. Having the expertise and proper training also allows for assessing acts of criminal nature that threaten flora and fauna.
When talking about crime, it implies an act or conduct expressly stipulated and punishable by law, at a specific time and place.
In Argentina, environmental crimes encompass a wide range of behaviors ranging from water resource pollution to deforestation and illegal wildlife trafficking. Some of the most common include:
- Environmental pollution: The illegal discharge of toxic substances into rivers and lakes, affecting biodiversity and human health.
- Deforestation: The indiscriminate logging of forests, especially in protected areas.
- Illegal wildlife trafficking: The capture and illegal trade of endangered species.
- Unauthorized exploitation of natural resources: The unauthorized extraction of mineral and forest resources.
These crimes not only have a direct impact on the environment, but also affect local communities that depend on these resources for their livelihood.
