Credit: A. Cattabriga/Associazione per la Biodiversità e la sua Conservazione (ABC)
In a groundbreaking legal decision, an Italian court has convicted two cactus smugglers for the illegal trade of over 1,000 rare and protected cacti poached from Chile’s Atacama Desert. This landmark ruling not only imposes criminal penalties but also requires the offenders to fund conservation efforts, setting a powerful precedent for environmental justice.
The defendants must pay €20,000 to L’Associazione per la Biodiversità e la sua Conservazione (ABC) to support conservation initiatives, including research, habitat protection, and public awareness campaigns. This ruling affirms the role of conservation organizations in seeking justice for nature and reinforces the global fight against the illegal plant trade.
For more details, view the press release.
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Photo credits: Featured image – Jardín Botánico Nacional, Viña del Mar, Chile; Above image – A. Cattabriga/Associazione per la Biodiversitá e la sua Conservazione (ABC)
