Background Police statistics show that there are between 5 000 to 10 000 infractions of nature protection law in Poland each year. The annual material losses from these is estimated at between €120 000 and €550 000. There are some 400 police prosecutions per year for nature crime in Poland, but only 50-60 of these result in a conviction. Similarly, of the 404 cases prepared by the Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection since 2010, only 13 people have been convicted of causing environmental damage. Thus, there is a demonstrable need to improve enforcement of nature protection legislation through training for legal professional and relevant public agencies. Objectives The main goal of the LIFEJustice for Nature project is to increase the efficiency of the implementation of national and EU legislation on nature protection (mainly the Habitats and Birds directives) as well as to facilitate law enforcement in the field of nature protection (by improving coordination between different bodies - the judicial authorities, law enforcement authorities and regional directorates of environmental protection) through pilot educational activities for all stakeholders involved in the nature conservation process. The specific goals of the project include: Raising the level of awareness and knowledge of nature protection of judicial and law enforcement authorities and conducting pilot educational activities to facilitate enforcement of nature crimes; Building public awareness of and support for the need to prosecute nature crimes and building general competence in the field of legal protection of nature; Improving local cooperation between the judicial authorities (criminal and administrative), law enforcement authorities (police, prosecutors and inspectors from the Regional Directorates of State Forests) and regional directorates of environmental protection; and Raising awareness of the legal aspects of nature protection in Natura 2000 network sites. The project contributes directly to implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, specifically point 3c under Target 1 that encourages the EU to facilitate enforcement of the nature directives by providing specific training programmes on Natura 2000 for judges and public prosecutors, and by developing better compliance and promotion of capacities. Expected results: The project expects to achieve the following results: Increased knowledge of the legal aspects of nature protection (including on the issues of the Natura 2000 network) and opportunities for cooperation among target groups; Increased awareness among 350 judges of the legal aspects of nature protection, in particular relating to Natura 2000 network sites; Increased awareness among law enforcement authorities in Poland of the legal aspects of nature protection, in particular relating to Natura 2000 network sites. Some 10% of all police units involved in prosecutions of environmental crime will have been targeted by this awareness-raising action; 10% more successful prosecutions of nature crime in Poland; and At least 50 000 stakeholders and members of the public informed about the environmental impact of nature crime.