In 2010, residents of the Vitebsk region helped identify nearly 400 violations of environmental legislation

January 11, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Residents of the Vitebsk region helped wildlife and plant inspectors identify nearly 400 violations of environmental legislation in 2010, the Vitebsk Regional Inspectorate for Wildlife and Plant Protection informed a BELTA correspondent. The inspectorate operates a round-the-clock hotline, which received over 500 calls last year regarding illegal actions by citizens. Specialists note that concerned citizens are true defenders of nature; they provide effective assistance in exposing and apprehending poachers. Starting this year, public inspectors of the State Inspectorate for Wildlife and Plant Protection will work in all district departments. Staff specialists will involve them in raids, preventive measures, and educational work among the population. In 2010, nature inspectors, both independently and with the participation of employees from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Forestry, and the Ministry of Nature Protection, conducted over 2.5 thousand raids, identifying 3.2 thousand violations of environmental legislation. A significant portion of these (over 1.8 thousand) were violations of fishing rules. Hunting regulations were ignored in 361 cases. Poachers had 83 km of nets, over 3.1 tons of fish, and 150 hunting weapons seized, including 70 unregistered units, as well as 6.3 tons of meat from illegally hunted animals. In 2010, nature inspectors handed over 142 cases to law enforcement agencies, resulting in 132 criminal cases being initiated. -0-