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Short Abstract

The LIFE Themis App was implemented within the LIFE Natura Themis (LIFE14 GIE/GR/000026). Its aim was to enhance citizens' involvement in reporting environmental crime and the implementation of ELD in N2000 sites in Crete, Greece. This APP will be updated and be operated in the ENFORCE project.

Abstract

The LIFE Themis Application was developed within the framework of the LIFE Natura Themis project (LIFE14 GIE/GR/000026) with the main goal of encouraging citizens to become actively involved in reporting environmental crime and supporting the implementation of the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) in Natura 2000 sites in Crete, Greece. The application provides an accessible platform through which users can submit structured complaints and reports regarding environmental infringements, enriched with geolocation data and multimedia evidence to ensure credibility and legal relevance.

Beyond facilitating the reporting process, the application has significantly contributed to the mapping of environmental crime in Crete, offering valuable insights into the geographical distribution and frequency of illegal activities within Natura 2000 areas. This mapping function highlights both the spatial patterns of environmental pressures—such as habitat destruction, illegal logging, and poaching—and the increasing willingness of local communities to participate in environmental governance.

The experience of LIFE Themis demonstrates that digital tools can play a crucial role in raising public awareness, fostering transparency, and strengthening cooperation between citizens, authorities, and environmental stakeholders. By transforming individual reports into actionable knowledge, the application supports evidence-based decision-making and contributes to more effective enforcement of environmental law.

Building on its initial success, the LIFE Themis Application is currently being updated and will be further operated under the ENFORCE project (Project 101134447), which focuses on land clearance issues. One of its case studies is based in Heraklion, Crete, ensuring continuity and broader impact in environmental monitoring, compliance, and citizen engagement.