Criminal offenses against the environment, space, and natural goods in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Slovenia

In this article, the author deals with criminal offenses against the environment, space, and natural resources in the Slovenian Criminal Code. The Criminal Code of the Republic of Slovenia includes the following criminal offenses against the environment, space and natural goods: burdening and destroying the environment, pollution of the sea and waters by vessels, illegal handling of nuclear or other radioactive materials, pollution of drinking water, pollution of foodstuffs or livestock feed, illegal occupation of land, destruction of plantations using harmful means, destruction of forests, torture of animals, illegal hunting, illegal fishing, illegal handling of protected species of animals and plants, transmission of infectious diseases in animals and plants, production of harmful means for treating animals and negligent provision of veterinary assistance. The author is aware that criminal law is the last and least suitable tool for environmental protection, because criminal proceedings are initiated only when protected legal goods have already been damaged. For this reason, the author believes that greater attention should be paid to prevention - it is better to prevent than to punish. Despite this, due to the importance of protected legal assets, criminal law protection of the environment and natural goods is also needed.