Anna Zientara
Radca Prawny, 3 (32), 2022, s. 85 - 100
https://doi.org/10.4467/23921943RP.22.050.17133
Penal law protection of trees
The article presents criminal law provisions that penalize the destruction or damage of trees. Only some of them protect trees as an essential element of nature. Other provisions primarily protect property, which includes trees as part of real estate. The analysis carried out in the study found that the legal protection of trees largely depends on the location where the tree grows. Some regulations apply to trees growing in forests, others to trees located in protected areas such as national parks, and others to trees located, for example, along the roadside.
The study also presents the problem of the classification of a certain factual state and the conjunction of regulations. In many cases, the classification as a crime or a misdemeanor will be determined by whether a specific behavior resulted in substantial damage, which is an evaluative criterion. Also addressed is the problem of wobbler offenses, including the difficulty of determining the value of stolen timber or the amount of damage when a tree is destroyed or damaged.