The Official College of Biologists of the Valencian Community mourns the passing of Antonio Vercher Noguera, a true pioneer of environmental law in Spain. For two decades, until last September, he served as the coordinating prosecutor for Environmental and Urban Planning matters in Spain, reports EL PAÍS. He was instrumental in establishing this prosecutor's office back in 2006, when the construction boom seemed poised to engulf the entire coastline and buy off council members wherever it pleased. Later, his department expanded its scope to include other environmental crimes as awareness of the need to protect the planet grew, and specialists in this field were established in every provincial prosecutor's office across the country. Vercher was undoubtedly a leading voice in this area.

Vercher passed away this Saturday at the age of 72. He was born in Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencia, and dedicated his life to law and the defense of our common home. “Environmental crime is a form of suicide,” he explained in his last interview, with EL PAÍS, last September, when he retired and had to leave the public prosecutor's office. “I'm leaving sad. I like what I'm doing, things are going well, and despite everything, the system is progressing. And you think: there's still so much to do,” he admitted.

Because Vercher wanted to continue, even though his 72 years prevented him from doing so. He said it without losing his smile, although with a hint of uncertainty in his voice, as if he weren't sure what would become of his life after having dedicated it completely to this vocation. He retired, but remained active, writing articles, preparing a new book (he had already published eight), traveling wherever he was invited to share his expertise, and leading the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors.

His first book, Comments on Environmental Crime, was published in 1986, just three years after this concept was introduced into the Spanish Penal Code. “I read the book when I was Secretary of State for the Environment,” recalls Cristina Narbona, president of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party). “And I wanted to meet him when I began my term as minister in 2004.” Narbona and Vercher collaborated on the reform of the Forestry Law to try to tackle the problem of wildfires, and it was there that the creation of the Environmental Prosecutor's Office was introduced, which Vercher took over in 2006.

In the successive modifications to the Penal Code that have been carried out in Spain, Vercher was always a voice worth listening to. Although this prosecutor was concerned that there was too much reliance on criminal proceedings. “In 1983, there was only one article in the Penal Code on environmental crimes, Article 347 bis. “We’re almost 50 now, and only 42 years have passed,” he said six months ago.

Vercher, as Narbona recalls, advocated for “preventive, not just punitive, action.” He frequently sent official communications to the State Security Forces and institutions, alerting them to problems such as forest fires, urban planning, animal abuse, and air pollution. Furthermore, he always sought innovative solutions and alternative legal approaches to address environmental issues.

The Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, described him on social media as a “role model both within and beyond our borders.” “He leaves us with the duty to preserve what he dedicated his life to,” she added.

In addition to such a distinguished career, Vercher also leaves behind a son of whom he was very proud, who, like him, chose to dedicate himself to law and is now a judge. And a vegetable garden in his hometown, to which he could dedicate a little more time starting in September.