During the last three years Sergeant Charleston has dealt with hundreds of cases of illegal burning and damaging to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Wales. One of his most successful cases was providing protection from illegal wildlife traders for the first breeding pair of ospreys in Wales.

Throughout the world, hundreds of millions of plants and animals, worth billions of pounds, are traded illegally and unsustainably each year, impacting directly on the survival of many species in their natural environments.

In Wales illegal trade is threatening wildlife such as rare breeding birds. Globally endangered species such as tigers and snow leopards, are being pushed further into extinction because of illegal trade networks.

"Wildlife crime takes many forms," said Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru.

"In Wales, wildlife needs protection from illegal activities such as habitat destruction and theft of birds eggs. This award is an excellent way of raising awareness of the importance of better protection from illegal wildlife crime."