Incidents of badger baiting have been reduced, the CCW said

A telephone survey conducted by the CCW found that 90% said wildlife crime must be taken "more seriously".

While badger baiting and egg theft have reduced, the CCW says more action on other crimes such as fly-tipping and off-road driving is needed.

A conference organised by the CCW and North Wales Police, on Monday discussed what steps could be taken.

The telephone poll, conducted by the CCW, discovered that 90% of those asked believed agencies including the CCW, police, fire services and the environment agency should be doing more to tackle wildlife and environmental crime.

We've got lots of great crested newts, especially in north east Wales, ospreys down in Porthmadog and red kites Gillian Bilsborough, CCW

The wildlife crime conference, at Caernarfon's Celtic Royal Hotel, was jointly chaired by North Wales Police Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom, whose force employs a full-time wildlife officer.

But Ms Bilsborough, of the CCW, said more wildlife officers were needed to work across Wales, with just two currently serving the four Welsh police force areas.

Ms Bilsborough said: "We have two full-time wildlife crime officers in Wales.

"We've probably got 40 police officers here (at the conference) representing the four forces of Wales but only two full time officers."

She added that the conference aimed to try to "get organisations like the police to understand that this is a crime worthy of putting in police resources" and to encourage organisations like the police, fire service, CCW and the environment agency to work together.

'Prison sentences'

She also said the Crime Prosecution Service need to help the police bring legal cases against those charged with wildlife crimes.

Things will improve she said, "if the judicial system is prepared to put in tougher sentences".

She added: "People have served prison sentences for egg theft."

Ms Bilsborough added that since the wildlife conference first held five years ago, there had been a reduction in the number of people carrying out badger baiting and egg thefts in north Wales.

But she added that there were other problems to tackle, including fly-tipping and illegal off-road driving.

In May, North Wales Police stopped about 15 drivers, some towing motorbikes on trailers, in four hours of an operation at the Horseshoe Pass, Denbighshire.

The beauty spot is part of the Berwyn Mountains site of special scientific interest, whose protected moors provide ideal habitat for rare birds such as the hen harrier and the black grouse.

Ms Bilsborough said north Wales was home to diverse species of wildlife.

"We are very lucky up here. We've got lots of great crested newts, especially in north east Wales, ospreys down in Porthmadog and red kites," she said.