Environmental body seizes illegally logged spruce in Tbilisi

Up to 80 illegally logged spruce trees were seized in Tbilisi by environmental supervision professionals as they were being sold for the holiday season, the Department of Environmental Supervision said on Friday.

The inspectors sealed the products being sold near the capital’s Sports Palace, and compiled reports over the illegal activity as part of inspections being carried out across the country in the run-up to the New Year’s Eve and Christmas celebrations, the Department added.

It also reminded the public of fines associated with illegal logging, transportation and sale of spruce, with associated penalties ranging between ₾200 and ₾2000 ($73/$739).

The state body said it was ensuring particularly strict inspection for localities with spruce forest cover, with roads across the country and areas in Tbilisi frequently used for sale of trees logged in other regions under monitoring.

The Department pointed out it was receiving reports of illegal logging or sale of trees on the Ministry of Environmental Protection hotline through the number 153, and urged the public to only collect spruce trees and plants from designated plantations and homesteads, or buy imported spruce for the holidays.