National Forestry Agency tightens control on illegal tree felling, sale ahead of holiday season
The Georgian National Forestry Agency on Monday said it was tightening control over illegal tree felling and sale ahead of the holiday season. Photo: National Forestry Agency
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The Georgian National Forestry Agency on Monday said it was tightening control over illegal tree felling and sale ahead of the holiday season.
The body said illegal felling, transportation and sale of conifer trees could result in fines of up to ₾2,000 ($743.59) for the first offense and ₾5,000 ($1,858) for repeat acts.
It added offenders would be responsible for damages caused and face criminal charges if damage exceeded ₾1,000 ($371.79).
The Agency noted conifer trees could be harvested legally from dedicated plantations and homesteads, or imported from abroad.
It also said sale of legally obtained trees or plants required documents confirming ownership, with a certificate of origin issued by local municipalities mandatory for transportation if they were obtained from a privately owned plot of land or an artificially grown plantation.
Celebrities will be joining a campaign to urge the public to use artificial trees for the holiday season instead, it added.
Georgia's State Sub-Agency Department of Environmental Supervision on Monday said nine illegal sawmills had been identified last month in the western Georgian regions of Imereti and Samegrelo.
The Parliament of Georgia on Thursday discussed and approved amendments aimed to reduce illegal logging, increase quality and competitiveness of Georgian wine, and combine the system of geographical indications for domestic products with the corresponding European Union structure.
The Environmental Supervision Department of Georgia found 730 cases of illegal hunting and violation of hunting regulations across the country over the past two years.
The Environmental Supervision Department of Georgia on Monday announced incoming restrictions on extraction of boxwood trees.
Georgia's State Sub-Agency Department of Environmental Supervision on Wednesday said its inspectors had identified cases of illegal felling and transportation of conifer trees in Adjara and Shida Kartli regions of the country ahead of the festive period.
The Georgian National Forestry Agency on Monday said 1,105 cases of illegal logging and timber transportation were registered in Georgia in 2023.