Illegal felling, transportation of conifer trees identified in western regions ahead of festive season
The illegally cut trees and branches, found in the village of Erge in Khelvachauri municipality in the west and in the town of Agara in Kareli municipality in central-eastern Georgia, have been sealed. Photo: Environmental Supervision Agency
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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 body said the illegally cut trees and branches, found in the village of Erge in Khelvachauri municipality in the west and in the town of Agara in Kareli municipality in central-eastern Georgia, had been sealed.
The Agency added control over illegal tree felling and sale ahead of the holiday season had been tightened and noted fines of up to ₾2,000 ($743.59) for the first offence and ₾5,000 ($1,858) for repeat acts.
The Georgian National Forestry Agency said offenders would be responsible for damages caused and face criminal charges if damage exceeded ₾1,000 ($371.79).
The Environmental Supervision Agency said the regions with coniferous forests were under “stricter” control and “special” attention, while places of sale were “actively” monitored in the capital city of Tbilisi.
It added conifer trees could be harvested legally from dedicated plantations and homesteads, or imported from abroad.
The Georgian National Forestry Agency on Monday said it was tightening control over illegal tree felling and sale ahead of the holiday season.
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 Georgian National Forestry Agency on Monday said 1,105 cases of illegal logging and timber transportation were registered in Georgia in 2023.
Illegal forest felling, violations of forest legislation, transportation of timber and violations of technical regulations by sawmills were among environmental infringements identified by state supervision across Georgia over the past year.