National Forestry Agency finds 51 cases of illegal logging in July

The National Forestry Agency of Georgia on Monday said its employees had uncovered 51 cases of illegal logging and timber transportation taking place in various regions of the country in July.

The breakdown of the illegal logging incidents was as follows:

• Kakheti region - 26 cases of illegal logging
• Samtskhe-Javakheti region - 6 cases
• Guria region - 5 cases
• Imereti region - 5 cases
• Kvemo Kartli region - 2 cases 
• Shida Kartli region - 2 cases 
• Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti - 2 cases
• Mtskheta-Mtianeti - 1 case

The facts were detected by employees of regional forestry services operated by the Agency and Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, with the amount of illegally harvested timber totalling 102,874 cubic metres, the Agency said.

The body and the Department of Environmental Supervision also identified one unregistered sawmill within state forest territories in Kakheti region before sealing the operation and 15 cubic metres of lumber.

The Agency has detected a total of 481 cases of illegal logging and timber transportation across the country between January and July.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze last week said sanctions on illegal logging and illegal forest use would be tightened across the country, with changes also involving regulations on cutting and production of wood plants.