Georgia: The diligent efforts of the Regional Forest Service employees under the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia, headed by Otar Shamugia, revealed 125 instances of illegal extraction and transportation of wood and forest across the nation.
These violations were not mere isolated incidents, but a grave and widespread problem. The Kakheti Forest Service employees alone uncovered 24 violations, with other regions also reporting significant numbers.
Swift and decisive action was taken against the violators, demonstrating the Ministry’s commitment to addressing this issue. They were promptly issued with relevant documentation, and their motor vehicles were seized and impounded in the ‘busy yards’ of the agency. The case materials have been promptly forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action, ensuring that these violations are not taken lightly.
In April this year, the employees of the National Forest Agency of the National Forestry Agency of the National forestry, in total, removed up to 34,295 cubic meters of various types of wood and forest, including [specific types], which were to be planted in the ‘busy yards’ of the agency. This diverse range of illegal extraction highlights the need for comprehensive intervention.
From January 2024, the National Forestry Agency has identified a staggering 334 facts of illegal extraction and transportation of wood and forest throughout the country. The volume of resources stored in busy yards is a significant 266,644 cubic meters, comprising various types of wood. This detailed information provides a clear picture of the scale of the problem and the resources involved.
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia is a governmental agency within the Georgian Cabinet in charge of regulating economic activity in the country’s agricultural sector and protecting the environment to increase the sector’s production capacity.
