
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.
As part of the amendments to the Law of Georgia on State Property, wood plants illegally obtained within the boundaries of state forests will be transferred to forest management bodies, with Deputy Agriculture Minister Nino Tandilashvili explaining the change would enable the latter to use the removed timber to meet a part of “social needs for timber resources” and reduce the scale of logging.
The new equipment is particularly important for the detection of offenses such as illegal logging, poaching and air pollution.
Georgian authorities have identified 204 cases of illegal logging, timber transportation and violation of technical regulations at illegal sawmills across the country throughout July, the Environmental Supervision Department announced on Thursday.
Between July 1-31, up to 600 cubic metres of illegally harvested timber were seized by the state agency, with a majority of 36 cases, out of 151, being identified in the eastern region of Kakheti.
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