Illegal Logging of Timber

Employees of the Environmental Supervision Department and National Forestry Agency have found 265 facts of illegal mining and transportation of wood from July 1 to July 31, 2018, including 21 facts of criminal offenses.

69 facts of illegal mining and transportation of timber were found in Samtskhe-Javakheti, 37 facts were detected in Adjara, 26 in Imereti, 9 in Guria and 18 in Racha- Lechkhumi Kvemo Svaneti, in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti there were 27, Mtskheta-Mtianeti-1, Shida Kartli-33, Kvemo Kartli- 11, Kakheti Region- 34 facts.

Overall, 2352 m3 of timber was illegally obtained.

In the same period, 61 facts of Sapphire Rules violation were observed and 4 unregistered screws detected. Materials are sent to relevant agencies for further analysis.

On July 26, the Investigation Service entered the villages of Chuberi and Khaisi to investigate claims of illegal wood logging. The locals did not give the law enforcers the opportunity to work, throwing sticks and stones in their direction.

On July 5, as a result of a heavy rain the River Nenskra damaged bridges and several houses in the village Chuberi. The Prime Minister, Mamuka Bakhtadze, visited the disaster zone and said he would discuss the timber logging in the Parliament Session, announcing plans to tighten regulations.

In addition, on August 2, Mamuka Bakhtadze said that the government would punish those involved in illegal cutting of timber. Bakhtadze also claimed that timber cutting will be released from VAT, which he said, will reduce interest in this direction.

By Mariam Kukhilava