News
The Department of Environmental supervision has identified four illegal sawmills
Employees of the Environmental Supervision Department of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture have identified unregistered sawmills in Shida Kartli, Samegrelo, Adjara, and Guria.
In Monastery village, Khashuri Municipality, a sawmill was detected with Khashuri District Police, and five Red List–protected oak trees were found nearby.
In Kheta village, Khobi Municipality, an illegal circular sawmill was found in a citizen’s home, along with up to 6 cubic meters of processed wood and 10 logs of various sizes.
Officers from the Adjara and Guria Regional Departments uncovered unregistered sawmills: one in Meri village, Keda Municipality, and a circular sawmill in Mtispiri village, Ozurgeti Municipality, from which seven logs of various species were seized.
As all four cases involve signs of criminal offenses, the case materials have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action.
As part of efforts to combat illegal logging, the Department actively employs modern technologies and has strengthened sanctions. As a result of these measures, a decline in cases of illegal logging has been observed in recent years. The number of illegal sawmills has also decreased. In 2024, the Department identified 93 unregistered sawmills, while in 2025, the number fell by 31, with 62 cases recorded.
The patrol crews of the Department of Environmental Supervision conduct continuous 24-hour patrols nationwide to ensure the timely prevention, detection, and suppression of environmental violations. In addition, they provide immediate responses to all reports received through the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture’s hotline (153).
