News
The Department of Environmental Supervision Identified 112 Cases of Illegal Forest Use in July
Employees of the Department of Environmental Supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture identified 112 cases of illegal forest use between July 1 and July 31, 2026.
Of the identified violations, 67 cases involved the illegal harvesting and transportation of timber, while 45 cases concerned violations of technical regulations by sawmills and instances of illegal activity.
Of the identified violations, 15 cases contain elements of a criminal offense. The relevant materials were forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further action.
In July 2026, five unregistered sawmills were sealed. A total of approximately 480 cubic meters of illegally harvested timber was seized.
By region, the highest number of cases was recorded in Adjara, with 27 cases, followed by 20 cases in Imereti, 18 in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, 15 in Kakheti, 9 in Samtskhe-Javakheti, 8 in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, 6 in Kvemo Kartli, 5 in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, 3 in Guria, and 1 in Shida Kartli.
The protection of natural resources and the prevention, suppression, and detection of illegal use of forests are a top priority for the Environmental Supervision Department. The Department’s crews conduct continuous 24-hour patrols nationwide, and immediate action is taken in response to every report received through the Ministry’s hotline (153).
In the first seven months of this year, a total of 1,026 cases of illegal forest use were identified nationwide. A total of 42 illegal sawmills were sealed.
