Georgia Toughens Sanctions for Illegal Logging

Parliament has approved a draft law initiated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture that tightens sanctions for illegal logging. The legislative changes, which amend the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses, aim to strengthen legal responsibility for environmental violations. The Ministry's press service announced the decision.

Under the new amendments, stricter penalties will be imposed for offenses such as illegal logging, unauthorized timber production, improper transportation of roundwood, and violations related to sawmill registration and operations. However, the law preserves the right of rural populations to collect firewood in accordance with existing regulations.

The draft law was submitted for its third reading by Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili.

Key provisions of the law include:

• Sawmill Registration Violations: Failure to comply with sawmill registration requirements is now punishable by one to three years in prison. Repeat offenses carry a sentence of three to five years.

• Unmarked Timber Storage: A new Article (287²) has been added to the Criminal Code. It criminalizes the placement of unmarked roundwood (logs) at sawmills, particularly when the individual has previously been administratively sanctioned or the environmental damage is deemed significant. Penalties include a fine and/or one to three years of imprisonment. In cases involving a large quantity of unmarked timber, sanctions increase to three to five years of imprisonment or a fine. Legal entities may be subject to liquidation or barred from conducting business for five years.

• Illegal Logging and Timber Production: Individuals who illegally fell trees or produce timber face one to three years of imprisonment, increasing to four years for repeat offenses. Legal entities may be dissolved or lose their business rights for up to five years.

• Large-Scale Logging in Protected Areas: The illegal felling of large quantities of trees within state forests or protected zones carries a penalty of five to seven years of imprisonment and/or a fine.

These amendments mark a significant step in Georgia's ongoing efforts to curb illegal logging, protect its forests, and promote sustainable environmental practices.