As the New Year holidays approach, the relevant services of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture are tightening control over the harvesting and transportation of coniferous plants.

According to information released by the Ministry, the National Forestry Agency once again urges the public not to destroy natural resources and to use artificial Christmas trees instead.

“Illegal harvesting of coniferous plants, violations of transportation rules, and breaches of sales regulations are punishable by a fine of 2,000 GEL for the first offense. In the event of a повтор offense, criminal liability applies. At the same time, the environmental damage caused will be calculated. If the amount of damage exceeds 1,000 GEL, a criminal case will be initiated, punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment from 1 to 3 years. In cases of large-scale illegal harvesting of coniferous plants, where the damage to the environment exceeds 3,000 GEL, the penalty предусматривает imprisonment from 5 to 7 years. Legislative sanctions will be applied for every detected violation,” said the head of the National Forestry Agency, Kakha Tsertsvadze.

Coniferous trees and plants may be legally obtained from nurseries, plantations, household plots, or through import.

“When selling legally obtained trees and plants, the seller must present appropriate documentation confirming legal ownership. If coniferous plants are obtained from privately owned land or artificially established nurseries, a certificate of origin is mandatory for transportation, which is issued by the local municipal mayor’s office,” the statement says.