The Department of Environmental Supervision of Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection it tightening control over illegal felling and sale of trees and plants across the country ahead of the holiday season.

“The illegal felling, transportation and sale of conifer trees could incur fines of up to GEL 2,000 for the 1st offence and GEL 5,000 for repeated acts.

Offenders would be responsible for damages caused and face criminal charges if damage exceeded GEL 1,000.

Conifer trees could be harvested legally from dedicated plantations and homesteads, or imported from abroad.

Sale of legally obtained trees or plants required documents confirming ownership, with certificates of origin, issued by local municipalities, required for transportation of trees obtained from privately owned plots of land or artificially grown plantations”, - reads the statement.