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New Forest Code to approve by Georgian Parliament at the first hearing session
New Forest Code prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia was approved at the first hearing session, Parliament of Georgia.
The basic principles and legal instruments presented in the Forest Code will form the basis for sustainable and multi-functional forest management.
The Code ensures protection of the biological diversity of Georgia's forests, taking into account its ecological, social and economic functions. The purpose of the Code is to maintain and improve the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the forest.
The Forest Code of Georgia regulates the issuance of long-term licenses for timber production.
The practice of "social – illegal logging" will be gradually substituted by a sustainable forest management model. The timber resources will be produced by the Forest Management Agency, which will take measures to maintain the ecological function of forests and ensure social requirements as well.
As a result, timber resources will produced and used efficiently, illegal logging as well as negative impact on the forest will be reduced.
The updated model of forestry management addresses following aspects, namely to stimulate the recreational use of forest resources and increase the role of forests in the rural development, which in turn will reduce the pressure on forests.
The new Forest Code mandates the employment of professional staff in the forestry sector. The forest management body should ensure the mandatory participation of forestry specialists in the forest management.