Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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New Forest Code passes through third reading at the sitting of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of the Parliament of Georgia

Today, at the sitting of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of the Parliament of Georgia, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Nino Tandilashvili submitted the New Forest Code to pass it’s third reading.

The European Union, World Bank and German Government supported Georgian Government in the development of a new forest code. The project development process has taken 6 years. New Forest Code represents one of the most important parts of the forestry sector reform in Georgia. The bill meets the requirements of the Association Agreement with the European Union and addresses the needs of the National Forest Concept and Government Plans approved by the Parliament of Georgia in 2013. 

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has created and developed the New Forest Code together with Georgian forestry specialists and lawyers, who made huge endeavors in the project development process. The New Forest Code establishes the principles of sustainable forest management in the country. 

The final, third hearing of the new Forest Code will be held at the scheduled session in the Parliament within the next few days.

The bill aims to establish the sustainable and multi-purpose forest utilization, maintainance and protection of forest ecosystems, reasonable use of social and economic benefits. The bill will foster the implementation of the following activities:


 1. New forest farms will be established. The so-called "social cutting ‘’, the  practice of cutting trees for personal or commercial purposes will be changed gradually and replaced with the restoration of forests

2. Forest reform, as well as forest farming will contribute to the restoration of forests, combating invasive pests and diseases, implementation of effective measures for  forest fire prevention 

3. The participation of forestry specialists becomes mandatory in the forest management system. The number of employees will be increased in the forestry sector and  migration problem will be tackled in the regions. Moreover, losing professional staff in the forestry sector and other related problems will be solved

4. Harveting of pine, mushroom and other non-timber forest products for personal consumption will be provided free of charge

5. Log sort yards will be established in the municipalities of Georgia to enable access to timber, wood and lumber resources. Certain mechanisms are being developed to promote employment of local people and encourage sustainable biomass-energy production in the regions

 6. International practice is being introduced for classification of forests according to their functional purposes; As a result, multifunctional use of forests will be increased, including, development prospects for recreation areas and opportunities for ecotourism development, which will ultimately lead to the protection of forest ecosystems in the country

7. Permissible use of non-timber resources (fruits, berries, medicinal plants..) for commercial purposes will increase employment in the forestry sector, small enterprises will be developed, the budget from revenues, as well as incomes of rural residents will be also increased

8. The concept of forest fund is canceled under the new code and the definition of forest adopted by FAO is being introduced in the country. Forms of ownership are also changing. The forest of Georgia will unite - forests owned by the state, municipal and privately owned forests, as well as combination of their resources. The new definition, in turn, leads to the private ownership of forests (it should be noted, that private plots might gain the status of a forest, in case, if land owner wishes to acquire that status!)

9. The rule of issuing long-term licenses for forests will be abolished

10. Internationally recognized, unified registration system, such as National Forest Inventory, as well as National Forest Information System (NFIS) is being established in the country, which will contribute to the political decision making process and international accounting

11. The forest use, maintenance and restoration are becoming mandatory in accordance with the 10-year forest management plans