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David Songulashvili: “Preventing the illegal use of natural resources, including forests, is a key pillar of environmental policy”.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. David Songulashvili, visited the Forest Service office in the village of Gumbra, Tskaltubo Municipality, where he familiarized himself with the working conditions on site and met with the staff.
The Imereti Forest Service employs 134 personnel, including 15 foresters and 72 forest guards. The office is equipped with high-standard inventory and necessary equipment.
“Preventing the illegal use of natural resources, including forests, is a fundamental component of our environmental policy. The professionalism and proactive efforts of foresters and the Environmental Supervision Department staff have been instrumental in preventing and swiftly addressing violations. I would also like to highlight that recent legislative amendments have improved working conditions and social guarantees, significantly boosting employee motivation,” said Minister Songulashvili.
The National Forestry Agency operates through regional forest services across nine regions nationwide. Its core activities include forest restoration and sanitation, forest inventory and management planning, sustainable multipurpose forest use, and expanding access to legally sourced timber.
“Institutional strengthening of regional forestry services and attracting qualified personnel are essential for effectively implementing our plans, ultimately ensuring the sustainable management of our forests,” stated Mr. Kakha Tsertsvadze, Head of the National Forestry Agency.
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Kakha Kakabadze, and the State Representative of the Imereti Region, Mr. Levan Zalkaliani, accompanied the Minister.