As part of efforts to combat illegal forest use, employees of the Environmental Supervision Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture identified 1,203 cases of illegal forest use between January 1 and September 30, 2026. Of these, 145 cases contained indications of criminal offenses and the relevant materials were forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further action.

Of the identified violations, 850 cases involved the illegal harvesting and transportation of timber, while 353 cases concerned violations of technical regulations by sawmills and instances of illegal activities.

During the first nine months of 2026, 51 unregistered sawmills were sealed.

By region, the highest number of cases – 285 - was recorded in Adjara. This was followed by Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti with 220 cases, Kakheti with 193, Imereti with 166, Samtskhe-Javakheti with 89, Guria with 57, Kvemo Kartli with 56, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti with 50, Shida Kartli with 42, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti with 38.

Seven violations were also recorded in the capital. In Tbilisi, employees of the Environmental Patrol and Rapid Response Division identified, over an eight-month period, three illegal sawmills, three cases of violations of the technical regulations governing sawmills, and one case of illegal timber transportation.

The protection of natural resources and the prevention, suppression, and detection of illegal use of forests are a top priority for the Environmental Supervision Department. The Department’s crews conduct continuous 24-hour patrols nationwide, and immediate action is taken in response to every report received through the Ministry’s hotline (153).