The Georgian government plans to restore physical forest protection by creating a new “forest guard” position and adding 499 employees to the National Forestry Agency under amendments to the Forest Code submitted to parliament.
The draft law, prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, says illegal logging remains one of the country’s main environmental challenges.
The explanatory note states that preventing illegal logging requires physical forest protection, stronger human and technical resources, clear responsibility for specific territories, and regular monitoring.
Under the proposed amendments, the National Forestry Agency would regain responsibility for physical forest protection.
The government says the changes aim to improve forest protection, reduce illegal logging, and create a more effective and less bureaucratic forestry management system.
The draft law proposes creating the position of “forest guard,” with each guard assigned to a specific territory.
Forest guards would be responsible for physical forest protection, prevention and detection of administrative violations, ensuring sustainable forest management principles are followed, supervising proper allocation of logging activities, and monitoring the correct preparation of timber origin documents.
“The forest will be better protected and managed,” the authors of the draft law state.
The amendments would also increase staffing at the National Forestry Agency by 499 employees.
The changes would increase state budget spending by GEL 28.8 million in 2026 and by GEL 19.7 million annually between 2027 and 2029.
The draft law is expected to enter into force immediately after publication.
