Stricter Controls on Boxwood Harvesting Implemented
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture is tightening controls on boxwood harvesting ahead of the upcoming Palm Sunday celebrations. Cutting down, uprooting, or damaging boxwood branches is a punishable offense. Fines have been increased, now ranging from 500 to 2,000 GEL. If environmental damage exceeds 1,000 GEL, the violation will be treated as a criminal case.
The National Forestry Agency reminds the public that boxwood may only be sourced from privately owned nurseries or cultivated plantations. This requires a certificate of origin issued by the local self-government body.
“The Colchian boxwood is a protected Red List species, and its harvesting is strictly prohibited within state forests. The National Forestry Agency again calls on the population to obey the law; as in previous years, strict legislative sanctions will be applied to every detected violation,” stated Besik Amiranashvili, Head of the National Forestry Agency.
Boxwood drying has been a significant issue in Georgia for several years. In addition to pathogenic fungi, natural Colchian boxwood groves have been threatened by an invasive pest—the boxwood moth. Since 2016, the National Forestry Agency has implemented comprehensive measures in managed forests to combat these threats and conserve the species. Notably, these efforts have resulted in a dramatic reduction in pest populations over the years.
