Forest Code of Georgia (No. 5949-SS of 2020)

This Code regulates legal relations related to the management, use, protection and restoration of the forest of Georgia. It establishes the legal framework for forest governance, defines key terms, sets out the principles of sustainable forest management, and determines the competences of state, municipal and other authorities involved in the management and supervision of the forest sector.
The Code defines the forest of Georgia as including forests under state, municipal and private ownership and establishes that the ownership of forest is inseparable from ownership of the land plot. It provides for the classification of forests into categories, including protected, protective, recreational and commercial forests, and sets out their respective management objectives. It also regulates the assignment, termination and restoration of forest status, as well as the determination and adjustment of forest boundaries.
The Code establishes provisions on forest management planning, including forest inventory, monitoring and forest management plans. It determines the institutional framework for forest policy and administration, including the competences of the Ministry, autonomous republics, municipalities and forest management bodies. The Code also provides for public access to information and participation in decision-making processes related to forest management.
The Code regulates forest use, including general forest use and special forest use. It sets out rules governing timber harvesting, the extraction of non-wood forest products and secondary wood materials, and the use of forest areas for specific purposes, including agricultural use, recreation, scientific research, aquaculture, hunting areas, animal shelters and breeding sites, infrastructure development, and the use of subsoil resources, subject to the conditions and restrictions established by the legislation.
The Code establishes measures for the protection and conservation of forests, including the prevention of degradation, and the control of pests, diseases and other harmful factors. It contains provisions related to erosion, landslides, and other natural hazards, and provides for afforestation, reforestation and forest tending activities. It also includes provisions concerning the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems, vegetation and wildlife associated with forest areas.
The Code further establishes provisions on liability for violations, enforcement measures and administrative procedures. It also includes provisions on education and awareness, and addresses the use of forest areas in relation to other sectors, including water use, recreational and resort activities, and other uses regulated in accordance with the objectives and functions of forest management.