Fight against deforestation triggers riots in Georgia

In Georgia, the fight against illegal felling led to clashes of residents of two villages with law enforcers. Locals treat felling as their only source of livelihood.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 5, as a result of flooding, bridges and roads leading to the village of Chuberi were destroyed; some village houses were flooded. Environmentalists have associated the flooding with the uncontrolled felling. According to the authorities, the damage from the flooding made 2 million US dollars.

On July 26, units of special troops were deployed in the villages of Chuberi and Khaishi, the latter is in Svaneti. However, plans to liquidate illegal enterprises engaged in illegal felling and selling timber, caused indignation of local residents. They met law enforcers with stones and batons. Several people were injured, the "Rustavi-2" TV Channel reports.

Local residents demand to provide them with alternative ways of earning money.

"No one wants to cut down trees; we are not against nature; let trees grow, but people have no other way out," the "InterPressNews" quotes Garry Chkhvimiani as saying.

Mamuka Bakhtadze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, has announced legislative amendments for the sake of preserving forests. According to his story, the import of timber within the country will be exempt from taxes, but the export thereof will be limited.