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.