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Thursday,
August 9,
2007, #151 (1418)  Georgian
forests threatened by illegal logging and plant diseases
Georgian forests are under threat. Along with illegal logging, Georgian forests are endangered by plant diseases which are not being appropriately handled, resulting in the contamination of vast areas of forest. 55 percent of chestnut forests are infected in western Georgia, and 35 percent of pine and fir trees are infected in the east, writes the newspaper Rezonansi. Chestnut trees not only provide income from the nut trade but can also provide high quality timber for construction. However, the Imereti region is at risk of losing much of its chestnut tree reserves. In Borjomi and Bakuriani fir and pine forests also require urgent protection measures. The Plant Protection
Service identified the problems, and is pushing for action.
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