Problems of Georgian forests

Georgian NGOs, analysts and ordinary citizens have expressed their utmost concern about the condition of Georgian forests. The previous administration encouraged the cutting of timber. As a result Georgian forests are in a bad condition, even in protected areas. Famous Georgian resorts like Borjomi, Abastumani, etc. have been stripped of their surrounding forests, which have been privatized and mercilessly exploited. There were also severe forest fires that were supposedly started by the Russians during the 2008 South Ossetian War.