Environmentalists Against Long-Term Leasing of Forest Land

A group of environmental activists held a protest rally outside the President and government’s administration on May 31 to protest against a proposed draft law on forestry management, developed by the Ministry of Environment.

Environmental groups are against a provision of the draft law which allows forest land to be leased for 49 years.

State Minister for Economic Reforms Kakha Bendukidze says that a long-term leasing of forest land will make owners themselves more interested in protecting the forest and in reforestation.