Nana Devdariani, the Head of the Center of Global Studies and a member of the Alliance of Patriots party list, talked about the sale of woodlands to citizens of China on air at TV Obiektivi’s Night Studio on August 17. According to her, a large part of woodlands in Georgia have been given to the citizens of China with a long-term loan agreement.
Devdariani’s statement that Chinese citizens allegedly own a large part of woodlands in Georgia through long-term loans is disinformation. Only one Chinese company owns a forest in Georgia until 2027. The share of the forest, owned by the company, only accounts for 1.4% of all the woodland in Georgia. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, there has been no case of giving a forest to any citizen of China throughout the last five years in any form.
- Only one Chinese company owns a forest in Georgia until 2027 and the share of the forest, owned by the company, only accounts for 1.4% of all the woodland in Georgia.
LLEP National Environment Agency informed Myth Detector that there is only one Chinese company among all the licensees, and it owns a forest in Georgia until 2027. It obtained the license in 2007. It owns the woodlands until 2027 in various regions of Georgia – Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Adjara –39.1 hectares in total. According to the National Forestry Agency, the total woodland area in Georgia is 2,822.4 hectares, with 642.1 hectares falling in the occupied territories. Therefore, the Chinese company only owns 1.4% of all the woodlands in Georgia through a temporary ownership.
- There has been no case of giving a forest to any citizen of China throughout the last five years in any form.
Myth Detector contacted the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia to verify the information about giving forests to the citizens of China. According to the letter sent by the Ministry, there has been no case of giving a forest to any citizen of China throughout the last five years in any form.
Mythlab
