Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- According to the Law signed by the President of Uzbekistan, amendments and additions to the Code of Administrative Responsibility, administrative responsibility has been established for the development of project documentation leading to cutting down, uprooting, damage or destruction of valuable species of trees and shrubs.

Also, administrative penalties for illegal logging, uprooting and damage to trees were tightened and duplicative regulations were eliminated.

In addition, the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Protection and Use of Flora” establishes the obligations of persons who have illegally cut down or destroyed valuable species of trees and shrubs that are not included in the state forest fund to plant compensatory seedlings of trees and shrubs instead of illegally cut down and destroyed trees and shrubs in the place where cut down and destroyed trees and shrubs sprouted, and caring for them for 3 years.

It also envisages the application of financial sanctions to legal entities for illegal cutting or destruction of valuable species of trees and shrubs.

According to the amendments, for illegal cutting, uprooting, damage, destruction or replanting of trees, shrubs, other plants and young growth (Article 79 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility), the fine increases on average 5 times: for citizens - from 5-10 basic estimated values (1. 7−3.4 million soums) to 25−50 basic estimated values (8.5−17 million soums), for officials - from 10−15 basic estimated values (3.4−5.1 million soums) to 50−75 basic estimated values ( 17−25.5 million soums).

For the same offenses committed again within a year after the application of an administrative penalty (Part 2 of Article 79 of the Code of Administrative Offenses), the fine for citizens will increase from 10−20 basic estimated values to 50−75 basic estimated values (17−25.5 million soums), for officials - from 20−30 basic estimated values to 75−100 basic estimated values (25.5−34.0 million soums) with confiscation of the instrument or direct subject of the administrative offense. In addition, the list of penalties for this violation includes administrative arrest for up to 15 days.

The amendments also introduce administrative liability for the development of project documentation that entailed the felling, uprooting, damage or destruction of valuable species of trees and shrubs (Part 4 of Article 79 of the Code of Administrative Okrug) in the form of a fine of 15 to 25 basic estimated values (5.1-8.5 million soums).

The law “On the Protection and Use of Flora” is being amended to provide for an obligation to plant 100 trees and shrubs instead of each tree cut down, as well as to care for them for three years.

For legal entities, a separate fine is introduced for illegal cutting of valuable varieties of trees and shrubs in the amount of 100 to 300 basic estimated values (from 34 million to 102 million soums).

The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change is given the right to apply financial sanctions to legal entities if they admit guilt. If the violator does not admit guilt and does not pay the fine according to the decision of the Ministry of Environment, the case is sent to court.

Special provisions on damage to protective forest plantations along railways are excluded (Articles 113 and 148), which provided for lower fines - no more than 2 basic estimated values (680 thousand soums).