Again in Obb! South Africa opens criminal case over trees destined for Georgia Five giant baobab trees were detained in the Republic of South Africa and were about to be sent to Georgia for an as yet undisclosed landscaping project. It turned out that the exporter does not have the necessary permits to uproot, transport and export protected trees. The story is surprisingly reminiscent of the previous epic with an African baobab to the dendrological park of the founder of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili. This time, the trees were found in the warehouse of the logistics company Africa Global Logistics in Durban, South Africa. Journalists from the Daily Maverick saw at least five huge baobab trees lying on their sides right on the asphalt. The roots and most of the branches were severed from the trees. They are in this situation, in the open sun, for two or three months. Baobabs in South Africa are a particularly protected tree species. Do not dislodge, damage, transport or export them without special permission. The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment confirmed that the trees were seized on July 17. Only then did the exporter try to get permission - on July 27. The department refused and explained that it cannot retroactively legalize actions that have become the subject of a criminal investigation. The exporter appealed the refusal. The complaint is still under consideration. Alleged violations of South African law are punishable by fines or imprisonment of up to three years. However, the names of the Georgian buyers are not disclosed. The logistics company claims that it only provides transport and cannot name the customer due to confidentiality. Why is this story so familiar? In 2022 it became known about the purchase of eight giant baobabs from Kenya for the Ivanishvili Arboretum in the village of Shkotili on the Black Sea. The removal of the trees caused protests by environmentalists and local residents.

Again in Obb! South Africa opens criminal case over trees destined for Georgia Five giant baobab trees were detained in the Republic of South Africa and were about to be sent to Georgia for an as yet undisclosed landscaping project. It turned out that the exporter does not have the necessary permits to uproot, transport and export protected trees. The story is surprisingly reminiscent of the previous epic with an African baobab to the dendrological park of the founder of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili. This time, the trees were found in the warehouse of the logistics company Africa Global Logistics in Durban, South Africa. Journalists from the Daily Maverick saw at least five huge baobab trees lying on their sides right on the asphalt. The roots and most of the branches were severed from the trees. They are in this situation, in the open sun, for two or three months. Baobabs in South Africa are a particularly protected tree species. Do not dislodge, damage, transport or export them without special permission. The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment confirmed that the trees were seized on July 17. Only then did the exporter try to get permission - on July 27. The department refused and explained that it cannot retroactively legalize actions that have become the subject of a criminal investigation. The exporter appealed the refusal. The complaint is still under consideration. Alleged violations of South African law are punishable by fines or imprisonment of up to three years. However, the names of the Georgian buyers are not disclosed. The logistics company claims that it only provides transport and cannot name the customer due to confidentiality. Why is this story so familiar? In 2022 it became known about the purchase of eight giant baobabs from Kenya for the Ivanishvili Arboretum in the village of Shkotili on the Black Sea. The removal of the trees caused protests by environmentalists and local residents.