The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched investigations in Vilnius and Telšiai District after receiving reports of logging of potentially illegal (unlicensed) trees. The perpetrators have been identified and ordered to compensate for the environmental damage caused.

According to a report received on 20 November last year, officials of the Department of Environmental Protection went to the plots of land belonging to the Valakupiai Forest District in Vilnius. It was found that the trees being felled did not comply with the requirements for selective sanitary felling. The case was reported in the media.

The investigation revealed that 33 trees had been illegally felled (without a permit). This amounted to 26.06 m³ of wood. The illegally felled timber was confiscated and handed over to the State Tax Inspectorate. The estimated environmental damage is €9 381. The person who carried out the work has also been identified and will be held liable under Article 272 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

On 20 January this year, a report was received that trees had been cut down in the village of Rūdupiai, Telšiai district, possibly without permission. The investigation revealed that 14 birch trees had been felled without permission on state leased land. 10 birch trees were in good condition, two were in poor condition (due to rot) and two were dead.

The environmental damage caused by the felling of the trees was calculated at €3,879 without a permit from the municipality.