Source: Georgian Ministry of Environment, 1999.

There is no any significant economic instrument, serving for avoidance of environmental degradation. Some of them, which are implemented already from soviet time, are of "command-control" type and could not be implemented effectively (like: charges for land degradation, etc.).

Environmental permitting procedure, which is conducted by Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection according to the laws "On Environmental Permit" and "State Ecological Expertise", practically has the result of inventory of activities, which apply for permit. There is no monitoring of activities, after permit is granted. Significant number of activities in the city is carried out without application for permit. There is no clear permitting procedure, transparency in decision-making, public participation.

There are charges for illegal cutting of trees in the city area, calculated according the method, and adopted by the municipality. In 1998, for instance, 79 cases of violation are recorded, and calculated damage made 27,844.25 GEL (Georgian lari). In fact, strong, city-wide permanent process of green-zone degradation is taking place (commercial activities, private garage/building construction etc.).