The government is under mounting pressure over the impact of its own logging business on nature.

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The historically divisive issue of taking slow-growing hardwoods from native forests has become even trickier as the government works to deliver its promised Great Koala National Park.

That’s because logging by the state-owned Forestry Corporation is continuing in forests earmarked for inclusion in the new refuge.

Conservationists are incensed, saying endangered koalas and greater gliders can’t afford to keep losing what’s being taken.

In August, the government announced the appointment of an independent expert panel to lead consultations on what the forestry industry should look like in the future.

One of five options being put to stakeholders – including industry players – is an end to native forest logging within four years, with supply to be met through other sources.

That lines up with the end of existing wood supply contracts from northern forests.

Other options include business as usual, reducing native timber harvesting until other sources are found, or putting native forests under indigenous management with extra supply to come from private and public plantations.

Stuart Blanch is WWF-Australia’s forests expert and says the inclusion of an exit option is a big deal.

“I think this is the first time that a NSW government process has seriously consulted stakeholders on ending native forest logging,” he says.

“I think this is showing there’s enough people in government and parliament who think it’s safe enough to articulate this as a real issue they need to explore.”

Dr Blanch is among those who’ve been consulted and he’s glad the government has created the conditions for an important, overdue and difficult discussion.

“The genie is now out of the bottle regarding completing the transition out of native forest logging to plantations.

“The experience from the shutdown of logging in Western Australia and Victoria is that once a government starts to canvass a full exit, the private sector stops investing, and workers start finding new jobs.”

Dr Blanch says that if an exit is on the cards, the government will need to start planning now so the transition is well funded and well executed.

In a statement, the government said the panel had been tasked with consulting widely on the future of forestry in NSW, with its work to feed into an industry action plan.

“We want input on what forests and a sustainable forestry industry will look like in the next 30 years,” it said.

“Consultation will consider key areas such as the sustainability of forestry operations, the future of all types of forestry (softwood, hardwood, native), environmental concerns, community demand for timber, climate change mitigation and adaptation and more.”

According to Forestry Corporation’s online plan portal, in the immediate region logging operations are currently planned for or underway in Myall River State Forest (SF), Chichester SF, Bulahdelah SF, in the Barrington Tops and Kiwarrak SF.

By Tracey FERRIER, AAP