Native timber harvesting in Victoria's state forests ended 1 January 2024.

As a result, Victoria will be home to an area of native forest without logging that is larger than the entire land mass of Tasmania.

The end of native timber harvesting is an opportunity to establish new ways of caring for our forests into the future. This includes managing forests for community needs and supporting Traditional Owners to heal and care for Country.

Victorians will be asked about their views on the future of how state forests are managed.

Great Outdoors Taskforce

On 1 April 2024, the Victorian Government announced the next stage in the future of Victoria's state forests, with the appointment of a Great Outdoors Taskforce.

Former Minister for Environment, Lisa Neville, will lead the Taskforce that will consider future use of over 1.8 million hectares of state forest previously managed for timber harvesting (outside the Central Highlands area）.

Work is underway with Traditional Owners to allow flexibility for each relevant Traditional Owner Group to determine its involvement in the Taskforce as well as ensuring the state-wide interests of Aboriginal Victorians in this work.

As part of this work, the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council will be conducting scientific values assessments of the area to support understanding of forest values. The work will be undertaken over the next 12 months and details of consultation will be available shortly.

Map of the forests the Great Outdoors Taskforce will be consulting on

map of the forests the Great Outdoors Taskforce will be consulting on which is primarily forests formerly covered by the Timber Allocation Order Gippsland and East Gippsland . The areas the Eminent Panel is consulting on has been coloured differently so the two consultations can be differentiated

Central Highlands state forests

The Eminent Panel for Community Engagement, established in 2021 to consider future use of Immediate Protection Areas, has finalised its engagement process in the Central Highlands state forests. The Panel has undertaken extensive community engagement to help determine the future use and management of Central Highlands state forests. The Panel is currently preparing its recommendations to government on the future use and management of these forests.

Read the latest information on the Eminent Panel's work.

Map of the Central Highlands state forests

Map showing the Mirboo North and Strathbogie Ranges Immediate Protection Areas

Strathbogie Ranges and Mirboo North

The eminent panel's report for Mirboo North and Strathbogie Ranges Immediate Protection Areas was completed in 2022. The Victorian Government is currently considering its response.

Page last updated: 14/06/24