Old-growth trees could be logged under native expansion

More than 6000 hectares of old-growth trees and parcels of land with Aboriginal heritage could be logged under a plan to expand native forestry.

Tasmania's Liberal government in February pledged to open up to 40,000 hectares of native forest, previously set aside as a "wood bank", for production.

Right-to-information documents have shown forestry company Sustainable Timber Tasmania identified 27 parcels of land for potential production in 2022 in a letter to the state government.

The 39,000 hectares of parcels include more than 6000ha of old-growth forest described as ecologically mature with negligible past disturbance.

The parcels, in the state's northeast and northwest, also contain dozens of identified nests of endangered wedge-tailed eagles and several Aboriginal heritage sites.

The locations of the Aboriginal sites have not been included in the documents but Sustainable Timber Tasmania noted they would be managed in line with heritage laws.

The Liberals have been criticised for not publicly revealing the locations of the expansion while forestry bodies have said the February announcement was not what industry wanted.

State Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the documents were proof the government had the information.

"Some of the forests on the Liberals' chopping block are around Beaconsfield, Lilydale, Scottsdale and - of course - in Takayna," she said.

"Page after page confirms these forests are home to threatened and critically endangered species like the masked owl, wedge-tailed eagle, Tasmanian devil and swift parrot."

Resources Minister Eric Abetz said the parcels had always been set aside for future forestry consideration.

The proposed expansion requires approval from Tasmania's parliament - the Liberals govern in minority with just 14 of 35 lower-house seats.

"(I am) am now taking a staged approach (before taking it to) the parliament for consideration, should we come to that position," Mr Abetz told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday.

"There will be an opportunity for all to scrutinise this throughout the parliament process."

The Liberals say sawmillers face increasing supply pressures partly because of the closure of native forestry in Western Australia and Victoria.

Labor leader Dean Winter said he supported native forestry and would "stand with industry" but did not say how he would vote in parliament.

"The Liberals want another forest war," he told reporters.

"We don't want a forestry war again and I don't think Tasmanians would either."

Crossbench independents Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston have voiced opposition to native forest logging.