VICTORIA'S Upper House has voted to establish almost 143,355ha of new red gum national and regional parks along the Murray, Goulburn and Ovens rivers.

The Greens delivered the numbers the Victorian Government needed to pass its Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment (River Red Gums) Bill 2009 through the Upper House last Thursday night.

Victorian Industry and Trade Minister Martin Pakula, who second read the Bill, said the three-year investigation by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council highlighted the need for "additional protection" of northern Victoria's river red gum forests.

But the Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said the additional protection meant the loss of 55 timber jobs and the removal of 30 cattlemen's stock from the Barmah Forest.

"The disappointing thing is the Government keeps thinking (park) tourism will make up for the losses in the timber and cattle industries," Mr Weller said.

"But the Government hasn't committed anything to employing more people in tourism in the Murray region."

Mr Pakula said timber workers had access to a $4.5 million assistance package, including industry adjustment payments and training.

"Re-employment opportunities for at least 10 timber workers are also being provided through the active forest health program," he said.

"Gunbower, Benwell and Guttram State forests will continue to be available for timber harvesting."

Mr Pakula said the Bill also allowed local residents to collect firewood, under permit, in areas of Shepparton Regional Park and Murray River Park designated by land managers.

"As a transitional measure, firewood will be able to be collected until 30 June 2011 from previous sawlog harvesting residue remaining on the ground in specified areas of Barmah and Gunbower national parks," he said.

"Licensed stock grazing will not be permitted in the new park areas. To assist licensees to adjust, grazing will be progressively phased out across the parks by no later than 30 September 2014."

Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance, representing some Murray and Goulburn River communities, has warned locking up and leaving more forests in national parks will degrade the forests.

Alliance spokesman Max Rheese said the river red gum forests had to be actively thinned and grazed to maintain their biodiversity.

He said that without human intervention the parks would become dense forests of young trees with little groundcover or biodiversity.