THE Victorian Government has approved a plan outlining when and where timber harvesting will occur across Victoria.

The Timber Release Plans have been prepared by VicForests and approved by the Department of Sustainability and Environment and identify the location and timing of timber harvesting and roading activities planned by VicForests over a five-year period.

"These plans are reviewed and amended each year to take into account changing conditions, including the impact of drought and bushfire, as well as the views of the community about where forestry activities should or should not occur," DSE executive director, forests and parks, Peter Appleford said.

"In doing this we have to balance the needs of the environment with the needs of regional communities that depend on the timber industry as a significant source of jobs," Dr Appleford said.

"This is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to the sustainable management of our public forests by balancing the maintenance of forest ecosystems and carbon cycles, the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable timber production.

VicForests will harvest an average of less than 0.1 per cent of our public native forests each year in accordance with the approved Timber Release Plan.

Dr Appleford said thePlan that had just been approved reduced the total number of coupes available for timber harvesting by 229.

"Some of these coupes have been removed in response to concerns from the public while others were removed because salvage logging activities have wound down in areas affected by the 2009 bushfires," he said.

"Much of the timber in the burnt areas is no longer of the quality required to supply our timber industry so the remaining coupes have been removed from the Timber Release Plan.

"The Timber Release Plan does not include any coupes in Western Victoria despite claims from some groups that there was an intention to expand harvesting in these areas."

VicForests has submitted over 5000 hectares of harvested and regenerated State forest to DSE for assessment against the standards specified in the Code of Practice for Timber Production. DSE is currently finalising its audit of these areas.

Some of the amendments made to the approved plan include:

Central Highlands: In response to community concerns, no new coupes have been located on the face of Mt St Leonard,  near Toolangi. In the Marysville District, the number of coupes on the TRP has reduced by 47, or 2119 hectares. The total area of State forest available for timber harvesting on the approved Timber Release Plans for the Central Highlands has been reduced by 7121 hectares.

East Gippsland: In response to community concerns, 18 coupes proposed for the Rich Forest Block, on the Errinundra  Plateau north of Orbost, have been removed from the TRP. A further eight coupes have been removed from the approved Timber Release Plans to meet protection requirements for the Long-footed Potoroo.