As Victoria and Western Australia prepare to end native forest logging, Tasmania has expanded the area available for immediate harvesting — with the state government enthusiastically backing the industry. While some forests have been spared, environmental groups say Tasmania’s public forestry company, which trades as Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT), is adding more forests out of the public eye in remote areas. A further 1,000 hectares of native forest faces logging in Tasmania. They include a significant increase in remote Central Highland forest where old growth is more common, and in the takayna/Tarkine which conservationists have lobbied to be given national park status. STT updated its three-year schedule on July 1, showing the native forestry coupes available for logging at short notice.