Since members of the six-member independent verification group were named in September, four subcontractors have been hired, including two former Wilderness Society employees, Sean Cadd and Virginia Young, and former Australian Forest Products Association head Allan Hansard.

Professor Jonathan West is leading the process that must also investigate how native forest reserve areas will affect wood supply requirements for the timber industry.

He said another 10 experts, mostly people knowledgable about industry development and timber availability, were required.

He said he was still hopeful of meeting the tight December 31 deadline to provide their first report.

"We're doing our best. I don't want it to take any longer on this than we have to but we don't want to do a half-baked job." He was unable to say how much funding the federal government would provide to cover the costs of subcontractors.

"It's a moving feast."

Signatories to the forestry statement of principles will meet today to discuss the outcomes of further research into Forestry Tasmania's planned logging in an area earmarked for immediate protection under the forestry peace deal.

Environment groups asked two independent schedulers to investigate other options, after they recommended Forestry Tasmania be allowed to continue logging in 25 coupes within the 430,000 hectares meant to be in an interim reserve until the verification group completes its work.

The Wilderness Society has called for a compensation clause to be triggered if the logging can't be rescheduled to an area outside the 430,000 hectares, but industry groups have warned they will walk away from the process if that happens.

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