Without the support of eight members of  the Legislative Council, the legislation passed by the House Of Assembly to create 506,000 hectares of reserves and cut wood supply to 137,000 cubic metres a year will be rejected.

However, the best-case scenario for the government appears to be just seven yes votes, forcing a tie.

President Sue Smith would then have the casting vote and she has been a consistent critic of the forestry peace process. 

Many MLCs did not believe the agreement would result in a sustainable industry or deliver peace.

So far only three of the 13 independents _ Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest, Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch and Hobart MLC Rob Valentine _ have  indicated that they were more likely to back the agreement, although they were seeking more information and keeping an open mind. 

Mr Finch said he would gauge the views of his electorate before deciding, but was encouraged by the agreement of environment and industry groups.  

``We've got more of a chance of certainty with those players agreeing,'' he said. ``I understand others are feeling disenfranchised but how big a  table do you want?'' 

The government can also count on Labor MLC Craig Farrell's vote.

Critics of the deal include Huon MLC Paul Harriss, Apsley MLC Tania Rattray, Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall, Nelson MLC Jim Wilkinson, Liberal MLC Vanessa Goodwin, Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage and Windermere MLC Ivan Dean.

Ms Rattray said the industry had compromised too much while the environment groups ``gave nothing''.

``I haven't had one email out of more than 100 in my inbox saying `you should support this','' she said.

Mr Harriss also slammed the deal and highlighted the absence of a signature from Timber Communities Australia, whose members are yet to vote on it. ``I'd be very doubtful that  TCA will support this,'' Mr Harriss said. 

Mr Wilkinson was concerned that   the industry would be unsustainable with such low amounts of wood supply. 

``At the moment I just cannot see how the government can turn their back on science for political expedience,'' he said.

Romney MLC Tony Mulder and Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney said they were undecided, and Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor did not return calls.

Even with the support of all three undecided MLCs, it is not enough to get the legislation over the line. 

Many of the 15 Legislative Council members were taken by surprise by the last-minute agreement reached on Thursday by environment and industry groups and the rapid response of the lower house, which passed the legislation yesterday morning. 

``I was floored,'' Mr Dean said. ``I was quite amazed at the speed with which this happened in the end and I'm concerned about aspects of it. 

``I'm not in a position now where I will support the locking up of Tasmania into the future that will cause problems for productivity and so on.''

  The Launceston Chamber of Commerce has called on all parties involved in the agreement to move on and focus on ``helping the recovery of the Tasmanian economy''.

Chamber executive Michael Bailey said he was eager to see the details of the legislation and called for any assistance to forestry workers to be quickly distributed.