Tasmania's forestry industry under scrutiny at budget estimates hearing

SST, then known as Forestry Tasmania, was audited for Forest Stewardship Council certification in 2014 and failed to meet 10 criteria to receive the classification.

In particular, auditors wanted the forestry company to adapt procedures to protect threatened and endangered species and areas with high conservation values.

In budget estimates on Wednesday, Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said there was 34,000 hectares of old-growth forest scheduled to be logged within permanent timber production-zoned land.

She said there was more high conservation value forest within informal reserves due to be turned into future permanent production forest land and available for logging next April.

"Your government's policies are undermining the chances of getting FSC," Ms O'Connor said.

Ms Courtney said she had held a productive meeting with FSC auditors when they visited the state again in April.

"The board of SST is absolutely committed, as are we, to achieving FSC (certification)," she said.

"It is not an easy thing to achieve, nor should it be, and we absolutely accept that.

"I reject that the government is undermining SST's desire for FSC certification."

Ms Courtney later told the committee she believed SST was meeting sawlog supply obligations to contractor despite its board writing in 2016 writing to then-Resources Minister Guy Barnett with a statement they were unable to do so within the land they were able to harvest.

This led to a decision to open up forests reserved under the Tasmanian Forestry Agreement to logging next year.

Ms Courtney later said she would provide further details on SST's ability to meet its sawlog quota when the company was scrutinised in government business enterprise hearings next year.

Budget estimate hearings will conclude on Thursday.