“We are working very hard to try to find some handful of coupes that we might be able to move into in the near time, but the combination of those two things is making that very difficult for my planners.”

The WOTCH case alleges VicForests failed to put protections in place for four threatened species heavily impacted by the black summer bushfires – the greater glider, smoky mouse, sooty owl and powerful owl.

Meanwhile, the state’s Information Commissioner on Wednesday published a report critical of VicForests’ handling of a series of Freedom of Information requests.

A woman who believed VicForests had spied on her and attempted to harm her reputation made multiple unsuccessful FOI requests over two years to try to access relevant information. The commissioner found VicForests focused on technical legal processes above other considerations and missed opportunities to help the applicant make a valid FOI request, which came at the expense of providing her fair access to information.

Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney said the government had provided VicForests with industry support payments for sawmill businesses and harvest and haulage contractors.

“We have put measures in place to support businesses and workers to keep their mortgages paid and food on the table while we work through the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision and the appeal.”

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek last year upgraded the listing for greater gliders from vulnerable to endangered because habitat destruction from logging and land-clearing has turned the large gliding possum into a rarity.

The Victorian government says logging has ceased across most of the state. Dawson told the ABC that timber was being imported from NSW and Tasmania.

In 2019, Premier Daniel Andrews announced the logging of native forests would be phased out in Victoria over the next decade, with a reduction in the current level of native timber available for logging from 2024-25.

Victorian Forest Alliance spokesperson Chris Schuringa said it was unreasonable to expect the public to continue to support native forest logging.

“The Andrews government has a plan to continue logging for another seven years. It’s simply not sustainable,” Schuringa said. “Transitioning workers now would be a win-win, rather than keep them hanging on in a destructive, declining and unpopular industry.”

A VicForests spokesperson said it was being financially supported by the government to enable it to provide compensation and stand-down payments to customers and contractors.

Get to the heart of what’s happening with climate change and the environment. Our fortnightly Environment newsletter brings you the news, the issues and the solutions. Sign up here.