PM welcomes foresters to Canberra

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has opened parliament's doors to the "frowned upon" forestry industry, saluting them as the nation's "ultimate conservationists".

Mr Abbott announced on Tuesday the government would establish a forestry industry advisory council to be co-chaired by Rob de Fegely, the president of the Institute of Foresters of Australia.

The council was necessary because too little is known about the industry, Mr Abbott told a forestry industry dinner in parliament house in Canberra.

The prime minister was "pleased" foresters were able to attend parliament after many years without feeling like they were in "hostile territory".

"For three years you were officially frowned upon in Canberra because we had a government that was over-influenced by the Greens," Mr Abbott told the 600-strong gathering, which was also attended by Labor ministers.

"I look around and I don't see people who are environmental vandals, I see people who are the ultimate conservationists.

"I want to salute you as people who love the natural world."

Mr Abbott defended the Coalition's decision to remove world heritage listing for 74,000 hectare area of Tasmanian forest earlier this year.

"We have quite enough national parks, quite enough locked-up forests," he said.