WA bushfires ravage timber stocks

The West Australian timber industry is counting the cost of the recent South West bushfires, with more than 3000 hectares of pine plantations lost.

Salvage operations have begun to recover as much saleable timber as possible, while the industry predicts it will cost about $8 million to replace the destroyed Myalup plantations.

Forestry Minister Mia Davies said on Monday the local industry had lost an estimated one year's supply of timber that had been destined for major processors.

"We are well underway with our salvage operations and what can be saved will be supplied firstly to local mills and then possibly overseas," Ms Davies said.

"The plantations ranged in age from about three to 40 years and the younger trees which were damaged cannot be salvaged."

The Forest Products Commission estimated the timber industry will lose up to 500,000 cubic metres in future resources from the bushfires.