The forestry industry on the NSW north coast is searching for new opportunities to secure its future in the wake of disruption and job losses caused by plans for a Great Koala National Park.

The supply of native hardwood harvested from the stunning forests of northern NSW was immediately cut by 40 per cent when the state government announced in September it would establish the Great Koala National Park (GKNP), transferring 176,000 hectares of state forest to the national park register.

Ashley Love and other conservationists began lobbying for the park about 15 years ago.

"Koala conservation efforts in this area go back to the 1970s, so for 50 or 60 years people have been trying to save koalas," he said.

He hoped a new visitor information centre and multi-day walking trails would boos

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