It's hoped a much needed sea-change in the forestry industry is already underway.

The final report of the Independent Forestry Safety Review panel was released today, recommending a package of measures, including changing safety culture across the industry.

Worksafe New Zealand CEO Gordon MacDonald is confident they can significantly reduce the fatality rate by 2017.

He says the past 12 months has already seen a 20 percent fall in serious harm, showing good things are happening.

But he says that still needs to go further, and be sustained.