The Taungurung Land and Waters Council has called on the Victorian government to "put Country and people first" when deciding on the future of the Central Highlands forests following direct involvement in the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement.

The Council's position is expressed in a new report that represents the findings of a Taungurung-led research project, identifying significant cultural landscapes in the Central Highlands.

The Taungurung Traditional Owners have called for forests within these cultural landscapes to be designated as Cultural Reserves rather than National Parks to enable this significant part of Taungurung Country to be managed consistently according to Taungurung cultural knowledge.

The Council's executive manager of biocultural landscapes, proud Taungurung man Matthew Shanks, said on Monday that "Cultural Reserves allow Country to be managed in a way that is consistent with our knowledge and values as Taungurung people".

"This is the way Country has always been for the Taungurung – people belong to Country," he said.

"In contrast, National Parks reflect a twentieth century model of conservation that believes the best way to conserve the natural values is through the exclusion of people."

The Council notes that active management for a broad range of values is needed to heal and care for Country, which includes: The health and wellbeing of plants and animals; Cultural values such as stories, connections and physical cultural heritage; Care for dreaming places and journey pathways; and Restoring conditions for the return of culturally identified species.

TLaWC advocates for "healthy Country for all people", recognising that local communities are deeply connected to these State forests and want to continue accessing these forests for a range of uses and support the protection and management of healthy forests.

The organisation seeks to enact the responsibilities and obligations to Taungurung Country that are guided by Taungurung cultural lore, "and the future of the Central Highlands forests we've proposed connects deeply with this approach", the Council said in a joint statement.

Mr Shanks said Taungurung biik (Country) is a human-made landscape that has been developed over tens of thousands of years through intimate relationship between Country and Taungurung people.

"This relationship was disrupted with colonisation, and the 'locking away' of Country from people has resulted in the ongoing decline of the health of Country," he said.

"Country needs people, and it needs right-way relationships with people."

National Indigenous Times has contacted Victorian environment minister Steve Dimopoulos for comment.