VicForests has been charged over alleged illegal logging.

Charges were laid against the government-owned logging agency by Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning under section 45 of the Sustainable Forests (timber) Act, accusing it of logging protected rainforest buffer zones within the Serpentine Creek site of significance near Cann River.

VicForests says it prides itself on high standards of forestry, and is treating the allegations seriously.

“We have identified rainforest in the area and applied buffers as required,” VicForests compliance manager, Bill Paul said.

“At this stage we don't believe we have done anything wrong. We've gone through a process to identify forest and marked out buffers and protected that rainforest.”

The first court date for the case is on April 19.

The charges come with a maximum penalty of $38,000.