Five WA forestry groups are to be given federal funds to help promote the rapidly expanding plantation timber industry.

Forestry Minister Ian Macdonald says an extra $3.4 million will be spent on 21 private forestry development committees across Australia during the next two years.

The committees work with local communities, industry and government on plantation timber issues such as infrastructure, log transport and water management.

They are currently established in Bunbury, Albany, Esperance and parts of the mid-west.

Julia Levinson from Albany's Timber 20/20 says the continued funding is welcome, especially during the current community debate about the impact of timber plantations.

"That's one of the good things about private forestry development committees and our ongoing funding is we do a lot of work with the community so we can let them know what's happening in advance and if they've got any questions, it's our role and our responsibility to go out and find out the answers to those questions," she said.