State Forester Jim Karels has been appointed to serve as president of the National Association of State Foresters, a nonprofit national organization composed of the directors of forestry agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
A written statement from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says the appointment was announced at the NASF meeting Thursday.
Jim Karels has provided strong leadership on forestry, wildfire suppression and land management for more than 30 years. It comes as no surprise that he is now recognized among his peers as the best of the best, said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
According to the statement, the National Association of State Foresters represents state and territorial forestry agencies by helping to influence forest policy and lead efforts to promote healthy and sustainable trees and forests.
As president, Karels will work with the states, federal agencies and Congress to provide strategic direction, management oversight and policy leadership for the nations forests.
Director of the Florida Forest Service, Karels has more than 30 years of experience in land management and wildfire suppression, including four fire seasons with the U.S. Forest Service. He is the past chair of the Southern Group of State Foresters, is a member of the Governors Land Acquisition and Restoration Council and sits on numerous national boards and associations dealing with wildland fire suppression and forest land management.
He was the leader of the review team for the Yarnell Hill Fire, which took the lives of 19 firefighters in Arizona in 2013. Karels also organized and directed the interagency review team into the Blue Ribbon Fire, which took the lives of two Florida wildland firefighters in 2011.
The Florida Forest Service manages more than 1 million acres of public forest land while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire. For more information have a look at the Florida Forest Service website.
