Tom Landwehr, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), announced today his selection of Forrest Boe as director of the DNR's Forestry Division.
For the past 29 years, Boe has worked for the DNR in numerous leadership positions, most recently as the deputy director of the Parks and Trails Division. He spent 20 years of his career in northern Minnesota with the agency's former Trails and Waterways Division.
"Forrest has a long track record at the DNR of working closely with industry groups and citizens on complex issues, including off-highway vehicle and recreational trail access in northern Minnesota," said Landwehr. "He has demonstrated outstanding leadership at every place he has worked within the agency."
One of Boe's first jobs during and after college was operating his own forestry business, which included tree planting and management. The business was inspired by his father, a DNR forester for 39 years.
"I've had an interest in forestry my entire life," Boe said. "I look forward to working with our extremely talented forestry staff."
Boe said one of his main goals will be to balance needs of the forestry industry with the environmental aspects of forestry.
As Forestry Division director, Boe will oversee a $70 million annual budget and a staff of 350 employees. The division is responsible for protecting people, property and natural resources from wildfire on 45.5 million acres of land in Minnesota. The division manages 4.2 million acres of state forest land for wildlife, timber and recreation.
Division staff works with the forest products industry to provide 30 percent of the industrial wood fiber used in the state. The division also works to prevent disease and insect infestation on forest lands, and offers forest management assistance and advice to private forest landowners.
Jack Rajala, owner of the Rajala Companies, a forest products company based in Bigfork, was among the panelists outside the DNR who interviewed candidates for the Forestry Division position. "I was very impressed with Forrest," Rajala said. "He brings a lot of enthusiasm and knows a lot about natural resources. He likes to keep learning and facing new challenges."
St. Louis County Land Commissioner Bob Krepps said he has worked with Boe on parks and trails issues over the past six years, and is confident Boe will work well with northern Minnesota counties on forestry issues. "Forrest has always been extremely open with us," Krepps said. "He has the personality to reach out."
Scott Dane, executive director of Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers of Minnesota, was also on the interview panel. "Two things really impressed me about Forrest. He has a long history of working for the DNR, which is extremely important. And secondly, he demonstrated a solid understanding of managing people. He has the management skills to bring the Division of Forestry together to do its job in the most efficient and professional manner."
Another panelist, Pete Aube, woodlands manager for the Potlatch Company, a forest products company, said, "He will bring energy and a different perspective to the position. I look forward to working with him on the substantial opportunities in Minnesota forestry."
Boe began his DNR career in 1983 as a development specialist on the Root River Trail. In 1986, he became area supervisor for the Trails and Waterways Division in Brainerd. He became the division's regional manager working out of Bemidji in 2001 and division director in 2006. When that division was merged with the Parks Division, Boe was appointed deputy director of the new Parks and Trails Division.
Boe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He lives in Hastings, Minn.
