Bosworth selected as forest chief

Dale Bosworth, a University of Idaho graduate who began his Forest Service career at St. Joe National Forest 35 years ago, has been chosen to lead the agency, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said Thursday.

"I'm deeply honored to be asked to be chief of the Forest Service," Bosworth said in a statement. "It will be a pleasure to lead an organization whose employees are recognized for their dedication, professionalism, and leadership in natural resource management."

Since 1997, Bosworth has served as the chief of the Northern Region, overseeing 25 million acres in national forests and grasslands, including 6 million acres in North Idaho. Before that, Bosworth worked as regional forester for the Intermountain Region, which includes 13 million acres in southern Idaho, from Payette National Forest to the Sawtooths.

"Dale knows every national forest in Idaho like the back of his hand," Gov. Dirk Kempthorne said. "It's a real pleasure to see one of our own at the top."

Bosworth replaces former Chief Mike Dombeck, who retired March 31. Dombeck called the appointment "a great choice."

"He is among those I recommended and discussed with Secretary Veneman," he said. "Dale was instrumental in developing key parts of the Forest Service's natural resource agenda and led development of the roads rule."

Bosworth helped develop a policy evaluating roads in the country's national forests.

The policy was followed by a Clinton administration plan to ban logging and road-building in 58 million acres of national forest lands, except in rare circumstances.

"The future of the timber industry in this part of the country is not going to depend on these roadless areas," Bosworth told a reporter for the Missoulian last June.

Cheered by environmentalists but condemned by Western Republicans and the timber industry, the policy was scheduled to take effect March 13. But President George W. Bush postponed it, calling for a review.

Bosworth - who was headquartered in Missoula - worked closely on the roadless plan with Mat Millenbach, director of the Bureau of Land Management for Montana.

"He has a good land ethic," said Millenbach, who also worked with Bosworth as the Utah BLM director. "He's the kind of person you like to see in public service - professional and willing to listen."

As chief of the agency - part of the Agriculture Department - Bosworth will oversee 192 million acres of national forests and 33,000 employees.

His appointment was hailed by supporters of expanding logging on forest land, while environmental groups called Bosworth a "moderate" choice.

"We're very pleased the administration has chosen a professional forester to lead the agency," said Stefany Bales, spokeswoman for the Intermountain Forest Association, a timber industry group. "He's a Westerner, and he understands Western public lands issues."

Bosworth's handling of wildfires last summer makes him aware of fuel-loading in national forests and the need for selective thinning, Bales said.

"The last chief didn't spend a lot of time addressing that," Bales said. "We're hoping Dale does."

Following wildfires that swept through western states last summer, Bosworth pushed for support of "stewardship contracts," which were designed to thin forests while improving wildlife habitat.

Environmental leaders criticized Bosworth's support of logging in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. But he also rejected a timber sale in Clearwater National Forest last summer, after environmental groups expressed concern.

"It could have been a lot worse," said John Osborn, founder of The Lands Council, a Spokane-based environmental group. "It's difficult looking at Bosworth's record to discern a vision - particularly of one deeply committed to the environment."

John McCarthy, conservation director of the Idaho Conservation League, said that Bosworth's moderate stance would be tested by the Bush administration.

"We hope he remains moderate," McCarthy said. "We hope Bosworth's interests in watersheds and healthy ecosystems doesn't get crushed by a timber industry bent on unsustainable logging."

As news spread within regional offices of the Forest Service, employees cheered the selection of Bosworth, 57.

"They could have brought in somebody from outside the Forest Service who didn't know how the organization works," said Pat Aguilar, deputy supervisor of Idaho Panhandle National Forests. "It's so important to have a chief who understands what we're trying to do and can articulate that to the Congress."

Bosworth, a native of California, graduated from the UI in 1966 in forestry.

Sen. Larry Craig, an outspoken critic of Dombeck, called Bosworth an "outstanding choice."

Craig, who earlier introduced legislation making the appointment subject to congressional confirmation, said he would not reintroduce the legislation in light of Bosworth's appointment.

"I am certain that he will be sensitive to the concerns of local communities most immediately and directly affected by Forest Service decisions," Craig said.

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