Deputy Chief Private Forest Division, Aug. 28

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry has named Josh Barnard as deputy chief of the agency’s Private Forests Division. Barnard assumed his new responsibilities Aug. 1. The former deputy chief, Kyle Abraham, was promoted to chief of the Division earlier this summer. An Idaho native, Barnard first worked for ODF on the Clatsop State Forest before pursuing jobs managing industrial timberlands in the private sector. He returned to ODF six years ago. For the past three years he has managed the Private Forests Division’s Field Support Units. In that role he has overseen final development of stream-protection rules and guided work on rulemaking to protect an endangered bird called the marbled murrelet, which nests in coastal forests. In his new role, Barnard will help plan, develop, and direct Private Forests Division programs to protect and maintain Oregon’s forests and the diverse services they provide. The Division is responsible for forest health, family forest landowner assistance and helping Oregonians follow the Forest Practices Act governing timber harvesting and replanting. “I’m very excited to serve as the next deputy chief,” Barnard said. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to guide the Division’s operations at a time when Oregonians are looking to forestlands to meet both traditional needs and help address new challenges.” 
Barnard holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in Forest Products-Timber Harvesting, and a master’s in Business Administration from Washington State University.