We are delighted to welcome three new state foresters to the Council of Western State Foresters -- David Smith of Hawaii; Joe Freeland of Nevada; and Eddie Tudor of New Mexico.  

CWSF is also pleased to announce that Greg Josten, state forester of South Dakota, has joined the CWSF executive committee as treasurer.  Greg will serve out the remainder of the term vacated by Tony Delfin, former New Mexico state forester.  As a member of the CWSF executive committee, Josten is also a voting member of the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition executive board.  

David Smith of Hawaii is a veteran state wildlife biologist and forestry and wildlife manager with nearly three decades of experience. Prior to his new role leading the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, David played leading roles in the stewardship of state forest reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, game management areas, public hunting areas and offshore-island seabird sanctuaries.

Joe Freeland brings over 30 years of experience in fire and natural resource management to his new position as state forester and fire warden for the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Most recently, Joe served as a fire and aviation advisor for the Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C. Joe assumed his new role in early April.

Eddie Tudor, state forester of New Mexico, has been with the New Mexico State Forestry Division for 26 years. Eddie started his career in fire management and suppression and later served in leadership roles at Smokey Bear Historical Park, the Capitan District, and in the Santa Fe office. Eddie is also chair of the Natural Lands Protection Committee, the Western representative for the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (Smokey Bear) Committee, and is a member of the Wildland Fire Committee.  

CWSF’s members include 17 Western U.S. state foresters and six American-affiliated Pacific island foresters.

Our members represent a wide range of organizations including state divisions of forestry and forest service; departments of lands and natural resources; divisions of fish and wildlife; universities; departments of forestry and fire protection; divisions of agriculture; and territorial forestry groups.  

Unlike other organizations focused on just one aspect of forestry, CWSF and our members take a broad and comprehensive approach to forest management, providing insight and expertise on the all the complex and interrelated factors at play in Western forestry.

Learn more about CWSF members, click here.