GRANBY, Colo. – Ron Cousineau, district forester for the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Granby District, has been recognized with a 2015 Presidential Field Forester Award from the Society of American Foresters.
National Award Recognizes Foresters’ Dedication
The award recognizes foresters “who have dedicated their professional careers to the application of forestry on the ground using sound scientific methods and adaptive management strategies,” and is given to only one individual from each of nine SAF national voting districts each year.
“There are those in SAF who think this award is its most prestigious, and I wouldn’t disagree with that,” said Mike Lester, state forester and CSFS director.
“Ron’s can-do attitude exemplifies what the CSFS expects of our employees. He really knows how to get things done.”
Cousineau’s district was at the heart of Colorado’s mountain pine beetle epidemic that peaked in 2008. He worked with numerous landowners, adapted his management efforts and strengthened partnerships to ensure that more than 20,000 acres of beetle-kill timber on private and state forests could be harvested while still viable.
Cousineau’s Forestry Career
Cousineau has been with the CSFS since 1991, employed the past 23 years as a forester on the Granby District that serves Grand, Summit and Eagle counties.
Previously, he worked for the USDA Forest Service and Wyoming State Forestry Division, and is an accomplished wildland firefighter. He has been a member of SAF for 24 years, serving as an officer for its Northwest Colorado Chapter and as SAF Colorado-Wyoming State Chair in 2010.