Julia Lauch is Idaho’s new state forester, the Department of Lands announced.

She has 20 years of forestry and fire experience with state natural resource agencies and has spent more than a decade with the Idaho Department of Lands. She succeeds Craig Foss, who retired in November after nearly five years in the job and more than 29 with the department.

The state forester, a role delegated by the department director, is the leading advocate for management of the state’s forests, limiting damage from insects, disease and fire, and ensuring compliance with the Idaho Forest Practices Act, according to an IDL news release.

The state forester oversees the department’s Forestry and Fire Division, which manages wildland fire suppression, forestry assistance, and initiatives such as good neighbor authority, shared stewardship and forest legacy programs.

“Julia’s experience with forestry and fire along with her leadership and management skills made her my choice,” said department director Dustin Miller. “I am thrilled to have her in this position and expect great things.”

Lauch said she is honored to step into the job, appreciates the trust that Miller placed in her and looks forward to embracing the challenge.

“I believe in the importance of active forest management, safe and effective fire management, and ensuring that our forests continue to provide numerous benefits for Idahoans,” said Lauch, who will be based in Boise. “Unlike some states, Idaho has the forest products industry infrastructure vital to keeping our forests healthy and productive.”

Through good neighbor authority, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management work with IDL across jurisdictional lines to pursue landscape-scale benefits. Shared stewardship aims to direct federal and state resources where they can have the most impact on protecting communities and reducing threats to forests, according to IDL. Forest legacy programs provide incentives for landowners to keep forestlands in production.