TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, his fellow Cabinet members and Governor Scott today presented Keith Mousel of the Florida Forest Service with the Resource Manager of the Year award for his outstanding leadership and dedication to protecting Florida’s natural resources. Since 1988, Mousel has worked diligently to conserve native state lands with prescribed fire, to improve recreational activities in state forests, and to maintain natural habitats by controlling invasive species.
From left to right: Florida Forest Service Director Jim Karels; Attorney General Pam Bondi; Governor Rick Scott; Resource Manager of the Year Keith Mousel; Florida Forest Service Deputy Chief John Kern; Forest Management Bureau Chief Johnny Sabo; Florida Forest Service Assistant Director Erin Albury; Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis; and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam
“I am honored to recognize Keith for his commitment to protecting and preserving the natural resources that make Florida such a special place to live, work and raise a family,” said Commissioner Adam H. Putnam.
Mousel has served in the Florida Forest Service in multiple leadership capacities, including: Forest Area Supervisor, Resource Administrator and Florida Forest Service Training Coordinator. In 2012, Mousel was promoted to Withlacoochee Forestry Center Manager, where he oversees operations in the five-county area, which encompasses Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Pasco and Sumter counties as well as the Withlacoochee and Seminole state forests.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com
To find more information on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visitFreshFromFlorida.com.