Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Michael Carroll, Bruce Cox, Kathleen Preece, James Sanders, John Stauber, Robert Stine, and Paige Winebarger to the Minnesota Forest Resources Council.

Michael Carroll is the Minnesota State Forester. He also serves as Director of the DNR Division of Forestry. Carroll is appointed to the Council position for a representative of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Carroll joined the Council in 2003.

Bruce Cox, of Bagley, is the Clearwater County Land Commissioner. He is Vice Chair of the Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners. Cox is appointed to the Council position for a county land commissioner and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Cox replaces Norm Moody on the Council.

Kathleen Preece, of Bemidji, is the owner of 10 acres and manages 200 acres of forest land. She is the editor and publisher of BetterFORESTS magazine. Preece is appointed to the Council position for an owner of non-industrial private forest land and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Preece replaces Wayne Hammer on the Council.

James Sanders, of Duluth, is Forest Supervisor of the Superior National Forest, a three million acre forest. He is a 31 year veteran of the USDA Forest Service. Sanders is appointed to the Council position for a representative of the USDA Forest Service and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Sanders joined the Council in 1998.

John Stauber, of Duluth, is the President of Innovative Pine Technology, Inc. He also serves as Sales Manager for Lake States Lumber, Inc. Stauber is appointed to the Council position for a representative of a secondary wood products manufacturer and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Stauber replaces Roger Scherer on the Council.

Robert Stine, of Carlton, is Associate Dean of the College of Natural Resources at the University of Minnesota. He also serves as Coordinator of the Cloquet Forestry Center. Stine is appointed to the Council position for a representative of a research or higher education institution and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. He joined the Council in 2002.

Paige Winebarger, of Bloomington, Chairs the Board of The Nature Conservancy. She is a member of the Audubon Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Winebarger is appointed to a Council position for a representative of an environmental organization and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. She replaces Janet Green on the Council.

The Minnesota Forest Resources Council develops recommendations to the Governor and to federal, state, county and local governments with respect to forest resource policies and practices that result in the sustainable management, use, and protection of the state's forest resources. The council consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor.