AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage has appointed the head of the Maine Forest Service to manage forestry activities on state-owned lands.

The Portland Press Herald reports that Doug Denico’s appointment to the post is drawing concern from environmental groups opposed to LePage’s efforts to boost timber harvesting on public lands.

The former director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands, Tom Morrison, retired last week. Denico will oversee forestry issues for the bureau and Ron Hunt, the acting director of operations, will manage all other responsibilities.

Denico supports LePage’s plan to increase harvesting on public lands and acknowledges that there will be more logging under his watch. But he says the bureau will use the same forestry practices as always to manage the lands in the public’s interest.