A pesticide is the general term used for substances that include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, algicides, miticides and rodenticides. There are more than 7,000 pesticides registered in Canada for use in homes, gardens, on golf courses, on forests, and along rail and hydro corridors.

In Canada, pesticides are regulated by Health Canada under the Pest Control Products Act and Pest Control Product Regulations. Scientific assessment, enforcement, education and information dissemination are shared among federal, provincial and municipal governments. Most pesticides are intentionally toxic to the target organisms, however some pesticides have been banned in Canada, (DDT, and 2,4, 5-T) as they are also toxic to non-target species and are persistent in the environment.
 

Pesticide concerns Non-selective pesticides may affect beneficial insects, birds, frogs, fish etc. If used in aerial sprays, may drift off target Indirect effects on fish include loss of canopy (and shade) over streams, and reduction of food organisms on aquatic or streamside vegetation. Resistance may develop in weed or insect species.  Inert additives – surfactants, solvents, lubricants, solubilizers and suspension agents- are generally not listed on labels, (to protect manufacturing trade secrets) yet many have adverse side-effects.  Persistence in the environment of active ingredients, additives and metabolic  by-products.

Ten percent of the pesticides sold in Ontario are used in the forest industry. One of the most common pesticides used in the forest industry is the herbicide glyphosate – probably know best as “Roundup”. It is also sold to farmers and gardeners under the names Vision, Vantage, Rodeo, Accord, Wrangler, Erase etc. It is a non-selective herbicide and is used to kill broad-leaved plants, grasses and sedges.

Issues specific to glyphosate  US EPA has found glyphosate to be “extremely persistent” and slightly toxic to birds, aquatic vertebrates, and fish and moderately toxic to embryo and larvae.  Surfactants added to Roundup have been found to be much more toxic than glyphosate.  It has been found in surface and ground waters and binds to some soils. Non-specific, can also affect raspberries, blueberries etc. Used for vegetation control, it results in decreased habitat complexity causing a decrease in invertebrate populations and songbird numbers. Glysophate drift damage to apple tree and  cucumber plant

Forest "Pests"

Insects and disease are a natural part of forest eco-systems. Researchers studying forest ecology at the Ontario Forest Research Institute (OFRI) in Sault Ste. Marie note that Armillaria root disease has evolved with Ontario trees and acts as a forest thinning agent – taking out weaker trees and freeing up space for more vigorous trees. Ice and wind storms clear out deadwood and the rotting branches on the forest floor release nutrients for younger trees to use. Standing and fallen dead trees provide habitat for many species of plants and animals. Above: effects of Armillaria root disease include root rot, dying trees, trees susceptible to windthrow

Many forest pests are well known to Ontarians. Some species are native to our forests such as forest tent caterpillars and spruce budworm, and some are imported or ‘exotic’  species such as Gypsy moth and Dutch elm disease.  White pine blister rust - an aggressive fungal disease that was imported from Europe, and recently the brown long horned beetle – imported into Ontario via wood packing crates are some of the more recent insect pests that may affect forest health.

The Forest Management Planning Manual (FMPM) and pest management:

• Silvicultural and renewal activities are part of the overall forest management plan and details of annual pesticide control program regulations and procedures are documented  in the annual operations plans.
• Pesticides may be applied as ground sprays, on vegetation, stumps, or as aerial sprays. The Forest Operations and Silvicultural Manual and Aerial Spraying for Forest Management Manual provide guidance for developing spray plans and conduct of operations including communications with the public.
• Forestry companies mail out ‘Notifications of aerial spraying’ to interested parties and  post notices in local newspapers at least 30 days prior to application (usually in late July and August). Notices lists townships they intend to spray, approximate timing and contact information for interested parties. Project descriptions and plans are available for public inspection.  Signs are posted in the area to be sprayed (not more than 7 days) prior to spraying and remain on site for at least 30 days following completion of the project.
• Other precautions (training, protective clothing, etc.) are taken to protect workers, and to reduce environmental effects – these include consideration of weather factors that may affect drift, and set-backs from stream and water courses.

Other Background and Research Papers related to Herbicide Use in Forest Management

Herbicide Use in Forest Management - Northwatch Forest Project 2006 Fall Presentations Program

•  An Overview of Forest Health - Forest Health Management
• Common Pests of Trees in Ontario

• Differential Effects of Glyphosate and Roundup on Human Placental Cells and Aromatase
• Food, Crop & Livestock Safety - Phytotoxicity (British Columbian Ministry of Agriculture and Lands)
• Glyphosate Data Set (Pesticide Action Network)

• Campers' Association Opposed to Herbicide Spraying Takes on Alternative Approach (Forest File, July 2004)
• Parliament of Canada Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development May 2000. "Pesticides - making the right choice for the protection of health and the environment"
• Government of Canada response to Standing Committee
• Canadian Forest Service Major Forest Pests information sheets: photos, and life-cycle information for links and photos to common forest pests – gypsy moth, spruce budworm etc.
• Sierra Club factsheets
• Canadian Institute of Forestry Position Paper on Integrated Pest Management
• Alberni Environmental Coalition On-Line Library Fact Sheet on Glyphosate
• Glyphosate: What is it? What does it do?(Watershed Sentinel)
• The Herbicide Project
• Pesticides, Toxins and Endocrine Disruptors
• Glyphosate Fact Sheet (Pesticide Action Network, U.K.)
• Glyphosate Fact Sheet  (Greenpeace)
• Glyphosate Fact Sheet (Sierra Club of Canada)
• Glyphosaste Fact Sheet (Chemical Watch)
• Glyphosate Fact Sheet (CETOS)
• Environmental Effects of Glyphosate (Environmental Media Services)
• Glyphosate - Ecological Effects Score Card
• Glyphosate -A review of its health and environmental effects (Organic Producers Assocation of Queensland)

• Forest Management Guides and Manuals
• Ontario's Forest Management Laws