Chemical Spraying

[slowjo]

after reading the moose survey forum posts and the brief discussion on chemical brushing, i thought i'd share my letter to west kootenay MLA katrine conroy and her response. i'd like to hear what others think.

[slowjo]

I am opposed to the use of chemical herbicides in forestry on crown lands. I would like your support to see its use prohibited.

My family and I are avid users of our Kootenay forests for recreation. We enjoy the natural diversity that exists in the mountains surrounding our home and elsewhere in the province.
Spraying to eliminate leafy growth to boost timber production is an obscene misuse of our crown forests. It can harm all aspects of forest life, wildlife, and aquatic life. It is misuse of the authority granted to BC Timber Sales.
May I ask, what are you personally doing to prevent the use of chemical herbicides in our Kootenay forests?
Are you in favor of herbicide use in Kootenay forests?
The proposed areas to be sprayed can be found through this link:
https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/TOC/ex...mlKPca7skuMy3g
I would like your support to see chemical herbicide use by forestry on crown land prohibited.

Thank you and I look forward to your response,

[slowjo]

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this important topic. The health and sustainability of our local forests are close at heart to most of us who live here in the West Kootenays, and are of great importance to MLA Katrine Conroy. (Who, by the way, asked me to respond to you as she is unable to respond any time soon). When I looked into this matter further I found a few things which you may find of interest.

That if a forestry company chooses to use chemical brushing, they must work under BC’s Integrated Pest Management Act (IPMA), administered by the Ministry of Environment, and prior to obtaining authorizationunder the Integrated Pest Management Regulation (IPMR) for large scale operations on public land, there must be consultation with the public and First Nations. Requirements must also be met under the IPMR to minimize the impacts to the environment and people, including setbacks from fish-bearing streams and lakes, no treatment zones surrounding drinking water wells and water intakes, and public notification.
It is also important to note that since 1990, there has been a decline in the amount of chemical brushing used in BC’s forests.

BC’s reforestation practices are updated when new scientific research and information becomes available – recently, this saw the Ministry start to allow increased levels of aspen and broadleaves in managed stands throughout BC, which will cause a further decline in chemical brushing. Use of superior orchard seed, improved nursery techniques, fast-growing seedlings and well-timed planting is also reducing the amount of brushing required.
MLA Katrine Conroy wanted me to thank you for reaching out, and I want to encourage you to continue advocating for issues that matter to you. If you have more questions or concerns regarding this particular topic, feel free to reach out anytime.
Kind regards,

Cyra Yunkws
Casual On-call Constituency Assistant to Hon. Katrine Conroy , MLA Kootenay West

[adriaticum]

Forestry industry is the worst environmental disaster we have

[koothunter]

Forestry industry is the worst environmental disaster we have

False! People are. If we are here, we need resources, and to call one of the only renewable resources on the planet an environmental disaster is ignorant and silly. I hope your home is made of plastic and other non renewables.

[adriaticum]

False! People are. If we are here, we need resources, and to call one of the only renewable resources on the planet an environmental disaster is ignorant and silly. I hope your home is made of plastic and other non renewables.

It's true and you can deny it until cows come home.
The way BC is doing forestry is stupid and it's destroying the forests and the environment.

Yes timber is a good renewable resource, just BC is not smart enough to protect it and use it properly.

[northof49]

^^^^So take a stand and sell your wood framed home....unless the lumber came from elsewhere.

[horshur]

Ffs we are logging stands that were logged in the Forties and fifties...next to farming most renewable resource in BC..

[Harvest the Land]

Totally agree with original poster. Good on you for writing to your MLA! Spraying the aspen (primary moose, beaver, deer etc. food staple) with glyphosate is absolutely obscene. And we wonder why moose numbers are down in most areas while at the same time we're deliberately poisoning and killing off one of their staple food sources. It's so hard to believe this is still occurring.

I also think it should be a requirement for timber companies to control burn each cutblock after they clear them to trigger a quicker natural "re-gen" of the forest, and then re-plant with the coniferous trees that they want to harvest again in 70 years; and stop the spraying of glyphosate on the aspen immediately. To me this is common sense.

For the record, I worked in the forestry industry for 8 years '98 - 2005. I planted over 1.2 million trees over that period, across 5 provinces and down in Washington. I also did a number of brushing contracts, I girdled the aspen, and yes, regrettably I also sprayed them on a couple contracts one season. (At the time I had no understanding of the negative consequences of killing the aspen - now I do). Little bit of layout. Some burning of slash piles. So I have a decent idea of how the silviculture part of the industry functions.

Yes forestry has been a giant reason why BC has prospered for so long and its a very important component of our economy - nobody is disputing that. All I'm saying is we can do SO MUCH BETTER at how we manage our most precious resource - our forests. Why are we spraying glyphosate in our forests? This has to end

[RyoTHC]

False! People are. If we are here, we need resources, and to call one of the only renewable resources on the planet an environmental disaster is ignorant and silly. I hope your home is made of plastic and other non renewables.

BCs version of forestry is disgusting and mismanaged. To call this dumpster fire renewable is a joke, you clearly work for the industry and drink the coolaid.