[Table of Contents]

12. FOREST HEALTH

ALASKA

Under the Regulations, a spruce slash isolation or abatement plan must be included in the Detailed Plan of Operations if an operation is within a potential or known bark beetle infestation area. Other, more general insect and disease prevention and control provisions are in Section .082 of the Act.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Disease, insects, wildlife and physical factors affect forest health. Detection and risk assessment surveys for these factors must be conducted, and proposed treatments to reduce the damaging effect of pests must be included in a Forest Development Plan, Silviculture Prescription, or Stand Management Prescription. Use of control agents (chemical pesticides and herbicides) must be in accordance with specifications under the Pesticide Control Act, the Wildlife Act, and various other Acts. If a forest official determines that factors which might affect forest health are identified on private land, or Crown land that falls under the Forest Act, the District Manager may order control measures to be undertaken.

CALIFORNIA

Insect and disease are recognized as potentially destructive agents. RPF's are required to assist in reporting infestations to CDF. No chemical or biological treatments are mentioned. Treatment of slash by lopping or burning is recognized for controlling insects and reducing fire hazards.

FINLAND

The Forest Insect and Fungal Damage Prevention Act, established in 1991, regulates forest health. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Finnish Forest and Park Service, the local Forestry Boards, and the Finnish Forest Research Institute are governed by the Act. The recommendations of the Forest Insect and Fungal Damage Prevention Act are aimed at maintaining a low level of insect and disease damage.

Four actions are required by the Forest Insect and Fungal Damage Prevention Act to prevent forest disease:

No treatments or control agents are specified in the Forest Insect and Fungal Damage Prevention Act. However, conifer seedlings are treated with pyrethroids before planting to protect them from pine weevil attack and biological controls are used to control the European pine sawfly and root-rot fungus (Annila, pers. comm.).

Chemically based pesticides are not used in state forests (Finnish Forest and Park Service, 1994) and their use is being reduced in private forests. The Countryside Environmental Program calls for a 50% reduction (from 1990-1992 average) in private chemical use by the year 2000 and the new environmental program for forestry calls for an end to chemical control of broadleaf species by 1996 (Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment, 1994). Chemical use will be reduced by developing mechanical and biological control methods. Research into biological controls methods is expanding.

The Department of Forest Ecology, of the Finnish Forest Research Institute, is responsible for monitoring forest health. A network of 3,000 permanent sample plots have been established to monitor the occurrence of forest pests and the extent of forest damage. Approximately 450 of the permanent plots are assessed annually (Annila, pers. comm.). The collected information is reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. A new statute governing forest health monitoring duties of the Forest Research Institute came into effect January, 1995 (J. Heino, pers. comm.).

The Department of Forest Ecology is obligated to notify the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the local forestry authorities if there is danger of an epidemic (Annila, pers. comm.).

The major agents affecting forest health in Finland are:

GERMANY

Federal Republic of Germany

The Federal Forest Act does not consider forest health. There is a federal Plant Protection Law that addresses the health of all vegetation.

Baden-Wurttemberg

Section 12 of the Forest Law, which pertains to the use of appropriate forestry, includes the need to protect the health of the forest. Specific agents of concern are insects, fungi, air pollution, and extreme weather conditions.

The collection of information pertaining to forest health is not required by the Forest Law, nor are disease prevention actions specified. However, the Forest Offices do monitor forest damage. Annual surveys of damage and estimates of damage for the coming year are completed by the forest offices.

Pest control actions are regulated by separate regulations and guidelines. As of 1993, herbicides are not used in Baden-Wurttemberg forests.

Bavaria

Agents damaging Bavaria's forests include bark beetles, fungi, extreme weather conditions and air polluting chemicals. Controlling the effects of these forest pests is regulated by the forest law in Articles 1, 14 and 26.A program for the collection of information pertaining to forest health and the monitoring of pest populations is in place. Information is collected by the forest offices and analyzed by the state Forest Research Institute. The Institute provides a prognosis for the coming year. The Institute also supervises forest protection actions.

Disease prevention actions are not specified in the forest law. Decisions regarding pest control are made on a site specific basis and are enforced by the forest authorities. Generally, chemical controls are used only when severe forest damage is unavoidable. All possible chemical and biological control agents are tested by the Federal Bureau of Plant Protection before general use is allowed. The Bureau publishes annual lists of allowable agents. Companies must apply to the Bureau for permission to use any of the agents. Rules for the use of control agents are specified. The preferred pest control measures are site-adapted silviculture techniques that will maintain a mixed-species stand. For example, biological forest protection, such as the provision of bird, bat and ant habitat, is thought to be the most effective way of preventing outbreaks of forest pests. If damage has already occurred, (e.g. a coniferous stand is heavily damaged by bark beetles), it will be underplanted with deciduous species and disease prevention actions will be taken (Brinkmann, pers. comm.).

Air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, fluorine and chlorine, are causing severe damage in Bavaria's forests. The extent and spread of air pollutant damage is being monitored in long-term forest observation areas. Techniques for monitoring air pollution damage include the study of bioindicators (mosses, lichens and conifers), the evaluation of aerial surveys, and the maintenance of forest damage inventories. Since 1982, more than DM 50 million (approx. $55 million Canadian) have been spent on research into the causes, extent, effects, and prevention of forest damage.

NOVA SCOTIA

Effective protection must be provided to Crown and publically owned lands from various injurious agents, including fires, insects and diseases (Forests Act, 1986, s. 21:1). Forest insect and disease must be monitored, and treatment information and advice provided to owners and occupiers of privately owned land. Treatments include manual weeding, and aerial or ground application of chemical herbicides and pesticides. Applicators must possess appropriate federal and provincial permits and licenses, and must observe all regulations on herbicide use as set forth within these documents with respect to storage, transportation, handling, application, and disposal of pesticides (M.O.P.S., 1994, Ch. 2:15). Areas to be treated must be identified with appropriate signage to address public safety concerns (M.O.P.S., 1994, Ch 2:16). Notification requirements as specified in permits and licenses must be carried out by applicators.

ONTARIO

The volume of wood lost due to insects and diseases each year in Ontario's forests exceeds the volume harvested (Forest Health and Protection Section, 1990, unpub). In addition to insects and diseases, other factors which influence forest health in Ontario include: competing vegetation; other pests; poor management practices; temperature extremes; air pollution; ozone; acid precipitation; and drought. Forest Management Plans must outline the actions necessary to sustain the forest ecosystem. Treatments and control agents are not specified but all federally registered, provincially scheduled pesticides are eligible for consideration (Graham, pers. comm.).

OREGON

Insect and disease pests are mentioned in connection with tree species selection for reforestation. A new reforestation rule addresses forest health issues in northeastern Oregon in relation to fire exclusion and overstocking.

SWEDEN

Forest Health is considered in Section 29 of the Forestry Act. The specific agents affecting forest health in Sweden are, in order of importance, air pollution, fungi and insects. Wind, snow, and fire are also factors that affect forest health. Air pollution and soil acidification information is gathered but it is not required by the Forestry Act. Insect damage information is gathered and documented by the National Board of Forestry with the help of regional boards and the Faculty of Forestry of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Insect population information is also compiled on a Nordic base that is published every 5 years (A. Lindelow, pers. comm.).

Forest disease is prevented by removing trees damaged by wind, snow, and fire from the forest. The amount of woody debris allowed to remain in the forest following thinning and final harvesting is also restricted. Removal is restricted to certain time periods and occurs when greater than 5m3 of wood are affected. In addition, unbarked timber must not be stored in the forest or along a forest road after certain dates. The dates provided for the removal of timber from the forest coincide with important life-cycle stages of the various pathogens. The intent is to prevent further pest infestations.

Treatments or control agents are not specified in the Forestry Act. However, because all pesticide use must be registered they are seldom used outside seed orchards and nurseries. Chemicals can only be used for specific purposes and since these occasions seldom occur it is not economical for the forest owner to keep insecticides registered for use in the forest. Today, no insecticides or biological agents are registered for the control of forest insects ( A. Lindelow, pers. comm.).

TASMANIA

General information on Forest Health is found in the Code, with more detail on insect and disease symptoms and control, and weed control provided in the Forestry Commission Plantation Handbook and Pests and Diseases Management Plan (FPC: 1993,80). The Code states that a regular program of forest maintenance should be applied by the land owner... [however], Pests and disease can often not be foreseen and hense cannot be effectively dealt with in the Timber Harvesting Plan. The forest owner should deal with these aspects as they arise (FPC, 1993:78). Chemical and biological pest controls may be used under condition that the forest owner must: protect people, water resources, stock from application of chemicals; use only chemicals registered or approved for forest operation purposes; favor use of biological control or least toxic chemicals; inform owners of neighbouring properties and interested parties or aerial spraying (FPC, 1993:82).

UNITED KINGDOM

In the United Kingdom, forest health risk factors include insects (Great Spruce Bark Beetle, Pine Looper Moth, Pine Beauty Moth and Aphids), and disease (such as Dutch Elm Disease). In some instances timber movement restrictions are implemented to reduce the spread of insects and diseases, but forest health treatments are not regulated within the Code. Individual foresters liaise with clients and the Forest Authority research branch to identify problems and outline appropriate treatment methods.

There are numerous plant health and disease control regulations in place, many concerning international movement of plants and timber, pests within Britain, and noxious weeds. Suitable disease prevention measures must be outlined in operational plans and Forestry Authority staff monitor plant and tree health on an annual basis via local, on the ground assessment. Insects or disease are rarely a significant problem, other than in particular localized incidences. Where these problems occur, statutory controls may be brought in to deal with them. When chemical pesticides or biological pest controls are used as a treatment technique, there are strict regulations under the Pesticide Safety Precaution Scheme including consultation with other parties, safety of operation, site protection measures, and dosages for their usage (Bell, pers. comm.).

U.S. FOREST SERVICE (REGION 6)

There is enabling legislation for forest insect and disease control in the NFMA.

The Integrated Pest Management Group does insect and disease surveys for all forest agencies and private lands.

Use of herbicides is governed by procedures in the USFS publication Managing Competing and Unwanted Vegetation (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1988-691 059/80, 709, Reg. #10). An Environmental Assessment is usually required for pesticide use although an Environmental Impact Statement may sometimes be used. The use of insecticides is covered by regulations in the U.S. Forest Service manual and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).

VICTORIA STATE

Forest health is affected by competition from native and exotic grasses, other vegetation, pests, and diseases, and periodic assessment of plantations must be made to determine the presence of any disease outbreak, insect pest attack, or pest plant infestation (Code, 1989:12, 34). These factors should be controlled in a manner that is consistent with environmental safeguards through the use of fertilizers, chemical herbicides and pesticides, biological controls, or pruning and/or thinning. Fertilizers must be applied with due regard given to the need to minimise adverse off-site effects as per prescriptions in the Forest Management Plan (Code, 1989:11). Herbicides must have been registered with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, applied according to manufacturers' specifications, and on public land, in accordance with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources prescriptions (Code, 1989:12). Prior to applying chemicals, adjacent landowners must be notified in writing; warning signs must be posted; label conditions must be strictly followed; and aerial applications must comply with the Code of Practice for Large Scale Application of Pesticides in Victoria (COP, 1989:12). Thinning and pruning must be undertaken using equipment suited to the nature of the forest, and without causing undue damage to the retained trees (COP, 1989:12).

WASHINGTON

DNR can require landowners to take measures to control insects and disease. There is also reference to forest health in relation to tree species selection for reforestation.

Landowners may be required to apply under the Forest Practices Act to carry out insect or disease control measures.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The major forest health concern in Western Australia is jarrah dieback, a disease caused by an introduced soil borne fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, which has caused severe damage to Jarrah forests (CALM,1987:31). Because this disease is transmitted through the movement of soil, hygiene logging is practiced to prevent the spread of jarrah dieback. Hygiene logging includes the physical and temporal separation of logging operations such as skidding and loading; washdown of all equipment, machinery and vehicles when entering or leaving a dieback infested area; and conducting the majority of harvesting operations during dry soil conditions to prevent movement of moist soil (COLP, 1990:18-19). Noxious weeds and pests are controlled using chemicals, and Department of Health rules, and regulations found in the Pine Management Guide must be followed (Clarke, pers. comm.).
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