Unit 2 - Alberta's Forest Land Issues
Herbicide Use in Timber Management
Courtesy of YourGreenPal.com
The most widely used herbicide for timber management is glyphosate, more commonly known as Roundup, used by homeowners to kill weeds.
In northern Alberta and many parts of British Columbia, glyphosate is used to destroy aspen trees, often referred to as poplar trees, and birch trees. These broad-leaf trees are destroyed to make room for the lodgepole pine, which is commercially valuable to the forest industry.
In northern Alberta and many parts of British Columbia, glyphosate is used to destroy aspen trees, often referred to as poplar trees, and birch trees. These broad-leaf trees are destroyed to make room for the lodgepole pine, which is commercially valuable to the forest industry.
Each year in Alberta, 30 000 hectares of broad-leaf trees are sprayed with glyphosate; this equates to half the number of hectares of forest harvested annually. This number now exceeds that of British Columbia, as shown in this graph.
The use of glyphosate on Alberta’s forests, specifically the spraying of aspen and birch trees, can cause damage to the forest land, including harm to wildlife, fire break, toxicity, and less biodiversity.
The use of glyphosate on Alberta’s forests, specifically the spraying of aspen and birch trees, can cause damage to the forest land, including harm to wildlife, fire break, toxicity, and less biodiversity.
Click image to enlarge.
Source: National Forestry Database.
Courtesy of an article in the Edmonton Journal, author Elise Stolte.
Source: National Forestry Database.
Courtesy of an article in the Edmonton Journal, author Elise Stolte.
Click each collapsible row to view more information.
Image Source: Pixabay
- About 89 species of wildlife use the aspen tree to nest or live; when glyphosate is sprayed to eliminate the aspen trees, their habitat is eliminated.
- Moose eat the leaves of the aspen tree in winter; they will either move to other areas or die without food in the winter.
- The vegetation that is killed eliminates a source of food for animals such as bees, insects, beavers, and birds.
Image Source: Pixabay
- Aspen trees contain a naturally high level of water and lower amounts of resin which make them less flammable.
- Aspen trees are commonly known as “asbestos forests” by wildfire scientists because they form natural fuel breaks.
- Firefighters are known to take cover in a stand of aspen trees for protection against a forest fire.
- Aspen trees naturally thrive after an area has been cleared by logging or wildfire.
Image Source: Pixabay
- The main ingredient in glyphosate is known to be toxic to fish, amphibians, and wildlife.
- If fish ingest glyphosate, whoever eats the fish, humans or wildlife, now become potentially harmed.
Image Source: PxHere
- Without aspen trees, many other associated shrubs and vegetation are lost.
- Aspen forests transpire 50% more moisture than conifer trees.
- Aspen trees utilize water more efficiently and create better water quality.
Forest Facts
Are there alternatives to spraying? Watch this video on Edmonton’s non-conventional way of removing invasive weeds.
You can also read about this unique model at CTV News.ca.