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BioForest Technologies Inc. are
specialists in forest management with a primary focus to maintain
healthy forests through the use of effective management strategies.
With an office in Prince Albert, BioForest principals have an intimate
knowledge of Saskatchewan forests as a result of the extensive contract
work they have done with Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
(SERM). Bioforest have been monitoring the spruce budworm infestation
in and around Waskesiu since 2001 and have gathered the most accurate
data available on this crisis.
Herve Langlois, SOS spokesman, says that the SOS
Committee has focused on answering four basic questions since it
began its campaign:
1)How serious is this infestation and what is the likely extent
of the damage?
2) What can be done about it?
3) What are the risks of an intervention?
4)What are the consequences of a do-nothing approach to Waskesiu
and its people?
"This reports answers the questions conclusively and confirms
the SOS position that an aerial spraying program combined with a
long term management strategy is required to deal with this impending
disaster."
The report contains the following conclusions:
Infestation and Damage
" The budworm infestation is severe
and the health of the forest around Waskesiu is deteriorating
" Tree condition in the PANP impact plots
has declined from 2001 to 2002.
" The most significant change from last year
is the substantial increase in the number of trees with wither bare
or dead tops."(p.39)
" The forest health is rated as fair,
very marginally better than poor.
" No data were collected for the Waskesiu
town site prior to 2002. Based on a random assessment in 2002, the
town site forest health is also rated as fair but marginally better
than the surrounding forest.
" 59% of the sample trees in the town site
have a bare/dead top condition.
" Tree mortality in the town site at this
time is only 1.1%. This provides considerable encouragement that
the vast majority of trees can be saved through an intervention
next spring.
What Can Be Done?
" The report proposes an integrated
pest management (IPM) program whose objective is "not to eradicate
the SBW but to reduce the damage." (p.25).
" The IPM program would include four elements:
1) a long-term commitment to reducing the vulnerability of forests;
2) targeted protection of the "forest at risk" during
SBW outbreaks;
3) an effective SBW detection and monitoring program; and
4) encouragement and support of innovative control and management
initiatives. (p.25)
" An IPM for Waskesiu would include a short-term
intervention with aggressive aerial spraying with BtK followed by
a management plan that informs the decisions required to maintain
a healthy tree stand in the town site. According to the report,
this approach has been used successfully by SERM since 1998. "Since
then, the province has been successful in reducing defoliation rates
in sprayed stands. It has also been reported that [SBW] populations
were significantly reduced in many stands treated for two consecutive
years."(p.28)
The report concludes: "During
an SBW outbreak the only practical insect directed strategy is foliage
protection using aerially applied insecticides." (p.32)
What Are the Risks of Such a Program?
" In the past month, the debate has often
focused on the impact of BtK on the environment.
" BtK has been used successfully in this
province, the rest of Canada and the United States where "susceptible
defoliators affect tree health." (p.43) It has been sprayed
over cities, including Victoria, Vancouver, and Auckland, N.Z. to
control invasive pests. (p.43)
" "Bt is considered a narrow-spectrum
insecticide that is extremely safe to use to control forest pests
such as SBW because it has little or no effect on natural enemies
of the SBW, other beneficial insects, and nontarget organisms."(p.29)
Given the proximity of Waskesiu Lake to the town
site, the impact of BtK on aquatic systems is of critical importance.
The report concludes:
" Concerns about the possible negative
impacts of BtK on aquatic systems were put to rest many years ago."
(p.43)
" "It does not impact on fish,
crustaceans, or other aquatic vertebrates.
" The safety of this pesticide in aquatic
systems is hi-lighted by the fact that buffer zones around aquatic
systems are generally not required for aerial applications. This
exemption has not been extended to almost any other pesticide."
(p.43)
"Clearly, the risks associated with
the use of BtK are well within acceptable environmental standards,"
says Langlois. "Nothing is absolutely risk free, not even the
food we eat or the medications we take, but, when properly used,
the benefits far outweigh the minimal risks. That is the way it
is with BtK."
What Are The Risks of Not Implementing
a Program?
" The most probable scenario would
see some two-thirds of the trees seriously affected with about 35
percent of the trees killed." (p.i)
" Under a worst-case scenario, 90
percent of the trees could be affected with 50 percent mortality.
" Under a best case scenario, more than half
of the white spruce will be seriously affected with about 25 percent
mortality and the remainder having dead tops.(p.i)
The presence of dead white spruce and trees with
dead tops throughout the community poses a serious hazard to property
and public safety." (p.i)
" In the absence of protection, the
likelihood of damage to property or personal injury to residents
and visitors will increase significantly." (p.i)
" A separate but equally serious issue
potentially arising from the presence of hazard trees within the
Village is the liability of Parks Canada for property damage or
personal injury resulting from falling debris or whole trees."
(p.17)
"Assuming 10,000 white spruce trees are vulnerable
(very conservative assumption), . . . the total estimated cost for
tree removal in a best case scenario is $5.5 million." (p.17)
"Clearly, in the event of an uncontrolled spruce budworm outbreak,
tree removal and site enhancement costs will be significant for
many cottage owners as well as Parks Canada." (p.17)
" "If tree mortality and top kill are
heavy, some campgrounds, trails and canoe routes may be temporarily
closed. As well, town site facilities will likely be affected until
hazardous conditions can be alleviated." (p.19)
"The risks of doing nothing are huge,"
says Langlois. "The scary part is that, if nothing is done
next spring when the town site forest is still relatively healthy,
the stage will have been set for a disaster not that far down the
road and it won't be possible to undo it. We can't be lulled into
a false sense of security because the worst effects are not yet
seen. As Stewards of the Waskesiu community, a Provincial and National
Heritage Treasure, Parks Canada have a responsibility to act now
the risks are far too great for all concerned," says Langlois.
"
Parks Canada policy permits manipulation of naturally occurring
processes such as . . . insects . . .when no reasonable alternative
exists and when monitoring has demonstrated that, without limited
intervention, . . . "II. Major park facilities,
public health or safety will be threatened; or III. The objectives
of a park management plan prescribing how certain natural features
or cultural resources are to be maintained cannot be achieved."
(p.35)
"These sections of Parks Canada
Policy clearly provide the basis for intervention in the SBW outbreak
that is currently affecting the Waskesiu area of PANP.
" This is a high use residential area within the park that
bears little resemblance to the typical natural forest ecosystems
that exist in other areas of the park. . . .Clearly
major park facilities, and public health and safety are threatened
by the deterioration of the white spruce that dominate the town
site." (p.35)
The report speaks directly to the Parks Canada
policy permitting spraying pesticides when major park facilities,
public health or safety will be threatened," said Langlois.
"This report is an expert opinion, and it needs to be listened
to."
Langlois concluded that
the case for an integrated pest management plan that begins with
the aerial spraying of BtK has been clearly established. The policy
analysis paper which was released last week, made it clear that
Parks Canada policy permits such an intervention. This detailed
paper prepared by BioForest provides the rationalization and justification
to embark on implementing this plan NOW!
"This information cannot be
ignored; the risks and consequences are far too great,"
said Langlois.
For further information,
contact:
Herve Langlois 663-5759 (Waskesiu
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