Environmental protection during forest operations

 

Summary

This programme covers a range of techniques and systems in establishment and harvesting operations that are designed to reduce environmental impact. Recent projects have concentrated on pesticide issues:

• Use of non pesticide systems to control weed growth
• Methods & equipment to reduce the amount of pesticide used
• Internal and external systems to wash spraying equipment.

Research objectives

Each project has specific and detailed  objectives. As an overview:

• Undertake field trials to determine the efficacy and cost of non herbicide systems to control weed growth
• Investigate pesticide training and calibration and delivery issues to determine the controls that are possible to monitor pesticide delivery
• Describe the washing systems that are available to reduce environmental contamination.

Funders and partners

This research is funded primarily by the Forestry Commission Safety and ergonomics programme.

The Forestry Commission is working in partnership with the Woodland Trust on non-herbicide systems.

Forestry Commission policy

One objective of the Forestry Commission is to support the Government's policy of sustainable forest management, with the specific objective of reducing the use of chemicals used in forest management.

Publications

Technical Notes will be produced this year on pesticide stores and tractor boom nozzles. A guide on nozzles will also be published.

Status

Research on methods to reduce the use of chemicals is ongoing and further publications will be produced during 2005/2006. 

Contact

Bill J Jones
Forest Research
Technical Development
Ae Village
Dumfries
Scotland DG1 1QB

Tel: 01387 860264
Fax: 01387 860386
Email: tdb.ae@forestry.gsi.gov.uk