Pesticides 



GOAL 



Environmentally acceptable pesticides are available 

 to protect forest values and achieve resource manage- 

 ment objectives. 



RATIONALE 



Because the demand for forestiy pesticides is small in relation to 

 the overall market, commercial producers of pesticides are reluc- 

 tant to address forest protection needs for development and reg- 

 istration of additional environmentally acceptable pesticides and 

 behavioral chemicals. Further potential exists to improve the ac- 

 curacy of pesticide applications and the dependability and effec- 

 tiveness of biological pesticides. 



Use of pesticides will continue to be challenged, particularly 

 when information on environmental impacts is lacking, or sub- 

 stantial environmental risks exist. A lack of studies on environ- 

 mental impacts could threaten the continued use of the 

 biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis, the most widely used 

 insecticide for protecting forests from defoliators. There is a con- 

 tinuing need to develop new, safer pesticides for forest nursei"y 

 soils. Methyl bromide, the most widely used soil fumigant, will 

 soon be imavailable because of environmental concerns. Few 

 pheromones and other behavioral chemicals have been used op- 

 erationally because of a lack of data necessaiy to satisfy U.S. 

 Environmental Protection Agency's registration reqtiirements. 

 The moimtain pine beetle pheromone, which is used opera- 

 tionally to attract the insect to stands scheduled for han'est, is a 

 successful exception. 



ACTIONS 



The following actions should be taken to ensure that environ- 

 mentally acceptable pesticides are available to meet resource 

 management objectives. 



• Ensure that necessary data are available to assess envi- 

 ronmental impacts o/^ Bacillus thuringiensis and other 

 key pesticides. Develop and impleinent a national plan 

 to fill the environmental data gaps on Bacillus 

 thuringiensis and other key pesticides, including 

 effects on nontarget insects. 



Healthy Forests for America 's Future — A Strategic Plan 29 



