The use of chemicals in vegetation management has been greatly restricted in British Columbia because: a) relatively few compounds are registered for use in the forests; and b) strong resistance to the use of chemicals by environmentally oriented groups. As an example, in the state of Oregon, ca 40,000 ha. have been treated with aerial applications of herbicide each year. In contrast, chemicals have been used less than 10% as frequently in British Columbia (in spite of the fact that B.C. has a much greater area in NSR land) and virtually all the use of chemicals in British Columbia has utilized ground application systems. Given the manpower and resources available to the province, it seems unlikely that much of the current NSR area will be satisfactorily stocked without the use of herbicides. Further, since man's activities have effectively introduced a large reservoir of light seeded endogenous and exotic weed species throughout the commercial forest areas of British Columbia, it is unlikely that successful plantations can be established on much of the current cut-over lands without the most effective vegetation management.
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