Pesticides Alternatives

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It is part of FSC’s Pest Management Policy to support derogation holders to phase out the use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). To do so, FSC has implemented a database in which interested stakeholders will find alternative strategies/practices/products that have previously been implemented by forest managers. These alternatives have been selected following the 3R principle: Reduction, Replacement, Removal with the ultimate objective of abandoning the use of HHPs.

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    Publication Year: 2014
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    Subject Keywords: Pesticides Chemicals
    Alternative Strategy: Plastic tree guards protect young trees from mice/voles and other wildlife (such as deer). Spiral guards (20- to 30 cm high) or split plastic tubes can be fitted around the stem of the young trees. The spiral guards must be wound between branches and it is important to ensure that no gaps are left between the spirals. Alternatively, short conical plastic shelters (covers) can be pushed into the soil around the stem (to a minimum depth of 5 cm). In Britain, spiral guards and split tube guards reduced damage by 90% (Aldhous 1999). This method may be suitable for smaller areas with very vulnerable tree species.
    Alternative Method: Removal
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    Alternative Trial: No
    Alternative Type: Specific strategy
    Pest Type: Animal
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    Publication Year: 2014
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    Subject Keywords: Pesticides Chemicals
    Alternative Strategy: Highly unpleasant chemicals can be used for conditioned taste aversion. E.g. cynarine, a very bitter ingredient of globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) or artichoke thistle (wild artichoke C. cardunculus) is physiologically active and stimulates biliary secretion (Panizzi & Scarpati 1954). Extract of artichoke.leaves or a paste made from artichoke powder could have similar properties as purified cynarine. Extract or powder of bitter lupine (white lupine, Lupinus albus) might be an effective emetic. Lupine contains alkaloids that are toxic to grazing sheep, especially in autumn during the plant's seeding stage. It has a bitter taste and animals will avoid this if other food sources are present (Hartmann 1991). Trials on the aversive effect of cynarine (or possibly artichoke extract) and bitter lupine extract could clarify if either of these can be used for conditioned taste aversion, by treating the bark of vulnerable trees. A chemical that acts as an emetic in rabbits is lithium chloride (Wiggins et al 1989). Another chemical emetic is cyclophosphamide. A botanical compound with a likely taste aversive effect is red squill, which is extracted from the bulb of red squill (Urginea scilla) or white squill (U. maritima). It contains bitter glucosides and is used as a rodenticide for poisoning rats. In most animals other than rats (which cannot vomit), red squill acts as an emetic and induces vomiting (ICWDM 2005).
    Alternative Method: Replacement
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    Alternative Trial: No
    Alternative Type: Specific strategy
    Pest Type: Animal
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    Subject Keywords: Pesticides Chemicals
    Regions: Northern Europe, Europe
    Countries: United Kingdom
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    Alternative Strategy: Five repellents that were of low toxicity or derived from foodstuffs were investigated for their ability to deter feeding by wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus L.) and grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin). In experiments in controlled conditions, when given the option of feeding on unlimited amounts of untreated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), or wheat treated with aluminium ammonium sulphate, sulphonated fish oil, denatonium benzoate, ziram or capsaicin, all the repellents tested initially deterred feeding, although in one experiment mice showed some habituation to the repellents after 4 weeks. Capsaicin was the most effective treatment, and aluminium ammonium sulphate the least effective, possibly because it did not stick to the wheat grains. When ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) seed were treated with combinations of aluminium ammonium sulphate, sulphonated fish oil or denatonium benzoate, compared to the freely available untreated seed, mice were deterred by any treatment containing aluminium ammonium sulphate, with effectiveness again declining after 4 weeks. When a mixture of broadleaved tree species were sown on farmland, coating seed with aluminium ammonium sulphate or sulphonated fish oil had no effect on seedling emergence. Capsaicin derived from chilli peppers (Capsicum sp.) showed the greatest potential as a repellent in our work, but no repellent product containing this active ingredient is currently approved for plant protection uses in the United Kingdom. Given its relatively low cost, the use of aluminium ammonium sulphate, a non-toxic repellent based on an approved food additive, which is available formulated as a registered plant protection product in the United Kingdom, may be worth considering for direct sowings where predation pressure from mice is predicted to be particularly high, or where tree species with very palatable seed are being used, to complement other predation mitigation strategies.
    Alternative Method: Removal
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    Alternative Trial: No
    Alternative Type: Specific strategy
    Pest Type: Animal
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    Subject Keywords: Pesticides Chemicals
    Regions: Australia and New Zealand, Oceania
    Countries: New Zealand
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    Alternative Strategy: In New Zealand, significant progress towards a bait-delivered contraceptive vaccine for possums is expected within the near future. The system of delivery still poses some challenges and immigration of fertile animals from non-treated areas may compensate for treatment effects. Population models indicated that fertility control can be effective where population reduction does not have to be as rapid as lethal techniques, or where the objective is to maintain a population at low levels established previously with exclusion or lethal techniques. Fertility control is not likely to be useful for short-term, localized management of browsing damage, e.g. during the establishment phase
    Alternative Method: Replacement
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    Alternative Trial: No
    Alternative Type: Specific strategy
    Pest Type: Animal
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    Publication Year: 2014
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    Subject Keywords: Pesticides Chemicals
    Regions: Australia and New Zealand, Oceania
    Countries: New Zealand
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    Alternative Strategy: Oral poison based upon Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol). In a larger trial (on 100 ha) it reduced brushtail possum, (an invasive species) by 93.7%, mice by 100%, and rat numbers by 95.5%. A lower content of cholecalciferol (0.4%) was as effective as 0.8%, which reduces costs. However, there are some palatability problems and degradation can reduce effectiveness in damp weather. Cholecalciferol can be applied in a gel bait to prevent the chemical from getting wet. It is also relatively expensive .
    Alternative Method: Replacement
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    Alternative Trial: No
    Alternative Type: Specific strategy
    Pest Type: Animal