There has been a couple of messages circulating on the "list" lately about the use of chemicals to remove biomass. First of all, chemicals only set back succession, which allows the species being managed to get ahead of competing vegetation. Second of all, all chemicals are not bad. Contrary to popular belief, most chemicals are species specific and does not hurt the water systems, if runoff should occur. This is not to say that we should aerially spray our waterways with the stuff. There was a study done to see, if it was the airplane in the sky spraying or the chemical itself that made public perception so bad. This study made it public to everyone that they were going to spray a certain area and the exact date they were going to spray it. Strangely enough, people from miles around reported their crops were dying because of the chemical and many more reported that they were getting sick from the chemical that was aerially applied. But, what they didn't know was that the substance that was being aerially applied was.....water! With correct handling and application, chemicals can be safe. Some timber companys around here (the southern USA states) won't use aerial application just because of the example given above. We should educate the public to keep them informed on what's being done. Because just saying that the public doesn't understand, want cut it. If you think that keeping the public in the dark is the answer, just ask someone from the Pacific Northwest about the Spotted Owl situation. This should be a lesson to us all. Ignorance doesn't just affect the individual, it affects us all. Brad
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