Glyphosate herbicide is commonly used as part of the reforestation process in Alberta. It enables silviculturists to manage dominance of plants to favor desired tree species over other plant species. Glyphosate has been a subject of considerable interest of late, in terms of both perceived human health concerns and ecological effects.
This page provides access to a wide array of scientific resources addressing both the toxicity and environmental effects of glyphosate use. The references include scientific papers and synopses of the science presented by national and international scientific authorities on the specific subject matter discussed.
The references are presented for review and use. Please feel free to quote these references or to reach out for more information by using the links provided on this page or by contacting FGRoW directly
Resources from FGrOW
Other Resources
Evaluating the impacts of forest herbicide use plant community diversity and structure: A review of the Alberta Herbicide Task Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Protocol
“Sixth year measurement of herbicide treatment effects on plant communities: Manning Diversified Forest Products L3- Blocks 110, 113 and 114” by Phil Comeau
Quantification of Herbicide Impacts on the Timber Resource
“Is the use of forest herbicides in forestry a risk to animals?” by Dean Thompson, ForestInfo
YourForest Podcast: Glyphosate and Biodiversity with John Nash and Matthew Olson
“The Herbicide Glyphosate: crop tree productivity and non-target impacts” from the Applied Mammal Research Institute
WOLF Presentations
For more online forestry courses visit www.w-o-l-f.ca
References
Bataineh, Mohammad M., Robert G. Wagner, Matthew G. Olson and Elizabeth K. Olson. 2014. Midrotation response of ground vegetation to herbicide and precommercial thinning in the Acadian Forest of Maine, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 313 (2014) 132-143
Bell, F. Wayne and Steven G. Newmaster. 2002. The effects of silvicultural disturbances on the diversity of seed-producing plants in the boreal mixedwood forest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 32 (2002) 1180-1191
Biring, Balvinder Singh, Philip George Comeau, and Peter Fielder. 2003. Long-term effects of vegetation control treatments for release of Engelmann spruce from a mixed-shrub community in Southern British Columbia. Annals of Forest Science. 60 (2003) 681-690
Boateng, Jacob O., Sybille Haeussler, and Lorne Bedford. 2000. Boreal plant community diversity 10 years after glyphosate treatment. Western Journal of Applied Forestry 15-1 (2000) 15-26
Boateng, Jacob O., Jean L. Heineman, John McClarnon and Lorne Bedford. 2006. Twenty year responses of white spruce to mechanical site preparation and early chemical release in the boreal region of northeastern British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36 (2006) 2386-2399
Cole, E.C., M. Newton and A. Youngblood. 1999. Regenerating white spruce, paper birch and willow in south-central Alaska. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 29 (1999) 993-1001
Comeau, Philip G. and Erin C. Fraser. 2018. Plant community diversity and tree growth following single and repeated glyphosate herbicide applications to a white spruce plantation. Forests 9 (2018) 107
Comeau, Philip G. and George J. Harper. 2009. Effects of vegetation control treatments for release of Engelmann spruce from a mixed-shrub community in southern British Columbia – Year 15 results. The Forestry Chronicle. 85-4 (2009) 583-592
Lautenschlager, R.A. and Thomas P. Sullivan. 2002. Effects of herbicide treatments on biotic components in regenerating northern forests. The Forestry Chronicle. 78-5 (2002) 695-731
Pitt, Doug, Philip Comeau, Cosmin Man, Milo Mihajlovich and Dan MacIssac. 2005. Effects of herbaceous vegetation control and aspen stem density on boreal mixedwood stand development. Partners Report – 2005 Field Season.
Pitt, Douglas G., Milo Mihajlovich and Leslie M. Proudfoot. 2004. Juvenile stand responses and potential outcomes of conifer release efforts on Alberta’s spruce-aspen mixedwood sites. The Forestry Chronicle. 80-5 (2004) 583-597
Olson, Matthew G., Robert G. Wagner and John C. Brissette. 2012. Forty years of spruce-fir stand development following herbicide application and pre-commercial thinning in central Maine, USA Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 42 (2012) 1-11