What's required for pesticide use on Minnesota DNR's certified lands
As part of Minnesota DNR's conformance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Pesticide Policy (FSC-POL-30-001 V3-0 EN), we are implementing the following Pesticide Use Procedures, when applying any pesticides on our certified lands.
Beginning in 2021, the use of all pesticides on DNR-managed, FSC certified, lands must incorporate guidance found in the Minnesota DNR's Environmental and Social Risk Assessments (ESRAs). ESRAs for the several pesticides used for terrestrial invasive species control and vegetation management are available for staff to use in developing management prescriptions or pesticide use approvals. Each ESRA specifies which formulations are available and approved for staff use.
The DNR will be implementing these ESRAs at the "management unit" level. Our FSC management unit includes; All Forestry and Wildlife Administered lands outside of the Prairie Parkland Province, and Fisheries Administered lands in Lake County. We exclude Scientific Natural Areas, the forest nursery and seed orchards, agricultural leases and cooperative farming agreements, and major utility corridors.
Each ESRA has mitigation strategies to minimize environmental and social risks associated with the use of each pesticide. When working on our certified lands our staff will familiarize themselves with the mitigation strategies for those pesticides they use and follow the strategies in the course of their work.
- FSC Pesticide Policy
- FSC ESRA National Guidance for the United States
- FSC Prohibited and Highly Hazardous Pesticides
- Environmental and Social Risk Assessments (ESRAs)
If any interested or affected stakeholders have comments on the above ESRAs, please contact Adam James, Forest Certification Program Consultant.