WHEREAS the Gypsy Moth has been identified as a serious threat to the health of the native Garry Oaks and the ecological integrity of Garry Oak ecosystems; AND WHEREAS aerial spraying programs of the pesticide BTK Bacillus Thuringlensis Kurstaki are one of the management tools used in Gypsy Moth management in British Columbia; AND WHEREAS significant data gaps preclude comprehensive assessment of the short and long-term effects of spray programs on non-target species in Garry Oak ecosystems, including species at risk: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial and federal governments be encouraged to fund rigorous and comprehensive pre- and post-spraying inventory and monitoring programs to assess the affects of BTK spraying on non-target species in Garry Oak ecosystems.
MINISTRY OF FORESTS The Gypsy Moth poses a threat to forests and urban trees and parks. It also poses a quarantine threat and resulting trade restrictions. T levels by 2003 if healthy populations existed outside of the spray area. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, along with the Ministry of Forests, is currently pursuing the possibility of a lepidopteran monitoring plan with scientists at the Pacific Forestry Centre. Ongoing detection programs and prompt eradication measures will prevent this imported pest from becoming established in the province.
ENVIRONMENT CANADA With regards to the comprehensive pre- and post-spraying inventory for BTK, Environment Canada collects this type of information for non-pesticide products. The data collection is called the National Pollutant Release Inventory NPRI, and it is the major starting point for identifying and monitoring sources of pollution in Canada. The NPRI database can be accessed at www.ec.gc.capdbquerysitequerye.cfm. In Canada, pesticide management is achieved through the combined efforts of a number of federal and provincial government departments. Within the federal government, Health Canada, through the Pest Management Regulatory Agency PMRA, is responsible for regulating the use of pesticides; and it is the PMRA that administers the Pest Control Products Act. Prior to making a regulatory decision, the PMRA will request from registrants data on human health and environmental fate, toxicity and impacts. Therefore, the PMRA may be in a position to provide information on effects of BTK spraying on non-target species. Pesticide monitoring on in-use pesticides is being conducted in all parts of the country, mainly in water and air components of the environment. Research endocrine disruption, community-level effects is also being conducted on in-use pesticide impacts to the animal invertebrates, frogs, mammals, fish and birds and plant life of given areas. Prior to conducting research or monitoring on these pesticides in the environment, there has to be solid scientific justification behind our efforts. Our current state of knowledge on BTK does not warrant a surveillance program on this bacterium, which is used in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. It is an aerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium with many strains. Once ingested by an insect, the bacterium produces an endotxoin which is very short-lived 20 days, and decays rapidly to non-toxic organic compounds. Mammalian toxicology has demonstrated that the bacterium is not toxic or pathogenic. With respect to the effects of BTK on species at risk, according to available data, no species have been identified to be at risk from its use. In order to understand pesticide threats to wildlife species, the PMRA is evaluating scientific assessments and recommendations by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This information will help in policy development, risk assessment activities and risk management decisions for species at risk by both the PMRA and Environment Canada. More information on the Government of Canada strategy for the protection of species at risk can be obtained at www.sararegistry.gc.cabackgrounddefaulte.cgm.