BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 21, 2021
Foresters plant trees but without weed control, our spruce and fir trees would get choked, out-competed for nutrients, water and sunlight. It’s not good for business obviously, but it’s also not good for native species. In addition, if the forester can’t grow the trees he or she will end up having to sell the land, running the risk of development. We should all agree that the more land we protect, the better, especially when it comes to carbon sequestration. Just like with your home vegetable garden, herbicides aren’t the only tool foresters use to produce healthy trees, but they are a necessary tool. Unfortunately, a bill pending in the Legislature seeks to ban aerial spraying. Aside from being detrimental to the stewardship of our land, it’s also unnecessary. ~ Frank Leavitt, licensed master pesticide applicator