Pollinator Issues Affect Arborist and Landscape Professionals on a Daily Basis. Jim Zwack, M.S. Director of Technical Services The Davey Institute

Transcription

1 Pollinator Issues Affect Arborist and Landscape Professionals on a Daily Basis Jim Zwack, M.S. Director of Technical Services The Davey Institute

2 Personal Introduction B.S. Urban Forestry, University of Minnesota M.S. Tree Physiology, Iowa State University University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements Vice President of Sales Products for PHC programs The Davey Institute Director of Technical Services Research, training, educational, and environmental compliance arm of the Davey Tree Expert Company

3 The Davey Tree Expert Company Founded in 1880 in Kent, Ohio 8,000 employees in 45 US States and Canada 16 th largest Employee-Owned company in the US Utility, Residential, Commercial, and Consulting Business Units We see a lot

4 Context Pollinator issues are very popular in the media As an arborist company these concerns directly affect us, specifically in our pest management programs where we use products that have toxicity to bees and other pollinators We provide services that protect resources that also have great value to society, people, wildlife, pollinators, etc. So we are concerned about how all these issues come together

5 Agenda Industry evolution of pest management practices Davey s pollinator position Specific modifications Bees and Trees

6 Evolution of Pest Management Practices 1940s and 1950s Huge increase in the number of chemicals available Chemicals were thought to be the miracle cure for all problems s Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring - the first widely read book warning about the impact of pesticides and the environment Led to more regulation of pesticides and development of new ideas on how to manage pests

7 1970s and Early 1980s Initiated the concept of IPM Integrated Pest Management Management (not annihilation) Use a variety of techniques Originally developed for agricultural crops Still pest focused 7

8 Late 1980s, 1990s and Today Plant Health Care (PHC) Focus on plant system vs. pest Healthy plants will be less prone to pests Favors proactive treatments that improve plant health rather than reactive, pesticide treatments Development of alternatives to spraying, such as soil and trunk applications Development of less toxic pesticides 8

9 Pesticide Cover Sprays Treat All Trees and Shrubs

10 PHC Opportunity Flowchart Maintenance Procedures Least Number of Options Installation Procedures Specimen Selection Site Preparation Landscape Design Greatest Number of Options

11 Agenda Industry evolution of pest management practices Davey s pollinator position Specific modifications Bees and Trees

12 Davey s Pollinator Position We recognize the importance of pollinators We support activities that lead to better and more plentiful habitats for them We support the wise use of pesticides, including neonicotinoids Wise use of pesticides can improve habitats for pollinators by reducing/eliminating invasives and/or poor quality forage We teach and train PHC and IPM principles

13 Davey s Pollinator Position Bee health is a complex topic. Multiple factors affect bee health: Pests and parasites Loss of habitat Microbial diseases Nutrition problems Bee management practices Pesticides We provide comments and input to groups like the National Pollinator Health Task Force CER report is GRI compliant Contains pollinator language

14 Agenda Industry evolution of pest management practices Davey s pollinator position Specific modifications Bees and Trees

15 Specific Modifications Regulatory Compliance Labels are the law! We have modified some behaviors and practices because of label language

16 Specific Modifications Education 2015 PHC booklet contains sections on Pollinators, Alternative Pest Management methods, including biological controls. Communicating the concern to PHC technicians makes them more aware when making regular inspections and applications.

17 Specific Modifications More trunk applications Advantages Eliminate Spray Drift Reduced Worker Exposure Reduced Pesticide Exposure to Natural Enemies May be able to Reduce Total Pesticide Load Disadvantages Wounding Application time can be slow Cost of equipment Available active ingredients Pesticides still have toxicity

18 Specific Modifications Product choices Provide guidance for lower bee toxicity products (Acelepryn, TriStar, soaps, oils, etc.) Provide guidance to avoid the flowering period when pollinators are present

19 Client Expectations Our clients value their landscapes They are willing to pay premiums for the benefits of healthy plants They will pay for human, pet, and wildlife safety They will also pay for bee safety, but not as much as these others There is a good opportunity for public education And a need for it!

20 Agenda Industry evolution of pest management practices Davey s pollinator position Specific modifications Bees and Trees

21 Bees and Trees Pollinator issues associated with trees have been highly visible Trees are worth protecting and managing Not just decorations Do arborists account for a disproportionate amount of the pollinator problem?

22 Neonicotinoid: Use in Minnesota 2009 Active Ingredient in (lbs) Industry imidacloprid clothianidin Crop chemicals 46,766 19,347 Turf / ornamental 3, Garden and lawn 1, Structural 1,591 0 Animal care 63 0 Industrial, forestry 13 0 Home 9 0 Total use 53,173 lbs 19,454 lbs T&O < 6% of consumption Minnesota Department of Agriculture

23 Benefit 1: Stormwater Trees intercept and hold rain on leaves, branches, and other surfaces Increases storage in soil Reduces erosion Reduces stormwater runoff

24 Benefit 2: Energy Use Trees shade buildings Reduces demand for air conditioning Reduces electricity consumption Trees are windbreaks that reduce heat loss in winter Transpiration cools the air Trees reduce urban heat island effects

25 Benefit 3: Improve Air Quality Absorb pollutants through leaf surfaces O 3 (ozone) NO 2 (nitrogen dioxide) SO 2 (sulfur dioxide) Intercept dust and/or particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) Release oxygen Trees reduce the demand for energy consumption, which reduces the creation of many pollutants

26 Benefit 4: CO 2 Reduction Trees are largely made of carbon so they take carbon out of the air and turn it into tissue (bark, leaves, wood, etc.) Trees reduce energy needs which helps avoid carbon release in the first place

27 Some Benefits are Hard to Quantify Tree-filled neighborhoods: Lower levels of domestic violence Are safer and more sociable Tree-filled landscapes reduce stress Trees decrease need for medication and speed recovery times People spend more money shopping along tree-lined streets

28 Minneapolis i-tree Assessment $6.8 million in energy savings $9.1 million in reduced storm water runoff $1 million improvements to air quality $7.1 million increase in property value

29 Milwaukee i-tree Assessment EAB Structural Impacts: 17.4% Canopy Loss 30,000 public ash trees EAB Functional Impacts: $243,785 less pollutant removal $138,000 less energy savings (cooling costs) $2.6 million reduction in storm water benefits (1996 study)

30 Summary Pollinator issues are real and of great concern to society Arborists use pesticides that have known pollinator toxicity Arborists use a very small percentage of active ingredients Trees provide an array of benefits that are worth protecting These issues are complex There are no simple answers

31 Questions?