THE FALLINGSNOW ECOSYSTEM PROJECT - COMPARING CONIFER RELEASE ALTERNATIVES IN NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO

The Fallingsnow Ecosystem Project documents the ecological consequence s of alternative conifer release treatments (motor-manual [clearing/br ush saw], mechanical [Silvana Selective/Ford Versatile tractor], helic opter-applied herbicides Vision(R) [a.i. glyphosate], Release(R) [a.i, triclopyr], and control [no treatment] in young spruce (Picea spp.) p lantations. Here a series of papers that quantify the effects of these alternative treatments on major environmental components, as well as their production rates and costs is introduced. In general, one growin g season after treatment, untreated plots tended to have consistently larger, more diverse populations of the biotic components examined. Bi otic and abiotic changes caused by the cutting treatments were more si milar to each other than to those resulting from the herbicide treatme nts, but statistical differences among treatments were few. Herbicide treatments were the most productive and least costly, and about 60% of the active ingredient was deposited on the target (aspen [Populus tre muloides Michx.]) foliage.