Author Willoughby I. et al.

Year of publication 2009

This guide provides a generic framework for Integrated Pest, Disease and Weed Management (IPM) on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified estates, which may include indigenous forests and plantations. The guide contributes to the implementation of the FSC Pesticides Policy, the core elements of which are: the identification and avoidance of 'highly hazardous' pesticides' use of which is only possible in exceptional circumstances; promotion of non-chemical methods of pest management; appropriate use of any pesticides that are applied. Use of the framework is not mandatory, or intended to be prescriptive, but adoption of its prin-ciples will assist managers in demonstrating that they have a strategy for reducing, minimising or eliminating the impact of any remaining pesticide use, as is required by FSC criterion 6.6. Furthermore, it will assist managers in preventing and minimising impacts from pests, diseases, fire and invasive plant introductions, with a primary reliance on prevention and alternative control methods, rather than the use of chemical pesticides. Managers and experts are encouraged to develop locally or regionally specific strategies based on the principles contained in the generic framework. Examples of a country strategy from which this generic framework is adapted, and a database of additional strategies for a range of individual pest, disease and weed problems from other regions across the world, are provided as resource to help managers develop their own regional specific strategies for current and future problems within the generic IPM framework.