An evaluation of the environmental behaviour, fate and risk of key pesticides used in South African forest plantations

Pesticides are important for the management of pests and diseases that have a negative impact on the sustainability of the forestry industry. Nevertheless, there is a trend to reduce pesticide use owing to the potential detrimental impacts they pose to terrestrial and aquatic environments and human health. This study aimed to determine the extent of South African forestry-related research that has been conducted on the environmental behaviour, fate and risks associated with pesticides used operationally within South African forest plantations. A second aim was to determine the potential risks posed by pesticides used within the South African forestry industry to terrestrial and aquatic environments. This was achieved through an extensive review of field studies and/or studies that consider field-relevant exposures of pesticides used within South African plantations. It was determined that although pesticide environmental fate studies have been conducted within plantations abroad and within South African agriculture, no studies have been conducted within the South African forestry industry to understand the actual impact of the currently used pesticides to the environment. Since pesticide environmental fate is complex and dependent on a variety of local conditions and use patterns, conclusions obtained from the studies reviewed here can only be used in part to effectively guide South African forestry-relevant pesticide-related legislation and decisions of certification bodies. Consequently, field studies that determine the environmental fate of pesticides under South African plantation silvicultural regimes and environmental conditions are necessary.