The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation in north-central B.C. has announced a prohibition on the use of herbicides across its entire territory, encompassing Prince George and the Robson Valley. This decision stems from the adverse effects that herbicides, particularly glyphosate, have had on the environment and wildlife that they are responsible for safeguarding.
Elected Chief Dolleen Logan emphasized the ban’s significance, stating, “The message is no more spraying within our territory.” The Nation aims for this initiative to extend beyond their borders to discourage herbicide use throughout British Columbia.
The Nation expects all government and private industry workers operating within their region to comply with the ban. While the ban primarily targets the practice of extensively spraying glyphosate over forests in the area, they also hope private landowners will voluntarily refrain from using products that could harm the environment.
Concerns over the environmental impact of herbicide use in forestry have been mounting in British Columbia and across Canada. Chief Logan emphasized the Nation’s duty to prohibit toxic substances in their territory to preserve biodiversity and protect the health and well-being of their members.
Les Baker, an elder and land guardian, highlighted the longstanding worries of hunters and foragers regarding herbicide use in the wilderness, noting that many feel unsafe gathering food due to widespread spraying.
The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation’s traditional territories cover approximately 41,000 square kilometers and have not been relinquished through treaty or other means. The ban specifically targets the commercial application of glyphosate, the active ingredient in products like Roundup.
The City of Prince George mentioned that they use herbicides sparingly, primarily to address trees impacting critical infrastructure. While they haven’t directly engaged with the Lheidli T’enneh regarding the ban, they expressed a willingness to collaborate and explore alternative approaches.
The governing B.C. NDP has pledged to phase out glyphosate usage, with the Ministry of Forests already reducing spraying efforts annually. Health Canada’s 2017 review concluded that properly used glyphosate products do not pose harmful risks to Canadians.
Ongoing research at the University of Northern B.C. indicates that the long-term effects of glyphosate on wildlife and the environment remain unclear. The GROW project is a collaborative effort across the province studying glyphosate’s impact on various organisms.
While acknowledging the need for further research, Baker affirmed the ban’s necessity, stating, “It is better to stop until we find out exactly the harm it’s doing.”