The chemical poisons and wipes out the regrowing trees, shrubs and plants. It remains in the ecosystem for years.<\/strong>[1]<\/a><\/p>\n\n Finally, when the trees are dead, the logging industry returns to replant just a handful of tree species most valuable for logging. The natural forest has effectively been replaced by a near monoculture of pine and spruce, thanks to the help of glyphosate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n And this is happening every summer in Ontario\u2019s forests. <\/strong>Indigenous scientific knowledge, observations from people living close to the forest, and an emerging body of Western science all confirm that the impacts are catastrophic.<\/p>\n\n The Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders of the North Shore of Lake Huron, Ontario report wide reaching impacts throughout the ecosystem: <\/strong>\u201cWe believe that glyphosate and the additives that enhance its potency are harming the health and well-being of the water, soil, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, humans and other mammals.\u201d [2]<\/a> They warn of plummeting numbers of wildlife<\/strong> like beaver, porcupine, skunks, birds and bees. [3]<\/a><\/p>\n\n Plants that survive the initial glyphosate spray show strange mutations<\/strong>. Small amounts of the chemical have been detected years later in their leaves, fruit, flowers and roots, [4]<\/a> which are food sources for a wide variety of wildlife.<\/p>\n\n The conifer forest planted after the glyphosate spray doesn\u2019t provide the same range of habitat as a mixed forest. [5]<\/a> It is hotter and drier, and more prone to devastating forest fires.<\/strong> [6]<\/a> It also absorbs and stores less carbon. [7]<\/a> <\/p>\n\n As our planet warms, we can anticipate devastating increases in climate-exacerbated weather events. Forest fire researchers project that \u201cfire weather\u201d will increase 50% in Western Canada and 300% in Eastern Canada by the end of the century. [8]<\/a><\/p>\n\n We must preserve mixed forests which serve as key natural resources that dampen the impact of forest fires.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n Despite efforts by Monsanto [9]<\/a>, a growing body of scientific evidence has linked glyphosate to very serious human health problems.<\/strong> High glyphosate exposure is found to lead to a significant increase in specific types of cancer<\/strong>. [10]<\/a> Consuming foods with so-called \u201csafe\u201d levels of glyphosate kills off beneficial gut bacteria<\/strong>, which can lead to a wide range of health issues including chronic disease and mental health problems. [11]<\/a> Glyphosate acts as an endocrine (hormone) disruptor and is linked with a higher risk of birth defects, miscarriages, and a range of fertility and reproductive problems<\/strong> in men and women. [12]<\/a><\/p>\n\n Yet the federal government maintains that \u201cproducts containing glyphosate do not present unacceptable risks<\/strong> to human health or the environment when used according to the revised product label directions.\u201d [13]<\/a> And provincial governments like Doug Ford\u2019s in Ontario use this position as justification to continue allowing aerial glyphosate spraying in forests.<\/strong> [14]<\/a><\/p>\n\n First Nations across Northern Ontario have been fighting for decades<\/strong> to end aerial glyphosate spraying on their territories. They see the direct impacts of the \u201crain of death\u201d<\/strong>, as many call it. The practice violates Indigenous peoples\u2019 fundamental rights<\/strong> \u2013 to health and safety, to harvest their traditional foods and medicines, and to consent to activities on their lands.<\/p>\n\n In February, First Nations leaders again called on Doug Ford to act. [15]<\/a> But the Premier has refused.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Banning glyphosate for forestry is surprisingly simple \u2013 and it has already been done<\/strong>. Quebec banned glyphosate and all <\/em>herbicides for use in forestry back in 2001. Instead, the province uses manual methods to manage forest regrowth, which actually creates more jobs. [16]<\/a> It may cost logging companies a little more, but they\u2019ve managed to stay in business just fine.<\/p>\n\n People-powered momentum to stop glyphosate spraying is increasing across Canada. <\/strong>Last year, protesters prevented forests from being sprayed in Nova Scotia. [17]<\/a> Other grassroots movements in New Brunswick [18]<\/a> and British Columbia [19]<\/a> are similarly dedicated to banning use of the herbicide.<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/07\/6049bfff-deadbirch-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/07\/a1eb866e-herbicide-sign-768x1024.jpeg\")