| dc.description.abstract | Vegetation management to release conifers from competing angiosperms is
practiced throughout Canada. Aerial herbicide application, mechanical cutting, and site
preparation are some of the techniques used to suppress competing vegetation. Scientific
evidence demonstrates that these techniques allow conifers to establish in the first few
years after planting. One of the issues that arise, especially from the public, is concern
that aerial herbicide applications have on other values. Hence, there is pressure on
managers to find alternatives for the chemical control of vegetation that hinders early
conifer growth.
In this thesis, the abundance in distribution of Cornus, Epilobium, Pteridium, and
Rubus was computed, seven years after the silvicultural treatments were applied in the
area. All four species studied show potential medicinal ingredients both from
ethnobotanical, and pharmaceutical perspectives. A single application of herbicides or
mechanical treatments did not show any statistical difference from the control plots in the
abundance of the above species. However, the trends show slight variation. By using
mechanical methods for controlling these species, the medicinal values can be made
available for development by the pharmaceutical companies, without contributing to any
environmental degradation that may result from aerial herbicide application. | |
