Search this site:

4.3 Early Forest Pest Control

Until the late 1940s, little was done in the South to control forest pests. They were viewed like wind, lightning, or other acts of God. It was believed that little could be done to control them.

After World War II, State and Federal agencies in the South began to recognize forest protection as a necessary part of forest management. Maximizing the production of wood and wood fiber in the South became desirable. Congress authorized funds to build the capacity to protect forests at the State and Federal levels. State forestry organizations hired forest protection specialists, and universities and colleges began to teach courses about protection of forests from fire, insects, and disease. State and Federal agencies as well as universities conducted research on forest pests. Through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s forest management was commodity or use driven, and some control methods used, though highly effective in generating product, were not environmentally friendly.

Emphasis was placed on chemical control, especially after the development of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides such as DDT, BHC, and lindane. During this era, control of forest pests required intensive labor and, in many cases, was perceived by many people as being damaging to the environment as well as injurious to the people who applied the treatments. Rachel Carson's book, "Silent Spring", decried the existing pattern of pesticide use, calling instead for a more intelligent use of these chemicals. The book catalyzed the environmental movement in the United States during the 1960s and 70s. Public outcries against the use of chemicals in the forest resulted in the banning of several pesticides and challenged managers to use and researchers to develop additional environmentally friendly methods for controlling forest pests.