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Revised March 6, 2000
The development of forestry around the
world has been described as a four stage process: Stage 1—exploitation of the
resource; Stage 2—legislation to promote sustainable production of values;
Stage 3—institution of an ecological approach to management for sustained
yield and multiple use; and Stage 4—social management for synergistic, often
spiritual, landscape-level values. I see a similar pattern in the development
of vegetation management on powerline corridors in North America, particularly in the U.S. and Canada. In New York, for example, powerline corridors were managed
solely for the safe and reliable transmission of electricity until the 1970s
(Stage 1). Corridor vegetation was generally viewed as a necessary nuisance,
rather than a source of value. Various state-level organizations and laws
were enacted in the mid-70s to address issues of herbicide use, management
planning, and non-commodity corridor values such as wildlife habitat,
aesthetics, and recreation (Stage 2). At the same time, a few utilities
adapted an ecological approach to vegetation management following the
long-standing work of Egler, Neiring,
Bramble, Byrnes, and others (Stage 3). Today, science and technology
continues to refine this ecological, or integrated
vegetation management, approach. But is this enough? Will Stage 4—Social
Vegetation Management—be entered? Are we ready? Or should we strive to stay
at Stage 3? This paper describes the parallel development of forestry and
vegetation management on powerline corridors. Integrated vegetation
management will be reviewed in relation to the different stages. Related
questions/answers are highlighted to foster thoughts and discussion about
future vegetation management on powerline corridors.
Ref#: Abs-1-062
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