U.S. Forest Service, timber companies spraying record amounts of glyphosate in California

A yearlong investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting has uncovered the alarming fact that the U.S. Forest Service and timber companies in California are employing record levels of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, to manage forests. Glyphosate, a weedkiller, is used to eliminate vegetation competing with young trees.

This practice has been tied to lawsuits claiming exposure caused cancer. The World Health Organization's cancer agency has labeled glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans." The Trump administration recently proposed opening nearly 45 million acres of national forests to logging, intensifying efforts to increase timber production.

The Center for Investigative Reporting's Nathan Halverson has been examining how California forests are being manipulated to grow more timber using glyphosate, a controversial herbicide. Joe Van Meter, owner of the Mill Creek Resort, moved to California to escape city life and raise a family. However, his property has experienced two evacuations due to forest fires, making him wary of the Forest Service's plan to replant trees using glyphosate.

Van Meter expressed his concerns about the potential health risks for children and his family. The Forest Service considers glyphosate a valuable tool for accelerating reforestation efforts, estimating the application of the herbicide on around 10,000 acres in Lassen National Forest. The agency defends its use, citing a 15-year-old study concluding glyphosate's safety for the environment and people.

However, Halverson's investigation revealed that the Forest Service's assessment relied heavily on manipulated studies by Monsanto, which produced glyphosate, to shape the scientific record. Dr. William Heydens, a former Monsanto toxicologist, admitted to orchestrating a public campaign promoting glyphosate's safety, including paying outside scientists to write studies supporting the herbicide's non-toxicity.