Statistics & Questionnaire | Pesticide Free Towns

PAN Europe and her partners are working together with municipalities to achieve their ambitious goal: a municipality without pesticides

Aims of the survey:

A basis for a debate on pesticides, after collecting information on how those surveyed have overcome obstacles;
Encourage an exchange between the three Belgian regions, as well as learning about experiences abroad
Drawing up a list of initiatives so that local actors can be inspired by actions that have already happened in their area.

When answering the questions below, please click on the answer(s) which most closely describe the situation in your city/municipality.

Example of the Belgian municipalities

Country *

Name of city/municipality *

Name of respondent *

Department *

Other departments which use PPP

1. Does your city/municipality use pesticides in the areas it is responsible for maintaining? *

Yes

2. If your city/municipality uses a limited number of pesticides, please state when you started restricting the pesticides used, the categories of pesticides you use, the conditions and derogations under which different categories of pesticides are used, or if the use of certain pesticides is totally prohibited. *

2.1. Category of pesticides used:

2.2. Category of pesticides whose use is totally prohibited:

2.3. Any conditions governing when these pesticides are used:

2.4. Do these rules on pesticide use also apply to use by private citizens and other users and stakeholders, or only to use by your department municipality?

2.5. When did you introduce specific rules on the categories of pesticides you use, the conditions and derogations under which different categories of pesticides are used or if the use of certain pesticides is totally prohibited?

2.6. Can you estimate the % of reduction in total pesticide use which has been achieved since these rules were introduced?

3. If your city/ municipality has different rules for different public areas (e.g. hospitals, sports grounds, hotels, etc.), please reply separately to questions 1 and 2 for each category of area. *

4. Please specify which of the pesticide reduction/ elimination measures listed above stem from national law and which stem from policies at regional or city level. *

5. Why did you decide to reduce/eliminate pesticide use? *

To protect biodiversity (wild plants, insects, pollinating insects, birds etc.)

To protect and improve the quality of the waterways

For public health reasons (to reduce risks for children, residents, passers-by etc.)

To improve the quality of raw water (destined for drinking water supply)

To protect the health of gardeners/workers

To protect the health of people using sports and leisure facilities

For economic reasons

Due to demands from citizens

To comply with national or European law

Other

6. Have you set up networks to disseminate information your pesticide reduction/ elimination policy and the reasons for it or to discuss its implementation? If yes, please describe briefly. *

Other

7. How have you been able to avoid using pesticides to kill weeds? *

Use of mechanical methods

Removal of unnecessary surface coverings

Integration of greenery into surfaces, e.g. flowers in pavements

Use of ground-cover plants

Use of straw or mulch

Seeding the land (grass, annual plants)

Acceptance of spontaneous plant growth (communication campaign on tolerance)

Anti-weed nets

Complete restructuring of soil so that it can be maintained without pesticides

Other

8. Which alternative land management technique(s) do you use for weed control? *

Mechanical / Sweeper

Mechanical / Mower

Mechanical / Jet washer

Mechanical / High pressure washer

Thermal / Direct flame

Thermal / Hot air

Thermal / Infra-red

Thermal / Hot water

Thermal / Steam

Thermal / Hot foam

Other

8.1 Is pest and/or weed control managed internally or by external providers? *

Managed internally

Managed by external providers

Both

9. How do you combat insects/harmful species without the use of pesticides? *

No techniques used

Traps

“Organic” phyto-sanitary products: if so, which (please, sepcify in "Details")?

Integrated protection (please provde details below):

Other preventative methods - please specify in "Details"):

Details

9.1 Have you implemented any maintenance and green space management techniques which encourage bees and wild pollinating insects (such as by planting plants/trees which favour honey bees)? *

Yes - please, describe

Ongoing

Details

9.2 If ou have problems with mosquitos, hot do you solve it? *

10. What method(s) have you implemented to combat invasive plant species? *

No methods used

Cutting below the root collar

Scything

Deep ploughing

Grazing

PPP: pulverisation

PPP: injection

Other, please specify ...

Other

11. Have you had problems with any invasive plant species? If so, which? *

Japanese knotweed

Giant Hogweed

Himalayan Balsam

Black cherry

Rhododendron

Black locust

Other, please specify ...

Other

12. What method(s) have you implemented to combat invasive plant species? *

No methods used

Cutting below the root collar

Scything

Deep ploughing

Grazing

PPP: pulverisation

PPP: injection

13. Which areas are most difficult to manage and maintain in your pesticide-free management approach? *

Cemeteries / Between graves

Cemeteries / On pathways

Slabs without repointing (paving slabs/pavements)

Sports grounds / Natural lawn

Sports grounds / Artificial grass

Sports grounds / Gravel

Sports grounds / Dolomite

Sports grounds / Other

Transport routes (roads, railways, tramways)

14. Does your city/municipality actively seek to learn out about the alternatives used by other cities/municipalities? *

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

15. Have your efforts to reduce or eliminate pesticides resulted ina n overall cost saving or in extra expenses compare to previous policies? *

Much more expense

A little more expense

No change

A little less expense

Much less expense

Don't know/ prefer not to answer

15.1. Please briefly explain your answer:

16. Have you received any public feedback from residents or visitors (structured or unstructured, positive or negative) on your efforts to reduce or eliminate pesticides? *

Yes

16.1. Feedback comments received were generally: *

Very positive

Moderately positive

Neutral

Moderately negative

Very negative

16.2. Please provide a brief summary on the main types of feedback comments received: *

17. Have you undertaken any of the following communication activities to inform residents, businesses and other stakeholders on your pesticide free policies: *

Yes

17.1. Feedback comments received were generally: *

Very positive

Moderately positive

Neutral

Moderately negative

Very negative

17.2. Please provide a brief summary on the main types of feedback comments received: *

17.3. Have you undertaken any of the following communication activities to inform residents, businesses and other stakeholders on your pesticide free policies: *

Communication via TV

Communication via Radio

Written materials: posters, leaflets, newsletters

Public meetings

Electronic communication: Internet

Electronic communication: e-mail

Other (please specify) *

18. Do you have any examples of how your efforts to reduce or eliminate pesticides have contributed to other municipal policies such as urban greening plans? *

19. Please outline the financial and technical support offered to your town, either from central government or sponsorship from businesses. *

20. Please outline any systems you have set up for your current pesticide free policies for monitoring and controlling the use of pesticides to ensure they comply with pesticide restrictions in your town and any challenges you have faced in monitoring and controlling pesticide use. *

21. What are the intentions of your city/ municipality as regards any possible future modification of your current pesticicide free policies? *

It is intended to make the policies more strict

No changes are planned to current policies

It is planned to make the policies less strict

21.1. Please briefly explain or justify your answer:

22. Do you have any questions, suggestions or examples of the good practices you would like to share with us?