GIS-aided approaches in considering local and regional landscape conditions in the pesticide use regulations process

The article describes two methodologies for practical site-specific approaches for farmers to fulfil the restrictions and directions imposed on a pesticide's authorisation. The first concerns restrictions for the use of pesticides to protect off-field and non-target organisms and is already implemented in government~! pesticide risk management since 2002. The other methodology is the result of research towards an index of agricultural fields which are distant from any surface water. Both approaches are based on exposure potential maps and risk maps with a primary theme taking account of regional and local landscape conditions that either reduce non-target exposure or increase the capability of non-targets to compensate for temporary effects . Map themes are focused on the spray drift exposure pathway. Making use of very detailed geographically referenced data, the approaches enable the management of pesticide application restrictions from regional down to a field-to-field basis. The results arc presented as easy-to-understand information and can be distributed as paper maps or as digital maps to the farmer. Processing and analysis of the GeoData is realised through GIS-technology using very detailed topographic data. which suit the scale of I : I O OOO to 25 OOO meters ..