FERNS Pesticide Notification Web Map

Planned pesticide applications submitted through Oregon Department of Forestry, 2014-2024

Pesticide applications happen all around us, all over Oregon. Beyond Toxics offers support and resources for those affected by pesticide drift, but there remained an unmet need for greater transparency in historical pesticide usage across the state. That is why we have launched the FERNS Pesticide Webmap, a one-of-a-kind tool that compiles publicly available data into a single interactive resource.

This map displays forestland pesticide application notifications filed with the Oregon Department of Forestry under Oregon’s Forest Practices Act. These notifications—submitted through the Forestry Electronic Reporting and Notification System (FERNS)—are a required form of advance public notice for certain planned forest activities, including pesticide applications. This map does not include agricultural pesticide applications, roadside sprays, urban, or residential applications.

The FERNS map was made in collaboration with InfoGraphics Lab at the University of Oregon, utilizing publicly available data from the Oregon Department of Forestry's Forestry Electronic Registry Notification System (FERNS).

Resources

FERNS Pesticide Application Web Map Webinar (12/9/25)

How to Use the Map

The map displays notifications to apply pesticides on private, county, and state forestlands from 2014-2024. By clicking on an individual site (represented in orange), you can see details of the notification, including:

  • Proposed method of pesticide application (aerial, ground, other)

  • The possible chemical(s)

  • Planned date range

  • A link to a PDF of the current NOAP (Notification of Operations)

 

The map can be filtered to show:

  • Types of listed chemicals or pesticide brands

  • Proposed method of pesticide application (aerial, ground, other)

  • Any combination of the above

Limitations and Characteristics of the Map

The map has some important characteristics and limitations worth considering. We have likely not identified all limitations and we will continue to update this list as more people interact with the data.

The map displays public data from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) as is. Beyond Toxics did not collect this data and did not process it in any way other than linking the data in each FERNS record to a geographic location.

 

The map does NOT include:

  • Forestry pesticide use data from federal agencies including US Forest Service (USFS), US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and other federally managed public lands

  • Pesticide usage for agricultural, urban, residential, or roadside purposes

  • Pesticide use data for Christmas tree/tree farms

Inclusion in this database does not indicate that a chemical was applied. Notifiers will commonly report a “wishlist” of a large variety of chemicals that they may or may not spray.  There is no requirement to report which pesticides are ultimately applied to the Oregon Department of Forestry.

There is no standard by which chemicals are reported. Notifiers may list chemicals by active ingredients (i.e.; 2,4-D) or brand name of a pesticide formulation (i.e.; Gordon which contains 2,4-D).

The information on the map may not be current. Notifiers sometimes change components of their pesticide notifications. The linked PDFs hosted by ODF are the most up-to-date source of pesticide notification information.

Questions? Contact us!

We want to hear your feedback! If you have questions about the map or data, suggestions on how to improve the map or on other ways to use it, or ideas on pesticide policy or additional research on the topic, we'd love to hear from you!

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