Desert locust control in ecologically sensitive areas: need for guidelines

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Pest Management
• Ecology

Background:

• Chemical control of desert locusts (DL) spans vast landscapes and diverse ecosystems.
• Current practices lack stringent restrictions for spraying in environmentally sensitive areas.
• Growing environmental concerns necessitate clear guidelines for DL control operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and delineate environmentally sensitive areas in northeastern Africa vulnerable to pesticide contamination.
• To assess the overlap between these sensitive zones and historical DL control activities (1986-1998).
• To inform the development of guidelines for minimizing environmental impact during DL control.

Main Methods:

• Geographic identification and delineation of sensitive areas: protected zones, wetlands, populated places, oases, and migratory bird concentration sites.
• Overlay analysis matching identified sensitive areas with records of DL chemical control operations from 1986 to 1998.
• Spatial data analysis to quantify the extent of control operations within or near sensitive zones.

Main Results:

• Chemical control operations for DL were found to occur in numerous environmentally sensitive areas.
• Significant overlap was observed between DL control activities and wetlands, including temporary waters and mangroves.
• Pesticide application was also noted close to human settlements and, to a lesser extent, within or adjacent to protected areas and migratory bird habitats.

Conclusions:

• Chemical DL control has demonstrably occurred within environmentally sensitive regions, posing ecological risks.
• The findings highlight the urgent need for improved spatial planning and regulatory frameworks for DL management.
• Recommendations for integrated pest management strategies that minimize pesticide exposure in vulnerable ecosystems are warranted.