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Submitted to: Journal of Orthopertan Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2003 Publication Date: 12/1/2003 Citation: Showler, A. 2003. The importance of armed conflict to Desert locust control, 1986-2002. Journal of Orthopteran Research. 12(2):127-133. Interpretive Summary: There are a number of challenges to desert locust survey and control as it is currently practiced, and these include lack of funding and training, weak regional organizations, and remote and rugged terrain in breeding areas. The most intractable challenge to overcome, and possibly the chief cause for desert locust outbreaks that reach plague status, is armed conflict, especially in countries with key breeding areas. Salient areas of armed conflict in countries where key desert locust breeding areas exist, and the impacts of those conflicts on desert locust survey and control are described. Technical Abstract: Repeated desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål), outbreaks and plagues in Africa and Asia in recent years, 1986 - 2002, have prompted the international community to focus on preventing plague status from being reached through early intervention. The relative lack of applied research breakthroughs on desert locust monitoring and control means that for preventive or proactive control, direct access to the breeding areas is essential for both operations so that conventional, short residual pesticides can be applied to gregarizing or fully gregarious populations. There are a number of challenges to desert locust survey and control as it is currently practiced, and these include lack of funding and training, weak regional organizations, and remote and rugged terrain in breeding areas. The most intractable challenge to overcome, and possibly the chief cause for desert locust outbreaks that reach plague status is armed conflict, especially in countries with key breeding areas. Salient areas of armed conflict in countries where key desert locust breeding areas exist, and the impacts of those conflicts on desert locust survey and control are described. Possible solutions to some instances of conflict are suggested. |
