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Even when used with care, many pesticides used to control Desert Locusts pose risks to the environment and human health. To minimize the impact of pesticides on human health and the environment, member countries of FAO’s Desert Locust Control Commission (CLCW) have established basic environmental requirements for locust control operations. The eight CLCW countries have endorsed the Human and Environmental Standards, which will allow for better management of pesticide stocks, mapping of sensitive areas and use of biopesticides in the region covered by the Commission. Mali and Mauritania are the first countries to meet the two most important requirements: developing a pesticide stockpile management system (PSMS) and mapping of ecologically sensitive areas.
Pest control system facilitates data collection and sharing
Expired pesticides pollute the environment and pose a threat to the health of local residents. In order to facilitate the collection and sharing of information on the movement of pesticide stocks and the registration status of stockpiled products, FAO has developed a Pesticide Stock Management System (PSMS).
The PSMS is a national list of acceptable and unacceptable pesticides for adoption by countries, particularly those affected by locusts.
In this regard, Mauritania was one of the first countries to successfully implement a web-based application that ensures proper management and disposal of stocks and reduces excess supplies of pesticides.
PSMS provides information on domestic pesticide stocks (by region, product type, production batch, active ingredient, quantity, quality, manufacturer, etc.), pesticide use (spraying volume, target, treatment location (geographical coordinates), application rate, processing equipment used, etc.) and empty pesticide containers. It uses simplified and automated management based on barcode labels on packaging.
The PSMS helps prioritize the transfer of pesticide stocks from countries with surpluses to those in urgent need, such as from Mauritania to Yemen, and from Mali to Malawi and Mozambique. It also prioritizes the use of pesticides by classifying products into three categories (good, about to expire, expired).
The database shows certificates of compliance issued by laboratories that enable stock transfers to other countries and continents (triangulation or bilateral donations). It also gives six months’ advance warning of expiry dates so that countries can arrange compliance checks.
By using the system, countries are able to: (i) ensure traceability of empty pesticide containers from purchase to return and disposal; (ii) understand the availability of pesticide stocks, their location and whether they comply with FAO/WHO standards; and (iii) recycle nearly all empty containers at the end of locust control activities.
Mapping ecologically sensitive areas in Mali
Pesticide treatments used in Desert Locust control operations can pollute the environment and harm a large number of vulnerable animal or plant species. Identifying and mapping areas that are particularly sensitive to pesticide contamination is essential to ensure that such control operations cause minimal damage to the environment and impacts on human health.
To this end, in 2012, Mali’s National Locust Control Unit successfully completed the mapping of ecologically sensitive areas (human settlements, wetlands, oases, protected areas, migratory bird concentrations, and areas of rich or unique biodiversity).
Mali developed a tool for mapping ecologically sensitive areas and incorporated it into its National Environmental Action Plan, which restricts the use of pesticides in areas identified as sensitive to pesticide contamination.
The mapping tool was validated in Mali and serves as a model for other CLCPRO member countries to establish mapping systems.
Map tools have also recently been integrated into Desert Locust Ecological Environment Survey and Management System The RAMSES is a geographic information system used by national locust information officers to manage and analyze ecological, weather and locust data. This will allow locust control units to avoid handling sensitive areas during locust control operations and implement risk reduction measures.
This is the first time that the Locust Force has considered such important environmental and ecological issues.
*CLCPRO is the Regional Committee for Sustainable Preventive and Control of Desert Locusts in West and North Africa. The committee consists of ten members nation: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Tunisia.
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