Reducing Risk to Pollinators:Integrated Pest Management

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• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Dealing with pests in the garden, farm or park is best understood as a process. To get superior results, with the least unintended consequences and cost requires a “tool box” with a variety of approaches. The concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides just such a toolbox.

The National Park Service characterizes this process aptly:

“IPM is a risk reduction process which coordinates the use of pest biology, environmental information and available technology to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and posing the least possible risk to people, property, resources and the environment. IPM methods include physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical management tools.”

(Also from NPS):

“11 Step Process to Developing and Implementing an Integrated Pest Management Strategy"

July 21, 2005

1. Describe your site management objectives and establish short and long term priorities.
2. Build consensus with stakeholders-occupants, decision makers and technical experts (ongoing throughout the process).
3. Document decisions and maintain records.
4. Know your resource (site description, ecology and resource assessment).
5. Identify current and potential pest species, their biology, and conditions conducive to support the pest(s) (air, water, food, shelter, temperature and light).
6. Monitor pests and environmental conditions, including population levels and phenological data.
7. Establish “action thresholds” at which point an approved management strategy will be implemented.
8. Review available tools and best management practices for the management of the identified pest(s). Tools can include: 1) no action, 2) physical (manual & mechanical), 3) cultural, 4) biological, and 5) chemical management strategies.
9. Define responsibilities and implement the lowest risk, most effective, pest management strategy, in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
10. Evaluate results of management strategies; determine if objectives have been achieved; modify strategy if necessary.
11. Education and outreach.

Environmental Protection Agency , EPA:

http://epa.gov

United States EPA home page for information on regulations, laws, and current news regarding pesticides, water, air, soil, and toxins in the environment.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife:

http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Documents/IPMpol.pdf

A concise, downloadable, two-page summary of Integrated Pest Management and Reducing Risks to Pollinators from Pest Management Activities

Pest Management Regulatory Agency , Health Canada (English-French):

http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/

Searchable index on Canadian regulations, sustainable pest management, legislation, and responsible pesticide use.

USDA-CREES Regional IPM Centers Information System, NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management:

http://www.ipmcenters.org/

Great starter link to innumerable resources provided by state extension agencies and universities.

Resource List for Pesticide Alternatives, Audubon Society:

http://members.aol.com/homeview2/info/

Wonderful links to reference books about gardens, bats, and organic pest control; mail order beneficial insects and alternative pesticide products, organizations to contact for more information, and sources of more information for a very broad range of pesticide concerns (wildlife, pets, household cleaners, products, multiple chemical sensitivity).

Center for Integrated Pest Management , North Carolina State University:

http://cipm.ncsu.edu

Comprehensive and current website funded by NSF as a focal point for information regarding IPM. Includes links to international, national, regional, and local databases and websites.

Downloadable presentations from 2003 IPM Symposium, including topics such as: urban IPM, education, vertebrate IPM, organic systems, and commodities; are available at: http://cipm.ncsu.edu/symposium

Environmental Risk Analysis Program, Cornell University:

http://environmentalrisk.cornell.edu

Comprehensive source of annotated links to publications and downloadable documents regarding environmental management, IPM, risk indicators, and impacts of pesticides.

Iowa State University Entomology Index for Integrated Pest Management, Iowa State University:

http://www.ent.iastate.edu/list/integrated_pest_management.html

Links to 50+ international websites about all classes of insects and ecosystems in which IPM may be implemented.

Integrated Pest Management , AGRIFOR, UK: http://agrifor.ac.uk/browse/cabi/1cdd06af080e978cd8d16faf9afd4bf3.html

Includes annotated bibliographies to numerous websites on biological control of pests, especially for agriculture.

International Journal of Pest Management :

http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/09670874.asp

Includes table of contents for current issues.

Integrated Pest Management Reviews, Kluwer Online Journal (discontinued in 2002):

http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/1353-5226/

Reprints available for previous articles on diverse themes related to IPM.

Koppert’s Side Effects of Pesticides on Natural Enemies and Bumblebees Calculator , Koppert Biological Systems:

http://www.koppert.nl/e0110.html

Select a particular pesticide and a beneficial insect, and the calculator will produce information regarding the chemical’s side effects, including persistence.

SELCTV Database of Pesticide Effects on Non-Target Arthropods (dated 1921-1985), Oregon State University:

http://www.ent3.orst.edu/Phosure/database/selctv/selctv.htm

This information was assembled by NAPPC’s EPA PESP Task Force in 2004-2005.

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