Biological Control Program |
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PPQ Biological Control Selection and Implementation Process
Biological Control
Biological control involves the use of natural enemies such as parasitoids, predators, pathogens, antagonists or competitors to suppress pest populations. The goal of PPQ biological control activities is to safeguard America’s agricultural production and natural areas from significant economic losses and negative impacts caused by insects, other arthropods, nematodes, weeds and diseases of regulatory significance.
PPQ biological control activities can be categorized into two broad areas for mitigating pest threats - Offshore Programs and Domestic Programs. Offshore programs focus on the development of biological control technologies that help prevent or slow the establishment of key exotic pests in the United States and allow the Agency to be better prepared if they do become established. The goal of domestic biological control programs is to support the development of technologies that allow eradication efforts to be more effective, provide for timely, sustainable, environmentally sound, and fiscally efficient pest management programs should eradication efforts fail, and effectively manage widespread exotic pests for which eradication is not an option.
Project Selection
PPQ will use a formal process to select biological control target pests for further project development and implementation. The process will include canvassing cooperators for target pests, ranking of responses, and conducting a feasibility ranking. PPQ management support will be solicited and communicated to cooperators. Ranked projects will then be implemented or a position paper developed for selected target pests. Position papers will detail Agency plans in those cases where current circumstances prevent full project implementation.
PPQ acknowledges that project pests may be identified through other means (e.g., emergency programs, Congressional mandates, etc.), but agrees to use the evolving canvassing process as the primary means for incorporating the interests of participating State and other cooperators into the selection process. For example, this could include geographical or political needs. Regardless of how target pests are identified, project activities must be in alignment with PPQ’s overall mission.
In addition, and in support of the PPQ Safeguarding System to exclude and mitigate the impacts of new invasive pests, PPQ will identify and facilitate the development of international biological control programs against selected target pests that are not yet in the United States. PPQ will consult with State and other cooperators in selecting and planning these programs.
- USDA-APHIS-PPQ Biocontrol Target Pest Canvassing and Evaluation 2005–2006 Final Report (PDF; 996 Kb)
- Current Project Plans
- Cooperative Agreement Work Plan Templates
- Letter to Cooperators (PDF; 23 Kb)
- Program Goals (PDF; 26 Kb)
- Work Plan Template (MS Word; 179 Kb)
- Cooperative Agreement Reporting Form (MS Word; 143 Kb)
Project Funding
Through collaborative funding, PPQ will become a partner in new biological control initiatives with the intent of securing adequate project funding and in-kind support. PPQ will give priority to those cooperators whose projects leverage funds or provide in-kind support.
Project Organization
All biological control projects will require the development of formal work plans that include timelines, performance measures and annual reviews that are jointly conducted by PPQ and its cooperators to determine whether to continue or terminate activity. PPQ will aggressively move toward project transfer to cooperators by year 5 of the project. PPQ acknowledges that full project implementation and long term monitoring may take more than 5 years. Because of this, PPQ will strive to successfully implement a program in a limited area and develop monitoring protocols and methods as part of its formal plan. Cooperators can then adopt and apply the program technologies to new areas, as needed. Project transfer is a major goal for PPQ so that the Agency can be responsive to emerging needs; for example, new target pests identified through the canvassing process.
Key Contacts And Linkages
PPQ biological control projects will align with Agency goals and support federal noxious weed and Agency programs, and will also have a strong grass-roots basis because they are selected through the canvassing process. Therefore, biological control projects should be developed in partnership with State cooperators, who champion and guide the overall process and can be seen as the driving force behind project implementation and planning. To direct the canvassing process and assist in subsequent project implementation, PPQ State Plant Health Directors, or designee, will serve as the key PPQ contact for each State as active participants on the State biological control steering committee.
Scientific Basis For Project Implementation
APHIS PPQ is committed to safe and effective biological control. Therefore, PPQ will take the appropriate precautions to ensure that 1) natural enemies proposed for introduction possess a high degree of host specificity, and 2) monitoring and evaluation are an integral parts of all implementation plans. This approach is crucial for the success and future of biological control as a management strategy and is consistent with PPQ’s safeguarding mission.