development
projects
location East Africa date November 2011 – December 2011 project team Arne Witt
biocontrol training in East Africa
Development in Africa is threatened by invasive alien species which impact negatively on trade, food security and ecosystem services.
so what’s the problem? Invasive alien species are having a negative impact on economic growth and prosperity in Africa. They damage crops, animals and the environment. Control using natural enemies (insects, mites and pathogens) is generally more cost-effective than alternatives such as mechanical or chemical control methods, but is also more sustainable and offers a long-term solution without any deleterious environmental impacts. Although biocontrol is widely used to control invasive plants in many parts of the world including North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most recently in Europe, many African governments have been cautious about adopting this approach due to safety concerns, most of them unsubstantiated, and a lack of capacity.
KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE
what is this project doing? CABI promotes integrated pest management by providing farmers with a range of control options and the skills for choosing what’s best for their fields. In this project training workshops were held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in order to raise awareness of the concept, improve understanding of the steps in a biocontrol programme and to address concerns regarding safety and the legislative framework. Participants included staff from universities, research agencies, government departments, conservation agencies and other relevant stakeholder groups. In addition to the training, participants received several Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) publications including “A Toolkit of Best Prevention and Management Practices” and “Africa Invaded”, as well as publications on the economic costs of invasive alien species and the benefits of biocontrol.
results so far Pre- and post-knowledge assessments were undertaken, and in terms of content and clarity of presentations the participants rated the workshop highly, although some would have liked more detail, particularly with regard to invasive species in East Africa.
partners IUCN in Kenya NARO in Uganda and Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperation in Tanzania sponsors CABI Development Fund (CDF)
contact CABI, ICRAF Complex, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya T: +254 20 72 24450 F: +254 20 71 22150 E: africa@cabi.org www.cabi.org/africa
ID-BioAf-06-12
Arne Witt, Project Manager