by
G.B. Allard
International Institute of Biological
Control
Nairobi, Kenya
and
Jeff Odera
Kenya Forestry Research
Institute
P.O. Box 20412, Nairobi, Kenya
The idea of an African network on forestry pest management first received consideration at the "Exotic Aphid Pests of Conifers Workshop" held in Kenya, June 3-6 1991 organized by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) in technical collaboration with FAO and IIBC. This workshop coincided with the launching of the FRIM/ODA/IIBC (Forestry Research Institute of Malawi/ Overseas Development Administration/ International Institute of Biological Control) biological control programme for conifer aphids which was followed by the regional biological control programme for (exotic) conifer aphids that attack both indigenous and exotic plantation and ornamental conifers in eastern and southern Africa. This regional programme, which became fully operational in 1992, is sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) with support from FAO/UNDP and ODA.
These programmes were funded after the most devastating of the conifer aphids, the cypress aphid, Cinara cupressi, rapidly moved from Malawi, where it was first discovered in 1986, throughout east and southern Africa. Other aphids that were reported in the region were the pine woolly aphid, Pineus ?boerneri, and the pine needle aphid, Eulachnus rileyi. These have been included in the biological control strategies. To date, the countries affected by the cypress aphid include Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ethiopia and Zaire could be faced with similar problems when the cypress aphid arrives there.
The desire for technical cooperation in forest pest management within eastern and southern Africa has recently strengthened. An informal network of forestry pest management personnel has been established under the auspices of the IIBC regional biological control programme for conifer aphids. Through this network, linkages have been forged and information and scientific exchange have been made possible. The operational structure of this network has been endorsed by the collaborating entomologists and forest pest management specialists who attended the IIBC Biological Control Course for Conifer Aphids held at Muguga, Kenya in December 1993. Participants of the course were drawn from forestry and plant protection research institutes from ten countries in the region.
This concept document outlines how, with the support of national institutes and the international donor/technical assistance community, the existing IIBC network for forest pest management can be further developed into a fully operational and sustainable Technical Cooperation Network (TCN).
Initially, it is proposed that FAO and IIBC jointly provide assistance in planning and organizing the TCN as both institutions can provide technical input and expertise.
Forest pest management involves solving clearly identifiable, specific and limited problems. The conifer aphid problem, for example, is of common interest to ten east and southern African countries where it is of high priority and has a high potential for resolution through an integrated pest management approach. Furthermore, several institutions are already working on the control of conifer aphids.
As most forest pests, both native and exotic, affect many countries in the region, a regional approach has been proposed for controlling pests and diseases, thus optimising the use of available resources. Examples of recently introduced pests and diseases into Africa include leucaena psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana, which is the subject of this workshop, the eucalyptus psyllid, Ctenarytaina eucalypti, the eucalyptus beetles, Phoracantha semipunctata and P. recurva and various eucalyptus diseases including Phaeoseptoria eucalypti. Various diseases of eucalypts and pine have also appeared and caused substantial losses in the recent past. Notable examples are dothistroma needle blight, caused by the fungus Dothistroma septospora, sphaeropsis dieback of pines, caused by Sphaeropsis sapinea and cryphonectria canker of eucalypts, caused by Cryphonectria cubensis.
The IIBC Regional Biological Control of Conifer Aphids Programme has already discussed with, and gained approval from, forestry institutions in ten countries within east and southern Africa to permit the free flow of scientific information between countries. A newsletter on forestry pest management has been established and a research directory of forestry pest management experts throughout east and southern Africa has been compiled.
IIBC has compiled documents on individual country capacity in forest pest management including statements of on-going activities, infrastructure, available personnel and constraints to capacity building. These documents are subjected to regular updates and are freely available throughout the region. Thus, most of the groundwork has already been done in establishing contacts within relevant institutions and with policy makers in ten countries. What remains to be done is to select individual national co-coordinators from each country that wishes to be involved in a formal network.
Linkages have also been established between national programmes and other international institutions including FAO, ICRAF and ICIPE, and interest has been expressed in assisting with the formation of a regional network.
Representatives from the selected potential member institutions (for example, national coordinators as described earlier) should be invited to a meeting to analyze the technical subject area and to discuss the possibility of creating a TCN. The meeting could be in the form of a workshop, seminar or round-table discussion. Since national and regional priorities differ, more detailed information will thus be gathered on individual countries' priorities within the subject area, and the potential for inter-country cooperation can be further explored. It is at this stage that the TCN will take shape. The aim should be to meet regional or subregional objectives without prejudicing individual national priorities.
Financial, technical and logistical support required to form and promote the TCN should be sought through the participating countries with assistance from the international donor/technical assistance community. The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) is ready to approach the FAO and UNDP Resident Representatives for Kenya for this support.
At the first meeting, potential members of the TCN should make collective decisions about the TCN's structure, function and organization. Members must elect the governing body of the TCN, such as a Steering Committee, so that every country has an equal opportunity to be represented within the TCN decision making process. The Committee will decide on the network's strategies, plan its programmes and activities and supervise their implementation.
Initially IIBC could act as the Technical Secretariat on behalf of the TCN as they already have expertise within the region. FAO could function as the Coordinating Institution until such a time when elections are held to select a member institution to become the Coordinating Institution. Participants at the first meeting should agree on the following before the official launching of the network:
The results of the first meeting should be written up into a full project document containing the following information:
Even though external funding will initially be required to run the TCN, it is anticipated that member institutions will eventually be able to sustain it. FAO and IIBC, as the catalysts in the promotion of the TCN, will be expected to explore funding possibilities, both from their resources as well as from extra-budgetary sources.
This working group addressed three questions:
- Geographic scope - Where?
- Membership - Who?
- Coordination - How?
1.1. Options.
1.1.1. Eastern, central and southern Africa + island nations.
With sub networks.
May be expensive and difficult to establish.
1.1.2. Core network.
Includes countries already involved with conifer aphids and leucaena psyllid.
Additional countries and pest problems could be added later.
1.2. Factors to consider.
1.2.1. Current involvement.
1.2.2. Availability of funds - a larger network with more countries may be more expensive to operate.
1.2.3. Common problems.
1.2.4. Willingness to participate.
Researchers and practitioners in forest pest, disease and weed management.
National forest research institutes.
Ministries.
Universities.
International Institutes (eg FAO, IIBC, ICRAF)
3.1. Start up meeting in 1995.
3.1.1. Institute to arrange meeting must have adequate facilities, good communications, international standing etc, (eg Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI)).
3.1.2. Attendance for each country should consist of:
1 Ministry official.
1 Researcher.Each participating country should select a national coordinator prior to the meeting.
3.1.3. Suggested agenda.
Selection of a coordinating institution.
Selection of a steering committee.
Terms of reference for network.
Technical secretariat (eg IIBC).3.2. Suggested organizational structure.
3.2.1. National steering committees within each country.
3.2.2. Network steering committee.
Six national coordinators.
Technical secretariat.
Observers (donors, international agencies).3.2.3. Steering committee should meet annually.
1.1. Frequency of national coordinator's meetings.
1.2. Current forest pest programmes (research - extension).
1.3. Future national strategies in forest pest management.
1.4. Development of collaborative programmes.
1.5. Develop a sustainable working mechanism for the coordinating center and its activities.
2.1. Election of the regional coordinator, length of office and terms of reference.
2.2. Identification of future collaborative programmes for member countries and international collaborators.
2.3. Coordination and evaluation of different components and activities of the network.
3.1. Information exchange including:
3.1.1. Newsletter (quarterly).
3.1.2. Pest warning pamphlets.
3.1.3. Forest pest and disease journal.
3.1.4. Seek and collect information on forest pests internationally.
3.1.5. Distribute information to countries collaborating in the network.
3.2. Create a capacity to address damaging forest pests and diseases
3.2.1. Organization of seminars and workshops on forest pest and disease issues.
3.2.2. Develop a mechanism to monitor and sensitize forest pest problems in collaborating countries.
3.2.3. Identify and develop training needs to increase national capacity in research, operations and extension activities.
3.2.4. Put special efforts on plant quarantine programmes with a view of fitting within existing regional and national policies.
3.2.5. Develop early warning mechanisms and measures to ensure early detection of forest pest and disease problems.
3.2.6. Solicit funds, facilities, equipment and human resources to develop an agreeable criteria for appropriate distribution of these resources among member countries.
3.2.7. Create an awareness of the destructive nature of forest pests among appropriate government ministries, national and international institutes concerned with the sustainable management of forest resources.
1.1. Approach potential bilateral donors such as JICA, CIDA, DANIDA, UNDP and others.
1.2. Establishment of membership and/or consultancy fees.
1.3 Assign activities to various participating countries to fund (e.g. salaries, infrastructure, allowances for various meetings).
2.1. By having a strong secretariat who is able to develop effective proposals and attract donors.
2.2. Collaborate with international and regional bodies concerned with the environment.
2.3. Strengthen national networks and institutes which will act as a base for the regional network.
3.1. Funding must be made available to maintain the network into the foreseeable future.
3.2. It is estimated that it will require at least three years for the network to become established.
The funds should be managed by the regional network secretariat in collaboration with whatever governing body is developed to direst the network's activities.
2.1. Commitment of participating institutes and countries.
2.2. Capacity building at all levels.
2.3. Creating an awareness on the part of policy makers through encouraging their active participation in the network.
2.4. Contribution of participating institutes/countries both financially and materially.
2.5. Establishment of linkages with related disciplines (eg agroforestry, agronomy, botany, plant pathology)
2.6. Advisory and review committee to assist in setting of the network's priorities and review of its activities and accomplishments.
2.7. Linkages to related regional and international institutes.
2.8. Address a wide range of pest and disease problems.
