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The document summarizes the Desert Locust situation in the Sahel region from May to October 2012. It describes how locust outbreaks developed in Algeria and Libya in early 2012 and then migrated south, arriving in Mali and Niger in late May. There are concerns about two possible scenarios for locust breeding and spread over the summer. Immediate action and funding are needed to conduct surveys and control operations in order to prevent major damage to crops and threats to food security in the region. Updates in July through September indicate ongoing breeding and locust presence in parts of Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad. A second generation of breeding is forecasted to occur through November, with movements expected toward Mauritania, Algeria and
Ipm12cressmanfaolocust 120402071009-phpapp03
- 1. Desert Locust threat in the Sahel May - October 2012 BACKGROUND THREAT COST ACTION CURRENT SITUATION Desert Locust Information Service, Rome www.fao.org/ag/locusts 4 October 2012 update
- 2. 1. BACKGROUND HOW DID THE CURRENT SITUATION DEVELOP ? 2
- 3. ALGERIA January-May 2012 LIBYA Outbreak development Good rains in October 2011 allowed locust to increase on both sides of the Algeria/Libya border in 2012 Insecurity hampered survey and control operations - Algeria estimated they could reach only 15% of the infestations Libyas capacity to carry out control e鍖orts was a鍖ected in the past year Although both countries undertook control operations (42,000 ha in Algeria, 21,400 ha in Libya), they could not prevent swarms from forming in May 3
- 4. ALGERIA LIBYA May-June 2012 MALI NIGER Outbreak spread When vegetation began to dry out, adult groups and swarms moved south The 鍖rst infestations arrived in northern Mali on 27 May and in northern Niger on 30 May, and continued until mid-June Their arrival coincided with early rains in the northern Sahel - about six weeks earlier than normal The migration was not unexpected - FAOs Desert Locust Information Service operates an early warning system Countries were 鍖rst informed on 25 March and regularly thereafter 4
- 5. Scenario 1 ALGERIA LIBYA insecure areas MALI NIGER MAURITANIA CHAD Locust Breeding (june-oct) Scenarios (as of 7.6.12) As the locusts were arriving in the northern Sahel, there are two possible scenarios for this summer Scenario 1: the incoming locusts will remain in the northern Sahel in areas where it rained, mature and lay eggs This is good because the main cropping areas further south would be less a鍖ected This is bad because much of the north in accessible and insecure so infestations may go undetected and uncontrolled If the infestations are not controlled, there could be up to 250 times the number of Desert Locust at the end of summer 5
- 6. Scenario 2 ALGERIA LIBYA insecure areas MALI NIGER MAURITANIA CHAD Locust Breeding Scenarios agricultural crops (june-oct) (as of 7.6.12) Scenario 2: the incoming locusts 鍖y over the northern areas that are still dry and continue south to agriculture zones in central and south Niger, central Mali and perhaps central Chad This is good because the locusts leave areas in which survey and control operations are not possible or very limited, and go to areas where national teams can operate This is bad because they would arrive in agricultural areas at the same time when this years crop is being planted Sahelian countries are already vulnerable and the food security situation this year is extremely precarious 6
- 7. MOROCCO ALGERIA LIBYA October-November 2012 MAURITANIA MALI NIGER CHAD Forecast (issued 7.6.12) In reality, probably a little bit of both scenarios will occur There is a high risk that Desert Locust populations will increase dramatically this summer, especially if rains are good and many areas are inaccessible At the end of summer (October), large numbers of locusts, including swarms, could be present and threaten the harvest As vegetation dries out, Desert Locusts are expected to move to NW Mauritania, Algeria, Libya and perhaps Morocco 7
- 8. 2. THE THREAT WHY ARE DESERT LOCUST SO DANGEROUS ? 8
- 9. 35,000 20 a 1 km2 Desert Locust swarm eats the same food in 1 day as ... 6 8.5 million half the population a swarm the size of Niamey (or Bamako) of Niger consumes the same amount of food in 1 day as ... (or Mali) 50 MILLION LIVELIHOODS AS WELL AS CROP PRODUCTION, FOOD & NUTRITION SECURITY ARE THREATENED IN CHAD, MALI, AND NIGER 9
- 10. 3. THE COST IS IT EXPENSIVE TO STOP THE LOCUSTS ? 10
- 11. $1 MILLION SAVES $100 MILLION Million $100M $100 after 12 months 80 $50M after 60 10 months $10M after 40 $5M 7 months $1M after 4 months THE LAST PLAGUE after 20 1 month IN WEST AFRICA Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug 2003 2004 Experience has shown that the earlier everybody can respond, the better This protects crops, protects the environment (using less pesticide), contributes to food security, and saves money Financial requirements can escalate, quickly going from USD 1 million to USD 100 million in one year The current situation is clearly not that same as in 2003-05, but it could be the early stages of the beginning Whatever can be done now will protect crops and reduce the size of an eventual spread to other countries 11
- 12. $ 570 MILLION CONTROL OPERATIONS (2003-2005) $ 3.3 MILLION ANNUAL COST PREVENTIVE CONTROL WESTERN REGION 170 YEARS OF PREVENTIVE CONTROL Prevention saves lives Prevention saves livelihoods Prevention saves money 12
- 13. 4. ACTION WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE THREAT ? 13
- 14. CALL TO ACTION NOW Activate Contingency Plans: Niger: Plan de gestion du Risque Acridien Mali: Cadre de gestion du Risque Acridien Chad: Plan de gestion du Risque Acridien Mauritania: Plan de gestion du Risque Acridien Mobilize 鍖eld teams in Niger & Mali Start regular surveys in Mauritania & Chad Initiate public awareness campaigns 14
- 15. USD 500 000 technical assistance 6 000 000 survey & control ops FUNDING REQUIRED 1 400 000 aerial survey & control 10 000 000 1 000 000 pesticide airlifts (FAO APPEAL 21 JUNE 2012) 191 000 expendable equipment 909 000 agency support costs PLEDGES 3 900 000 discussions ongoing with 2 donors 3 100 000 received (FAO) FUNDING RECEIVED 4 100 000 1 000 000 bilateral (Niger) FUNDING GAP 5 900 000 4 October 2012 Immediate funding requirements for supporting Sahelian countries to address the current Desert Locust threat are estimated at USD 10 million Funds are mainly required to allow national locust control units to operate and to ensure proper coordination by FAO and its Regional Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region (CLCPRO) 15
- 16. 4. CURRENT SITUATION WHERE ARE THE LOCUSTS NOW ? 16
- 17. ALGERIA LIBYA insecure areas MALI CHAD NIGER Mature Immature Swarms Groups June 2012 Adults The situation improved in Algeria and Libya as remaining populations moved to the northern Sahel More than 17 reports of immature adult groups and swarms were received from northern Niger; control operations were mounted; damage occurred on dates and cultivations Some groups continued south into pasture and cropping areas; egg-laying started on 21 June Reports of mature swarms were received during the 鍖rst half of June from northern Mali 17
- 18. insecure areas MAURITANIA MALI CHAD NIGER solitary groups hoppers immature adults July 2012 mature adults Egg-laying and hatching occurred throughout July in northern and central Niger, and probably in northern Mali Groups of mature adults persisted in parts of northern Niger and Mali An immature adult group was seen in early July in eastern Chad probably coming from northeast Niger Low numbers of adults were present and breeding on a small scale in southern Mauritania 17
- 19. insecure areas MAURITANIA MALI CHAD NIGER solitary groups hoppers immature adults August 2012 mature adults More areas are greener this year than last in the northern Sahel from Mauritania to Chad, and up to 150km further north Breeding continued in northern and central Niger (and probably in northern Mali but surveys cannot con鍖rm this) An increasing number of hoppers and a few small groups were reported in Niger Fledging started in Niger by mid-month (and probably earlier in northeastern Mali at the end of July) Small-scale breeding continued in southern Mauritania 17
- 20. insecure areas MAURITANIA MALI CHAD NIGER solitary groups bands/swarms hoppers immature adults September 2012 mature adults First generation adults laid eggs in northern Mali, Niger and Chad from early September Hatching of the second generation occurred by the end of the month in Chad (and probably Mali and Niger) Locusts concentrated in some areas and formed a few adult groups (Mali and Niger) and small hopper bands (Chad) Control teams treated more than 600 ha of hopper bands in northeast Chad Rains continued to fall and ecological conditions remained unusually favourable for breeding Small-scale breeding commenced in western Mauritania 17
- 21. Daily control operations Niger 200 150 100 50 ha 0 /12 12 12 12 12 12 /6/ /6/ /6/ /6/ /6/ 5/6 10 15 20 25 30 21
- 22. ALGERIA LIBYA autumn breeding (Sep-Dec) Oct-Nov O ct MAURITANIA -N ov Oct-Nov Oct -Nov 2nd generation breeding (Sep-Nov) Forecast 4 oct 2012 A second generation of breeding will occur in Niger, Mali and Chad from September to November, causing locust numbers to increase As vegetation dries out after mid-October, locusts will concentrate and gregarize in remaining green vegetation or crops Adults, small groups and swarms will move to northwest Mauritania and to south-central Algeria and Libya in November, the exact timing will depend on rainfall and vegetation conditions in October and November At least one generation of breeding will occur in northwest Mauritania and probably Western Sahara from September onwards 22
- 23. LATEST INFORMATION www.fao.org/ag/locusts www.facebook.com/faolocust www.twitter.com/faolocust 23