Weed Biocontrol

The Steps

Practitioners in biological control of weeds agree that there are a number of steps which should be followed in a biological control program. This module addresses the key steps involved in the biological control of weeds and the knowledge and skills required to successfully implement a biological control program. The specific steps covered are as follows:

Project Initiation - this section outlines how a project should be initiated and properly planned. It also explains the need to account for, and take appropriate action with respect to, a broad range of issues that can affect initiation and progress in a biological control project (including running participatory planning workshops);

Project Approval;

Foreign Exploration - exploration is required to collect, identify and evaluate potential biological control agents. The recommended basic steps to be followed when commencing an exploratory program are outlined here;

Surveys in Introduced Range;

Ecological Studies;

Host Specificity Studies - this section covers host specificity testing, which is fundamental to any project on weed biological control. Host range testing determines whether a biological control agent will attack only the target weed or other species, and whether the agent is safe for field release;

Approval to Import Agents - an overview of the legislation and protocols that are in place to prevent problems that may arise from uncontrolled release of any live organisms, or biological control agents in particular;

Importation for Release;

Rearing - this section describes the how to mass rear agents for the biological control of weeds. It outlines the methods that are most appropriate depending on available resources such as money, labour, facilities, essential supplies and transport, and by factors associated with the agent itself;

Distribution -  a description of the process of distributing the agent and to encourage its widespread establishment. Issues such as the selection of release sites, the method of shipment and liberation and public awareness campaigns are also covered;

Establishment - The information in this section is not intended merely to give examples of what should or should not be done, but to also stimulate workers to consider what conditions and threats may be faced by agents following liberation; and

Evaluation - This section provides guidelines for a carefully planned and executed program necessary to demonstrate the impact of biological control agents;

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