Essentials of delivering communitywide multidisciplinary IPM program: outreach

As the need of an Integrated Pest Management Program on a large scale, going beyond a building or campus becomes a norm, the challenge associated with delivering such a program should also be reviewed and actions planned to resolve it. The word “integrated’ in an IPM program means using all the available strategies but it’s also the key word when it comes to delivering a communitywide IPM program. While an IPM program integrates all the strategies to manage the pest populations below the economic threshold, integrating the various groups or entities for a communitywide implementation offers often a very challenging scenario. This presentation will review some of these challenges. The key challenges are, but not limited to: (a) coordinating or collaborating the efforts form numerous agencies that first to need to “buy” into the program; (b) understanding the concepts; (c) defining the scope of the program; (d) identifying the benefits of an IPM program in a communitywide setting; (e) identifying service providers from public or private sector; (f) available and needed resources; (g) training of all involved personnel; (h) evaluation measurement metrics; (i) data collection and reporting tool; and (j) communication/information with periodic review. This presentation will review some of these challenges experienced while delivering various IPM programs ranging from single urban and industrial location to a complex of various strictures in campus setting to an entire community.