Vertebrate pest management systems R & D

The U.S. Department of the Interior"s Denver Wildlife Research Center (DWRC), under a ribbon PASA permitting Bureau and Mission buy-ins, will implement the project"s research, technology transfer, training, and networking activities. Applied/developmental research, focusing mainly on African bats, birds, and rodents as agricultural pests, will cover: 2 methods to improve control of distinctly different VP problems; development of 4 damage assessment methods and 4 actual assessments of damage (field work in LDC"s); 8 laboratory (at DWRC) and field studies (in LDC"s) on pest biology, behavior, and ecology; 14 studies at DWRC and in LDC"s on laboratory toxicity, bait acceptance, or pest management efficacy; and, in LDC"s, 6 preliminary field control tests and 3 integrated VPM field studies. DWRC will transfer VP technology to Missions, LDC"s, and national and international institutions by: developing and disseminating informational materials, including 25 formal publications, 5 training courses, and 4 handbooks; demonstrating 2 improved VPM systems; responding to inquiries; hosting visits to DWRC by overseas experts; and conducting short- and medium-term problem-solving missions in LDC"s in the areas of problem analysis, project design and evaluation, environmental assessment, and research and extension. DWRC will also collect and exchange with LDC scientists information on replicable VPM techniques. Training will include: 10 in-country/regional workshops and short courses on pre- and postharvest VP problems; two training-of-extension trainers courses; adaptation to LDC needs of 5 basic training courses using audiovisual and other techniques; inservice and on-the-job training for LDC and U.S. personnel; and backstopping 15 LDC professors providing thesis guidance to graduate students. DWRC"s network of institutions and individuals will be expanded by 2 new collaborative research activities; linkages with at least 3 new LDC institutions and 2 new collaborating U.S. public and private organizations; and five international workshops in LDC"s and international centers.