Desert locusts, notorious for causing agricultural devastation on a grand scale, have wreaked havoc from eastern Africa to India in recent years. Researchers attribute this infestation largely to climate change. Consequently, the Global Landscapes Forum Climate Hybrid Conference has proposed that pest and disease control should be included in climate change mitigation plans. The conference was a significant event taking place alongside the 26th Conference of Parties (CoP26) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
About the Global Landscapes Forum
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), the world’s most extensive knowledge-driven forum on integrated land use, strictly advocates achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement. The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) heads this forum, in partnership with its co-founders, UNEP, and the World Bank along with Charter Members.
The Impact of the Locust Attack
Desert locusts or Schistocerca gregaria, a type of short-horned grasshopper, become a significant menace when their population grows rapidly, a phenomenon called the ‘gregarious phase.’ During this phase, they form massive swarms that can cover up to 150 km per day, destroying all vegetation in their path.
These infestations pose immense threats to food security and local livelihoods, causing economic losses that could reach billions. For instance, according to the World Bank, damages and losses due to locust attacks in East Africa and Yemen in 2020 alone could tally up to $8.5 billion. In contrast, the World Food Program warns that the long-term recovery costs could exceed $1 billion if necessary control measures are not implemented.
Locust Breeding and Its Connection to Climate Change
Locusts have particularly troubled farmers in various countries, including India, Pakistan, and Iran. Changes in cyclonic patterns over the Arabian Sea have fuelled locust invasions in East Africa and South Asia in 2020. Locusts are passive fliers who follow the wind. Their movements have been facilitated by unusual rainfall in Iran and strengthened by westerly winds due to Cyclone Amphan in 2019.
Pesticides: A Controversial Solution
The heavy use of broad-spectrum pesticides may control locust invasions temporarily but imposes significant costs on the environment and human health. These pesticides pose threats to pollinators and wildlife. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that by March 2021, around 1.8 million litres of pesticides were used to control locusts in East Africa, a figure expected to exceed two million litres by year-end. Moreover, organophosphate pesticides, such as Malathion and Chlorpyrifos, pose high toxicity risks to humans and animals.
Charting the Way Forward
Experts propose several strategies to address the locust menace effectively. This includes the creation of early warning systems using satellite and weather data, coupled with field observations, to develop predictive models on breeding sites.
Another proposal involves True Cost Accounting, an innovative accounting method that factors in impacts on natural and social capital alongside financial values. Additionally, advocates for efficient governance stress the need for greater farmer and local community involvement in decision making processes, thereby making them integral parts of the solution.
Finally, more funding for research, particularly in the underfunded biopesticide sector, is seen as essential. Organizations involved in preventing locust attacks face considerable financial challenges. As an example, in February 2020, the FAO required $138 million to combat locust outbreaks in East Africa; however, it received only $33 million from donors.