Biosecurity engages Aust expert to better manage termites infestation
The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) has engaged the services of a consultant from Australia in efforts to better manage Asian Subterranean Termites (AST) infestations in the Lautoka and Labasa districts.
Dr Theodore Evans, who is an Associate Professor with the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Western Australia in Perth, will assist BAF with this consultancy.
Dr Evans has vast experience in dealing with termites and their invasions.
He possesses a PhD in Entomology from the University of Melbourne with proven experience in the design and implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for termites and other pests.
This termite has been in existence in Fiji since late 2009, however, BAF, with assistance from the Government and relevant stakeholders, has been successful in preventing its spread to other areas of Fiji.
Consultation
The consultation which started earlier this month will be on-going for a period of nine months The BAF seeks to assess its current national termite control services, evaluate IPM systems for AST control, assess the economic and environmental sustainability of the present and proposed termite management practices.
It also hopes to derive new termite control methods or approaches that can be easily implemented in Fiji and moreover assess the level of awareness amongst the public regarding the disastrous impact of AST.
The whole idea of engaging a consultant is to allow BAF an opportunity to develop a pest management strategy for AST, along with a national treatment guideline. BAF will continue to work in collaboration and partnership with all relevant stakeholders in better managing the AST issue. Source: Biosecurity Authority of Fiji