Guidelines for Plant Pest Surveillance in Asia and the Pacific Graeme Evans & Teresa McMaugh

Regional agricultural trade setting The WTO SPS agreement Trade is constrained by deficiencies in the basic infrastructure underpinning plant health, particularly in developing countries Many lack technical capacity and resources to: survey for pests to provide baseline data on pest status; accurately and rapidly identify pests; database records of pests and retrieve this information; detect and control invasive pests.

OCPPO regional plant health program Focuses on building pest collections Arthropod pests Plant diseases / pathogens A capacity to survey for plant pests is critical to populate collections OCPPO has been collaborating with countries of the region to build capacity to survey for plant pests. A set of guidelines for surveying for plant pests in south east Asia and the Pacific was seen as a useful approach.

Funding Project is funded by two Australian government bodies: ACIAR – the Australian Centre for International Research RIRDC - Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

Overview of the Guidelines PRIMARY AIM: a set of guidelines for planning a survey of crop or forest pests Based on similar toolboxes for animal surveillance Covering: weeds, insects and allies, plant pathogens, crops, forests A Reference Group of regional and national plant pest experts were convened in Canberra, November 2004 - the scope was finalised - attendees committed to volunteer case studies

Reference group’s recommendations Align with international standards and requirements, such as the IPPC ISPMs, where possible

Reference group’s recommendations Align with international standards and requirements, such as the FAO ISPMs, where possible Provide clear guidance as to how to comply with the standards

Reference Group’s recommendations Align with international standards and requirements, such as the FAO ISPMs, where possible Provide clear guidance as to how to comply with the standards Be instructive and simple

Reference group’s recommendations Align with international standards and requirements, such as the FAO ISPMs, where possible Provide clear guidance as to how to comply with the standards Be instructive and simple Provide ‘guidance’ rather than be a prescriptivea ‘manual’ which could be enforceable and constraining

Reference group’s recommendations Align with international standards and requirements, such as the FAO ISPMs, where possible Provide clear guidance as to how to comply with the standards Be instructive and simple Be ‘guidance’ rather than a ‘manual’ which could be enforceable and constraining That the guidelines not provide detailed information on statistics or specimen collection as this information can be found elsewhere

Contents of the Guidelines In accordance with international standard definitions, the guidelines has chapters on: Designing Specific Surveys Designing General surveillance plans With more details in chapters on: Detection surveys Monitoring surveys Delimiting surveys Reporting the results Supported with real case studies from SE Asia and the Pacific

Chapter layout of the guidelines Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 – Specific surveys Chapter 5 – Delimiting surveys Chapter 4- Monitoring surveys Chapter 7 – Reporting the results Chapter 6 – General Surveillance Chapter 3 – Detection surveys

The 21 Steps The guidelines for specific surveys are set up as 21 Steps:

The 21 Specific survey Steps

1 Choose a title and determine contributors 2 Determine the purpose of the survey/surveillance: pest list, host list, early detection, pest freedom, areas of low pest prevalence, pest management, delimiting, community network reporting system. Target pest(s) known? Yes No 3 Detail the pest(s) : names, lifecycle, dispersal modes, diagnostic characteristics Are host plants involved? Yes 4 Detail the host: name, lifecycle, distribution No 5 Detail alternative hosts 6 Review any surveys in similar conditions, literature etc

7 Identify the survey Area 8 Identifying the district 9 Identify type of survey Place, Field sites, Sampling sites and Sampling Points. 10 Identify how sites will be chosen Need a statistical approach? Yes No 11 Calculate sample sizes 12 Determine the timing for survey

14 Methods of collecting pest specimens 13 What data to collect 14 Methods of collecting pest specimens 15 Data storage 16 People involved 17 Obtain permission to visit sites and any permits required 18 Perform a pilot survey 19 Perform survey: collect raw data and samples 20 Analyse data 21 Report results

Availability The final draft has been completed and is being edited by the funding body, ACIAR The guidelines are to be translated in Thai, Vietnamese and Bahasa in CD format ACIAR will publish and distribute the guidelines The guidelines will be made freely available to people in developing countries (and also to anyone on the first distribution list)