Environmental and health monitoring 

The CLCPRO places the environmental dimension at the core of its regional interventions. Aware of the potential impacts of chemical treatments on human health, biodiversity, and fragile ecosystems, the Commission is committed to promoting sustainable, effective, and scientifically supervised locust control.

Through the development of regional standards, the establishment of operational tools, and the strengthening of national capacities, the CLCPRO supports member countries in integrating health and environmental considerations into every stage of locust management.

This approach is based on two complementary components: the Environmental Specifications (CCE) and the promotion of biological control through the use of the biopesticide Metarhizium acridum.

The Environmental Specifications (CCE)

The Environmental Specifications (CCE) constitute one of the instruments established by the CLCPRO to ensure locust control that respects human health and the environment.

This reference document defines the general requirements to be followed in accordance with regional technical guidelines and sets a harmonized framework that each member country is expected to adapt and integrate into its national system. To date, eight (08) CLCPRO member countries have developed and validated their national CCE, marking significant progress in factoring health and environmental considerations into locust control campaigns.

To facilitate the implementation of the CCE, a set of tools has been developed:

• The implementation manual detailing the practical modalities for applying the CCE;
• The Pesticide Observation Sheets (POS) for assessing the impact of treatments on the various components of the treated environment;
• The scorecard, allowing measurement of compliance and progress in CCE implementation;
• Templates for developing sensitive-area maps;
• Training modules designed to strengthen the capacities of staff dedicated to health and environmental monitoring.

Promotion of Biological Control

As part of its environmental strategy and its project with AFD, the CLCPRO ensures the continuous promotion and optimization of the use of the biopesticide Metarhizium acridum, an entomopathogenic fungus specific to locusts.

This biopesticide is characterized by:

• Selective targeting, acting exclusively on locusts without affecting non-target fauna;
• Very low toxicity for humans, wildlife, and domestic animals;
• Compatibility with ecologically sensitive areas such as protected zones and waterways;
• Full compliance with CCE requirements.

All member countries have been supplied with quantities of the biopesticide Novacrid®, and eight countries have approved it. Since 2020, operational treatments have been conducted in several countries of the region, covering a cumulative area of more than 1,000 hectares.

To enhance the countries’ capacities, the CLCPRO supports the eight countries that have approved the Novacrid® biopesticide. In 2023, a call for tenders was launched to acquire complete germination test kits intended for these eight countries. Delivery of the kits took place between late 2024 and early 2025. Additional monitoring equipment for biopesticide treatments has also been acquired to strengthen regional capacities.

By combining normative instruments such as the Environmental Specifications (CCE) with alternative solutions such as biological control based on Metarhizium acridum, the CLCPRO reaffirms its leadership in promoting locust control that is more respectful of human health and the environment.

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