Publications
In this section you can find out guidelines, documents, reports and many more publications on locusts
SWAC Regional workshop for Desert Locust Information Officers No. 3
2025
The 2025 SWAC workshop brought together Desert Locust Information Officers (DLIOs) from Iran and Pakistan to enhance early warning capabilities through hands-on training. Participants learned to use new tools like eLocust3K and RAMSESv4.1 for data collection, analysis, and forecasting. Sessions covered satellite imagery interpretation, locust biology, and field navigation using Locus Map. Emphasis was placed on improving technical proficiency, data visualization, and forecasting accuracy.
Rapport de la réunion régionale sur la résurgence acridienne dans la région occidentale (juillet 2025)
2025
Dans le cadre de la gestion de la situation acridienne dans la région Afrique de l'Ouest en 2025, la réunion régionale a évalué la situation, examiné le plan d'action et mis à jour sa mise en œuvre pour la période d'août à octobre 2025.
Regional meeting on locust outbreak in the western region (July 2025)
2025
As part of the management of the locust situation in the Western Africa region in 2025, the regional meeting assessed the situation, reviewed the action plan, and updated its implementation for the period from August to October 2025
Report of the Workshop to Develop a Regional Action Plan for the Summer Period of 2025
2025
As part of managing the concerning locust situation affecting several countries in Africa’s western region, the Executive Secretariat of the Commission for the Control of the Desert Locust in the Western Region (CLCPRO) organized a workshop to develop a regional action plan to address the locust outbreak during the summer period of 2025.
Atelier d’élaboration d’un Plan d’action régional pour faire face à la résurgence acridienne dans la région occidentale pour la période estivale 2025
2025
Dans le cadre de la gestion de la situation acridienne préoccupante touchant plusieurs pays de la région occidentale, le Secrétariat exécutif de la Commission de Lutte contre le Criquet pèlerin dans la région occidentale (CLCPRO) a organisé un atelier visant à élaborer un Plan d’action régional pour faire face à la résurgence acridienne durant la période estivale 2025.
Rapport de la Réunion Conjointe de la Onzième Session et de la Dix-septième Réunion du Comité Exécutif de la Commission de Lutte contre le Criquet Pèlerin dans la Région Occidentale
2025
Après deux ans d'activité, la Commission de Lutte contre le Criquet Pèlerin dans la Région Occidentale (CLCPRO) se réunit Secrétariat et pays membres pour faire un bilan et tracer son plan d'action pour les deux ans à venir. Ce rapport couvre le déroulement des 5 jours de la Réunion Conjointe de la 11e Session et la 17e Réunion du Comité Exécutif de la CLCPRO.
Desert locust guidelines 6. Safety and environmental precautions
2025
During the locust control campaigns large amounts of pesticides are used which may pose a risk to human health and the environment. This guideline aims to reduce the environmental and health risks of pesticides use during a locust control campaign to an acceptable minimum. It advises against involving directly local populations, especially farmers or brigades, in desert locust control operations since the risk of exposure of non- or little-trained persons to the insecticides is too high.
Desert Locust Control Committee: a global coordinating body for locust early warning and preventive control
2017
The Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria, is the world’s most dangerous migratory pest with a voracious appetite unmatched in the insect world. Established in 1955 by FAO, when the world was in the midst of a 12-year-long Desert Locust plague, the Desert Locust Control Committee (DLCC) is the primary forum that brings together locust-affected countries, donors and other agencies to discuss Desert Locust management under the FAO umbrella.
FAO advanced tools and technologies for locust monitoring and early warning
2016
The Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) at FAO Headquarters continuously monitors global weather, ecological conditions and the locust situation, ensuring timely and appropriate actions.
FAO Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) helps countries to control Desert Locust
2015
DLIS is a global early warning system, based on new advances in technologies and acting as a focal point and coordinator of a global locust information network. It can be a model for other migratory pest early warning systems throughout the world.
Practical guidelines on pesticide risk reduction for locust control in Caucasus and Central Asia
2019
These guidelines discuss the risks of insecticide handling and use during locust control campaigns, as well as measures that can be taken to minimize those risks. The guidelines follow international best practices as well as experiences of FAO with locust control in other geographical areas. The document also take into account the realities of locust control in the CCA region.
FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC): 33rd Session report
2024
Report of the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia, Thirty-third Session, held in Rome, Italy, 18-20 December 2023.
Manual for the implementation of environmental, health, and safety standards for the control of locusts
2021
The Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for the control of the Desert Locust define the procedures that should be followed in a Desert Locust control campaign to minimize the impact of the use of insecticides on human health and the environment.
Contingency planning makes countries more resilient to locust threats and crises
2016
LOCUSTS are a serious threat to agro-pastoral resources, food security and livelihoods in Africa and Asia where they can have major economic, social and environmental impacts. Effective early response to locust infestations and their management relies on having well established and tested contingency plans before a locust emergency develops.
dLocust: the potential of drones for locust early warning and preventive control
2018
On the occasion of the conference "Youth employment in agriculture as a solid solution to ending hunger and poverty in Africa" (Kigali, Rwanda, 20−21 August 2018), FAO will showcase a digital service portfolio, consisting of 10 innovation projects.
Posters
FAO, in collaboration with OCHA, has developed six simple, easy to understand posters for communities that may be affected by Desert Locust. The purpose of these posters is to provide basic messages to communities on pesticide containers, safety measures, pesticide exposure, farmer advice, Desert Locust and following instructions. While the posters are in English, they can easily be modified to other local languages. In order to help strengthen the reporting of locusts, a contact number can be added at the bottom, which should be that of the national locust centre.
