What
is Integrated Pest Management, and What is NOT Integrated Pest Management:
A
reality check for school administrators considering the adoption of IPM.
Marc
L. Lame – Entomologist
Pest management in the school environment must be
safe, and it should be cost effective. It has been widely documented that
schools can significantly decrease risks to their inhabitants (students,
faculty and staff) from pests and pesticides by implementing IPM. Further, that
the implementation of IPM does not have to cost more than more traditional
“extermination” programs. The IPM approach can be successful in the school
environment because cultural (practices to reduce attracting pests) and
mechanical strategies (practices to exclude pests) can be incorporated into the
existing custodial and maintenance activities such as sanitation, energy
conservation, building security and infrastructure maintenance. Monitoring
efficiency (verification of pest presence) is enhanced via the virtual full
time presence and perception of the school inhabitants. This strategy is
dependent on an educational approach, which would create an awareness of all
occupants on a proactive management strategy versus the reactive strategy of
chemical treatment. Thus, by incorporating IPM into existing school operations
(sanitation, maintenance, and classroom education) and “partnering” with a
qualified Pest Management Professional as a consultant/educator (rather than as
an “exterminator”), school districts will be able to overcome their natural
resistance to “adding pest management to an already full plate”.
IPM is:
·
A management strategy based on
communication/education which is supported by a committed school administration
·
A “partnership” with the school community
(including concerned parents) and a qualified (i.e., the ability to technically
apply and COMMUNICATE IPM) Pest Management Professional
·
An educational system which empowers the
school inhabitants to eliminate or reduce the reasons for insects, rodents and
plants to become pests
·
An educational system which empowers the
school inhabitants to prevent pest from entering the school facility
·
An educational system which empowers the
school staff to know when to remedy and how to remedy documented pest problems
by integrating cultural, mechanical and lowest impact chemical control
technologies
IPM is NOT:
·
A term or job description
added to an unwilling or unqualified individual (the school district must
either employ or contract with a qualified Pest Management Professional).
·
A “low bid” process subject to unqualified
exterminators, or qualified Pest Management Professionals who will not be able
to perform to professional standards
·
An “out of sight, out of
mind” contractual function. The school community must be willing to communicate
with their Pest Management Professional in order to facilitate long term
cultural controls (practices to reduce attracting pests) and mechanical control
(practices to exclude pests)
·
A chemical pesticide
program to prevent pests from entering schools
·
A no chemical pesticide
option. There are situations where chemical pesticides are necessary and can be
used safely.
Professional
educators know that communication/education is required to influence behavior.
Influencing those whose behaviors allow pest problems to continue or occur in
school is required for the successful implementation of IPM. Drawing back on my
first years in graduate school I learned that first and foremost - “Insects
(pests) can be managed, but management is people-oriented, and successful pest
management depends largely on influencing the people who control the pest.”
(Metcalf and Luckmann, 1975).
Dr. Lame has practiced IPM in the agricultural and
school environment for 20 years. He currently teaches Environmental Management
and Policy in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana
University, and works cooperatively with the USEPA to implement school IPM
programs in four states and the Navajo Indian Reservation. mlame@indiana.edu