Author Description

While the philosophy and ideas of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) are generally accepted in the political and scientific arena, its practical implementation has proved far more difficult to achieve. To meet this challenge, there is a need to focus more on the precise nature of specific pest problems and to specify carefully what is needed to resolve them. This is the problem-based approach adopted in this book. It uses an interdisciplinary perspective, encompassing the political, social, and economic dimensions of pest problems, as well as their agronomic, ecological, and technological features. The authors provide a working manual, including relevant concepts and tools, covering problem definition, the use of computers - including modelling, database and decision support systems - and implementation. A major feature of the book is the emphasis on case studies, illustrating the value of the "decision tools" approach for practical pest management. Consequently it is aimed at research scientists, students, practitioners, and all concerned with applying current knowledge to improving pest management.