I. INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGY DOCUMENT.
This Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) "Strategy Document" is
intended to describe the current policies and organizational structure of
the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) (see attached flow chart
with description of pertinent committees) and present a brief overview of
the general control practices of its members. This document will also describe
how the AMCA will strive to improve its ongoing policy of encouraging environmental
stewardship by its members. In the future, reducing pesticide risk will be
accomplished through the AMCA promoting the continued responsible use of mosquitocides.
Also, the judicious use of pesticides will be encouraged.
II. OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION.
The AMCA, a non-profit, technical, scientific and educational association,
is international in scope and is made up of mosquito workers, entomologists,
medical personnel, engineers, public health officials, industry representatives,
military officers and personnel and laymen who are charged with, or interested
in, the biology and control of mosquitoes and others vectors. The purpose
of the AMCA is to:
A. Promote closer cooperation among those directly or indirectly concerned
with, or interested mosquito control and related work.
B. Work for the highest standards of efficiency in such work.
C. Encourage further research; to disseminate information about mosquitoes
and their control.
D. Work for understanding, recognition and cooperation from public officials
and the public.
E. Encourage the enactment of legislation providing for a sound, well balanced
program of mosquito control work suited to local conditions wherever needed.
F. Meet fairly and understandingly, and thus reconcile potential differences
with those who might oppose mosquito control practices.
G. Protect wildlife from avoidable harm and to seek control methods compatible
with and/or which enhance environmentally sensitive habitats.
H. Work for the highest degree of understanding and cooperation with related
organizations, to the end that the best interest of all may be most fully
served.
I. Publish the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION, a scientific,
peer-reviewed journal, in the furtherance of these objectives.
The above-mentioned AMCA goals are consistent with those of the PESP program,
of which the AMCA is now a "Partner". PESP advocates the development
and implementation of specific use/risk reduction strategies that include
reliance on biological pesticides and other approaches to pest control, that
are considered to be safer than traditional chemical methodologies. Reduced
pesticide risk and use are to be employed where practicable and effective.
Reducing pesticide risk can be accomplished in a variety of ways which are
proposed and discussed below. Reducing pesticide use, even though it is a
worthwhile long-term goal, is one which mosquito control as a whole may not
be able to accommodate soon to any significant degree. Some of the reasons
include: 1) Mosquito production is due, virtually entirely, to environmental
factors - rainfall, tidal events, agricultural and wetland irrigation. These
factors are outside the control of mosquito control agencies but are factors
which usually result in the need for chemical applications to control resulting
mosquito broods, 2) Mosquito control, unlike many other industries using pesticides,
is in the unique position of having to deal with insect problems with both
nuisance and public health implications. This is a situation which is exacerbated
with the trend of exotic mosquito species being introduced into the U.S. which
are capable of transmitting diseases (e.g., Aedes albopictus). Using pesticides
is usually the only way to quickly respond to a public health problem posed
by mosquito transmission of a pathogen. 3) Nationwide, residential development
is increasingly encroaching in and around environmentally sensitive habitats
(e.g., fresh and saltwater wetlands, newly created wetlands) and agricultural
areas with both types of locations frequently producing huge mosquito populations.
People who live near these areas are affected by high mosquito populations.
An increasing burden of mosquito control agencies is to provide needed mosquito
control to these persons who are entitled to these services.
III. POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FACING MOSQUITO CONTROL NATIONWIDE.
A. RELATIVELY SMALL PESTICIDE MARKET. Mosquito control is also in the extremely
difficult position of being a relatively small market so there is little economic
incentive for chemical companies to spend tens of millions of dollars to develop
and label new chemical products for our needs. If a new product becomes available
to mosquito control, it typically is because the material has mosquito control
applications in addition to the primary reason for which it was developed
(e.g., agriculture, urban pest control). However to mosquito control's benefit,
recent passage of the Food Quality Protection Act by Congress, aided by AMCA
efforts, will help to assure that valuable public health pesticides are not
lost through a lack of registrant support or unwillingness to pay for the
risk assessment studies because the mosquito control market is too small.
Over the past several years, the AMCA has been working to provide the EPA
with pertinent information as mosquito control chemicals are reviewed for
reregistration. In this continuing process, the AMCA looks forward to its "partnership" status
to aid with this important work.
B. MOSQUITO RESISTANCE. Additionally, insects have the innate ability to
stay one step ahead of us by developing resistance to the relatively few products
available. Therefore, it is extremely important to the mosquito control industry
that the current labels for approved chemicals be maintained and encouragement
be provided for research and development of new products for the future which
are consistent with our environmental stewardship goals. Practicing resistance
management techniques that attempt to minimize the risk of mosquitoes becoming
resistant to the existing chemicals will undoubtedly become increasing important.
Such management techniques can include not using sublethal amounts of insecticides
and the rotating/alternating of available chemicals.
IV. OVERVIEW OF A "TYPICAL" MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM.
While it is not possible to provide a concise, generic overview of all mosquito
control programs in the United States, there are certain program components
which virtually all operational programs include. U.S. mosquito control agencies
typically employ an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to their control
efforts. Such a "typical" IPM program will use a combination of
resource management techniques such as source reduction (=permanent control),
larviciding and adulticiding to control mosquito populations with control
decisions being based on surveillance data. Biological control is also used
to some extent by some U.S. programs. These control measures are necessary
during routine pest mosquito outbreaks and the occasional situation of an
epidemic of a mosquito-transmitted pathogen. Also, continuing education, for
both employees and the general public, are important components of most mosquito
control programs. This has resulted in a better informed public and an increased
professionalism among mosquito control workers where significant progress
has been made in attempting to reduce pesticide use and risk.
A. SOURCE REDUCTION. Source reduction (the removal or reduction of larval
mosquito habitats) typically is the most effective and economical long-term
method of mosquito control. Source reduction can be as simple as overturning
a discarded bucket or disposing of a waste tire to complex water level manipulations
in marshes. These efforts often minimize and/or eliminate the need for mosquito
larviciding in the affected habitat and greatly reduces adulticiding in nearby
areas. Source reduction includes numerous activities including the removal
of waste debris (sanitation), Impoundment Management and Open Marsh Water
Management (OMWM) all of which should be properly planned based on adequate
surveillance data.
1. SANITATION. Discarded containers and tires are capable of producing mosquitoes,
including species which can transmit several mosquito-transmitted pathogens.
Sanitation/removal of debris is a continual process of eliminating such man-made
mosquito breeding locations. Typically, such mosquito control related sanitation
efforts are best accomplished by individuals who through their own carelessness,
create mosquito breeding sites which frequently affect their homesites. Many
mosquito control agencies include education programs so that individuals may
be taught the mosquito control importance of sanitation.
2. IMPOUNDMENT MANAGEMENT. Impoundments are salt-marsh mosquito-producing
marshes around which dikes were constructed thus allowing water to be pumped
onto the marsh surface from the adjacent estuary. This eliminates salt-marsh
mosquito ovipositional opportunities on the impounded marsh and effectively
reduces their populations. 40,000 acres of impoundments were constructed on
Florida's east coast and over the past 15 years a concerted effort has been
made to manage these marshes for both mosquito control and natural resource
interests. Rotational Impoundment Management (RIM) is the technique developed
to minimally flood the marsh during the summer months and then use flapgated
culverts to reintegrate impoundments to the estuary for the reminder of the
year thus allowing the marsh to provide many of its natural functions. However,
while impoundments usually, adequately control salt-marsh mosquitoes, there
are situations where impoundments can collect stormwater or rainwater thus
create freshwater mosquito problems.
3. OPEN MARSH WATER MANAGEMENT (OMWM). Ditching as a source reduction mosquito
control technique has been used for many years. A salt marsh source reduction
technique which is applied in some coastal areas of the U.S. is Open Marsh
Water Management. OMWM is a technique whereby mosquito producing locations
on the marsh surface are connected to deep water habitat (.g., tidal creeks,
deep ditches) with shallow ditches. Mosquito broods are thus controlled without
pesticide use by allowing larvivorous fish access to mosquito-producing depressions
or conversely the draining of these locations occurs before adult mosquitoes
can emerge. OMWM can also be a technique whereby hydrological connection between
the marsh and estuary is improved providing natural resource enhancement as
well as mosquito control benefits. The use of shallow ditching (ditches approx.
3 ft. or less in depth rather than the deep ditching used in years past) is
considered more environmentally acceptable because with shallow ditches, less
unnatural hydrological impacts occur to the marsh.
Recently, aggressive interagency efforts in both impoundment management and
OMWM have been made by mosquito control agencies in association with environmental
resource agencies and private organizations in coastal states, to very successfully
manage salt marshes for both mosquito control and natural resource concerns.
B. LARVICIDING. Larviciding, the application of chemicals to kill mosquito
larvae or pupae by ground or aerial treatments, is typically more effective
and target specific than adulticiding, but less permanent than source reduction.
Several materials in various formulations are labeled for mosquito larviciding
including the organophosphate temephos (Abate), several "biorational" larvicides
- Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti, a bacterial larvicide), Bacillus
sphaericus and methoprene (Altosid, an insect growth regulator), and several
oils (Golden Bear-petroleum based and Bonide-mineral based) and in some limited
habitats diflubenzuron (Dimilin, a chitin synthesis inhibitor).
Important goals when applying larvicides are that the material should be
specific for mosquitoes, minimize impacts to non-target organisms and must,
in many instances, be capable of penetrating dense vegetative canopies. Larvicide
formulations (e.g., liquid, granular, solid) must be appropriate to the habitat
being treated, accurately applied and based on surveillance data. An effective
larviciding program is an important part of an integrated mosquito control
operation. Accuracy of application is important since missing even a relatively
small area can result in the emergence of a large mosquito brood resulting
in the need for broad-scale adulticiding.
C. ADULTICIDING. Adulticiding, the application of chemicals to kill adult
mosquitoes by ground or aerial applications, is usually the least efficient
mosquito control technique. Nevertheless, adulticiding based on surveillance
data is an extremely important part of any IPM program. Adulticides are typically
applied as an Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV) spray where small amounts of insecticide
are dispersed either by truck-mounted equipment or from fixed-wing or rotary
aircraft. Ground or aerial applied thermal application of adulticides is also
used in some areas but to a much lesser degree.
Barrier treatments, typically applied as high volume liquids with hand-held
spray equipment using compounds with residual characteristics such as permethrin
are common in some U.S. locations and their use is growing. This technique
is especially attractive to individual homeowners living near mosquito producing
habitats where residual chemicals applied along a property border can provide
some control benefits to the residents.
Mosquito adulticiding differs fundamentally from efforts to control many
other adult insects. For adult mosquito control, insecticide must drift through
the habitat in which mosquitoes are "on-the-wing" (i.e., flying
- frequently in residential areas) in order to provide optimal control benefits.
However, this technique also lends itself to the criticism that non-target
organisms can be impacted by these control measures. While this is a constant
consideration for control programs, especially those relying heavily on aerial
adulticiding, experience demonstrates that adulticides when properly applied,
have minimal effects on non-target organisms and provide an important benefit
to the local economy and its citizens.
Adulticides labeled for mosquito control include several organophosphates
- malathion, naled, chlorpyrifos and fenthion. Some natural pyrethrins, synthetic
pyrethroids (permethrin, resmethrin and sumithrin) and a carbamate (bendiocarb)
also hold adulticide labels.
D. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL. Biological control (=biocontrol) is the use of biological
organisms, or their by-products, to control pests, in this case insect pests.
Biocontrol is popular in theory because of its potential to be host-specific
with virtually no non-target effects. Overall, larvivorous fish are the most
extensively used biocontrol agent for mosquito control. Predacious fish, typically
Gambusia species, which occur naturally in many aquatic habitats, can be placed
in permanent, or semi-permanent, water bodies where mosquito larvae occur
providing some measure of control. Other biocontrol agents have been tested
for use by mosquito control but to date are generally not operationally feasible.
These include the predacious mosquito Toxorhynchites, predacious copepods,
the parasitic nematode Romanomermis and the fungus Laegenidium giganteum.
Biocontrol certainly holds a possibility of becoming a more important tool
and playing a larger role in mosquito control in the future. On-going research
is essential in order for this to occur.
V. RECENT AMCA ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRESS.
Over the past 10-15 years, the mosquito control community, with considerable
encouragement from the AMCA, has made great strides in making environmental
stewardship an important program consideration. This is evidenced nationwide
by initiatives including:
A. The implementation of numerous SOURCE REDUCTION projects in environmentally
sensitive habitats (e.g., salt marshes) that enhance the natural resource,
as well as mosquito control.
B. The increased use of the biorational products Bti, Bacillus sphaericus
and insect growth regulators for LARVICIDING with applications being made
based on accurate, scientifically valid surveillance.
C. Progress in improving the techniques used for AERIAL ADULTICIDING, applications
of which, like larviciding, are based on careful surveillance.
D. CONTINUING EDUCATION programs to thoroughly train mosquito control personnel
(from field workers to senior management) about all aspects of mosquito control.
E. PUBLIC EDUCATION programs to educate both children and adults about mosquito
control and informing them about what measures they can take to help themselves
(e.g., waste container disposal). This dedicated effort has greatly enhanced
the level of professionalism within the industry with more concern being given
to environmental considerations.
F. COOPERATION WITH INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT. Over the past several decades
through research and cooperative efforts, mosquito control agencies have worked
with various industries and governmental agencies to try and correct mosquito
problems brought about by industry or government practices. Several excellent
examples of such progress include:
1. Virtually nationwide, planning and zoning requirements to contain STORMWATER
rather than letting it flow into natural water bodies can be a source of mosquitoes.
Cooperative efforts between mosquito control agencies and local government
to engineer stormwater retention areas to minimize mosquito production has
resulted in many locations in stormwater systems that minimally produce mosquitoes
while accomplishing their water retention objectives.
2. RICE CULTURE can prolifically produce several mosquito species. Long-term
research by university scientists and local mosquito control agencies in the
southern U.S. identified that using Bti or methoprene as a larvicide in rice
farms adequately controlled mosquitoes produced there without interfering
with rice production and non-target organisms present in the rice ecosystem.
However Bti is not always the answer. Research in California demonstrated
that while Bti is effective in rice culture against several mosquito species,
it was not effective against surface feeding Anopheles species.
3. CITRUS GROVES in southern Florida can be tremendous mosquito producers
during drought periods when irrigation floods the ditches. Through research
by mosquito control, low volume (e.g., microjet) irrigation was identified
as an irrigation technique that does not produce mosquitoes yet meets the
farmer's irrigation needs.
4. WASTE TIRES are a huge mosquito production source. Throughout the nation
(e.g., Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Texas, Florida) cooperative efforts
between local mosquito control agencies and state government have mounted
tremendous efforts to properly dispose of waste tires to eliminate local sources
of mosquitoes and at the same time beautify the landscape.
As shown by these several examples, mosquito control has actively worked
with industry and government to identify potential mosquito problems, study
ways to correct the problems and implement the solutions. Such positive, cooperative
efforts will continue as part of the AMCA's participation in the PESP program.
VI. PROPOSED AMCA INITIATIVES TO MEET PESP GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
To meet the PESP goals of reduced pesticide risk/use in the future, the AMCA
proposes to accomplish this by strongly encouraging the AMCA membership to
incorporate certain fundamental initiatives in their programs wherever possible,
much of which is a furtherance of the ongoing efforts described above. These
items include:
A. SOURCE REDUCTION. An increased dedication to implementing source reduction
projects will be stressed among the AMCA membership. This will include sanitation
as it relates to mosquito control, in particular waste tire disposal. In environmentally
sensitive habitats, whenever possible, any source reduction efforts will also
attempt to improve habitat for fish and wildlife over existing conditions
by working closely with environmental resource agencies. Examples of techniques
include implementing Rotational Impoundment Management in Florida salt marsh
impoundments and using OMWM in coastal U.S. salt marshes where practicable.
These methods result in greatly reduced mosquito populations with a minimal
need for pesticide use.
B. LARVICIDING. The increased use of "biorational" larvicides (Bti,
B. sphaericus and insect growth regulators) is a move which has been ongoing
in the mosquito control community for the past 10-20 years and will continue
to be encouraged. Mosquito control professionals recognize that "biological" larvicides
are quite target-specific and these products are basically considered by both
mosquito control and environmental resource professionals to be environmentally
safe. However, given the paucity of larvicide materials available, mosquito
control must keep its options open using other materials (e.g., the organophosphate
temephos (=Abate)) where the biorational materials are not efficacious or
practicable.
Another important consideration for promoting environmental stewardship in
regard to larviciding, is the encouragement of means to accurately guide aircraft
when making aerial applications. This can be as simple as using flags atop
poles to accurately guide a pilot or, as is becoming more common and technologically
improved, using Loran and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for electronic
airplane guidance. Aircraft guidance results in the more efficient and effective
dispersal of chemicals thus promoting sound environmental management. Also
the use of computer models (e.g., the USDA Forest Service's FSCBG model) to
better predict the movement, fate and efficacy of pesticides will be encouraged
where appropriate, to achieve a more efficient use of pesticides.
C. ADULTICIDING. Adulticiding, while typically the least effective of the
components of a mosquito control IPM program, is still an extremely important
component of it. In fact, the general public typically associates mosquito
control agencies with their spray truck or aircraft, not realizing the existence
or importance of the other parts of the integrated program. A mosquito adulticide
program can be responsive to the PESP goals of reduced pesticide risk/use
by spraying only when the need truly exists (verified through surveillance)
and being accurate in dispersal of the material. As with larviciding, GPS
is playing an increasingly important role in adulticiding. The encouragement
of using such guidance equipment and models (as discussed in the LARVICIDING
section above) is an AMCA initiative which will help meet PESP goals.
The AMCA will encourage its members to incorporate into their programs, the
use of the latest available techniques and equipment for ground and aerial
adulticiding. The AMCA will also encourage members to avoid using formulations
that involve mixing pesticides with a carrier which may pose environmental
risks.
Another topic that the AMCA will encourage is the use of labeled adulticide
rates that actually provide good control benefits. There has been a tendency
in recent years among some mosquito control agencies to apply adulticides
at rates that are economically attractive, rather than truly efficacious.
This issue was a discussion item at a Pyrethroid Stewardship Workshop held
in late May 1996 in New Jersey chaired by AMCA President Dr. Robert Novak.
This practice of applying doses lower than those that provide adequate control
can in fact result in the need for additional adulticide treatments and can
also encourage insect resistance by treating with sub-lethal doses. In the
long run, adulticiding with low chemical rates can be counterproductive to
environmental stewardship goals unless adequate research has demonstrated
the safety and efficacy of these below maximum label rates.
D. BIOCONTROL. To date, the use of biocontrol agents in most mosquito control
programs is limited. In the future, it is hopeful that biocontrol will play
a greater role in mosquito control programs. However, to accomplish this,
ongoing, dedicated research is necessary to attempt to make biocontrol useful
to mosquito control programs. To meet the PESP goal of increased use of biocontrol
agents in place of more conventional pesticides, AMCA will encourage, and
where possible support, biocontrol research.
E. RESEARCH. The key to meeting the scientific challenges of the mosquito
control community is through competent, well-focused applied research. The
future of mosquito control needs to address topics as diverse as basic mosquito
biology, wetland ecology, chemical efficacy, non-target effects of mosquitocides,
the biology, surveillance and control of mosquito-borne pathogens, molecular
biology and (as discussed above) biocontrol. Without research into these and
other topics, future environmentally sound progress will be compromised. The
AMCA will strongly encourage, and whenever possible, support applied research
as the primary tool to deal with tomorrow's problems.
F. EDUCATION. The topics listed above (a-e) are all important environmental
stewardship considerations. However, in our opinion, educating the AMCA membership
as to their importance is the key to meeting PESP goals. Some states, for
example California, Florida, Louisiana and New Jersey, have made tremendous
strides over the past several decades in educating their mosquito control
workers and the public about all aspects of mosquito control work. For some
states, this includes examinations and continuing education to improve a mosquito
control worker's expertise in their field. Passing an examination results
in the worker receiving certification in "public health pest control",
or some similar title. In meeting PESP goals, the AMCA will strongly support
the continuation and expansion of these education and certification programs
to increase the level of professionalism and safety within the mosquito control
industry.
The AMCA plans to make educational progress by regularly informing its membership
on the above-mentioned key items in AMCA literature (e.g., Vector Review-The
Newsletter of the AMCA, the Journal of the AMCA) and through symposia and
presentations at AMCA meetings. It is through these avenues that the PESP
education of AMCA members will be effectively accomplished and environmental
stewardship properly promoted.
Education of the general public will be encouraged by the AMCA to teach residents
how they can aid mosquito control by disposing of (or modifying) containers.
The proper disposal of such items results in a reduced need for pesticide
use. Additionally, informing the public of the benefits of using the safest,
yet effective, mosquito control pesticides available will be stressed.
VII. MEASURING PROGRESS IN MEETING PESP GOALS.
Given the broad geographical scope of the AMCA and regional industry needs,
we recognize that some difficulties may be faced in accurately evaluating
the progress being made in meeting the PESP goals through the initiatives
listed above. However, we are certain this is a problem shared by other PESP
Partners and through growing experience in the program, can be resolved. We
expect that the AMCA's evaluation plan will evolve over time, will clearly
identify trends and also quantify some items, such as educational progress
including annual data on the number of presentations provided, students instructed
and papers printed or published as they pertain to the PESP program.
We initially plan to verify progress through input from AMCA members (individual
and agency) located throughout the country in different positions within the
association. These will be individuals currently serving on AMCA committees
(e.g., Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, Environmental Protection
Subcommittee) and other members-at-large (e.g., chemical company employees,
individuals from key geographic locations around the U.S.). The AMCA is also
considering the possibility of authorizing AMCA member organizations to assume
PESP partnership status through the AMCA's auspices. If possible, this could
provide an effective means of allowing qualified members to be more officially
recognized as a PESP partner and also provide a methodology for the AMCA leadership
to receive information from around the country on how individual organizations
are meeting PESP goals and objectives. These and other possibilities will
be considered as the AMCA's partnership with the EPA evolves.
VIII. SUMMARY.
The AMCA looks forward to this AMCA/EPA PESP Partnership to strive to continue
our on-going efforts to reduce pesticide risk/use while recognizing that the
environmentally sound use of chemicals will remain an important component
of mosquito control's IPM programs for the foreseeable future. We recognize
the benefits that this partnership can provide to our association, in particular
in having an effective avenue of communication with the EPA during the on-going
process of registration (and reregistration) of mosquito control products.
We hope this partnership will allow recognition of mosquito control's legitimate
concern of having a decreasing number of products at our disposal while trying
to fulfill our legislative mandates of providing citizens a safe and enjoyable
environment in which to work and play.
ATTACHMENT
AMCA ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION
Board of Directors: Responsible for making and implementing policy and
financial decisions dealing with all aspects of the association's activities.
Executive Committee: Responsible for making policy and financial decisions
and recommendations when action by the full Board of Directors is not necessary.
AMCA Office: Responsible for carrying out the day-to-day business activities
of the association.
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AMCA COMMITTEES PERTINENT TO PESP
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Bylaws & Policy:
- Considers all proposals to amend AMCA Bylaws submitted to the Executive
Director or the Committee Chairperson.
- Submit to AMCA Board of Directors
a report and recommendation of the Bylaws Committee regarding each
proposed amendment to the Bylaws.
- Act upon topics regarding Association
Policy suggested by AMCA officers and membership.
- Submit written
recommendations regarding Association policy to the AMCA Board of Directors.
Legislative & Regulatory Affairs:
- Seeks means for establishing better lines of communication between the
Association and Federal, State, and International Agencies involved
in the regulation of mosquito control.
- Review proposed federal legislative
bills, regulations and guidelines having a bearing on mosquito control,
and keep the AMCA Board and membership
informed of such bills, regulations and guidelines and the nature of
their impact on the membership of the Association.
- Develop and implement
an active program that provides accurate information on the policies,
goals and needs of the AMCA membership to Federal, State
and other legislative and regulatory bodies.
- Seek out and review the
policies and goals of allied associations, societies, etc. that could
provide beneficial working partnerships with the Association.
Science & Technology:
- Seeks means for establishing better lines of communication between the
Association and Federal, State and International Agencies involved
in the coordination, implementation and funding of mosquito and mosquito-borne
disease
research and control.
- Develop and implement an active program that
provides accurate information on key topics on the biology, systematics
and control of mosquitoes or mosquito-borne
diseases or other research topics important to the Association.
- Develop
an active role for the promotion and stability of Medical Entomology/Mosquito
Biology/Vector Ecology training at the University and other academic
levels.
- Explore ways in which the AMCA may contribute to making available
throughout the world any needed knowledge regarding mosquitoes, mosquito-borne
diseases
and mosquito control technologies.
5. Apprise AMCA members regarding noteworthy trends in overseas mosquito
research and mosquito control activities.
6. Provide professional expertise on the ethical use and implementation of
modern technological advances for mosquito research and control.
Public Relations Education:
- Work to preserve and enhance the image of organized mosquito control
activities that benefit the health, welfare and quality of life of humans,
domestic
and wild animals and the environment.
- Develop and execute projects
which will accomplish A. above and which will otherwise enhance the
image of AMCA and its stated goals and policies
in the eyes of the general public.
- Develop educational materials, bulletins
and training programs to enhance the general public's knowledge of
mosquitoes, mosquito-borne diseases and
mosquito control.
Industry & Operations: This committee is to act as a liaison between
Industry and the Association, presenting an opinion or position on issues
of interest to the President as expressed in periodical mandates presented
to the Committee through the Industry Board member.
Training & Education: This newly established committee is currently responsible
for synthesizing the existing mosquito biology and control training and educational
materials available throughout the nation, then arriving at how best to promote
education within the Association.
OUTLINE OF STRATEGY DOCUMENT
I. INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGY DOCUMENT.
II. OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION.
III. POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FACING MOSQUITO CONTROL NATIONWIDE.
VI. OVERVIEW OF A "TYPICAL" MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM.
V. RECENT AMCA ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRESS.
Source reduction
Larviciding
Aerial adulticiding
Continuing education
Public education
Cooperation with industry & government (stormwater, rice, citrus, waste
tires)
VI. PROPOSED AMCA INITIATIVES TO MEET PESP GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
Source reduction
Larviciding
Adulticiding
Biocontrol
Research
Education
VII. MEASURING PROGRESS IN MEETING PESP GOALS.
VIII. SUMMARY.
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