Experiment Station Committee on Policy - Biological Control Working Group (ESCOP-BCWG) Experiment Station Committee on Policy - Biological Control Working Group (ESCOP-BCWG)
Working Group Composition
Administrators: Richard Jones (AES) and Robin Huettel (CSREES)
Technical Members:
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Co-chair: Mike Benson (plant pathology, North Carolina) |
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Co-chair: Harold Browning (entomology, Florida) |
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Randy Gaugler (entomology, New Jersey) |
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Richard Goeden (entomology, California) |
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Alan Gotlieb (plant pathology, Vermont) |
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Joe Maddox (entomology, Illinois) |
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Don Mathre (plant pathology, Montana) |
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Dan Mahre (entomology, Wisconsin) |
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Merritt Nelson (plant pathology, Arizona) |
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Anne Vidaver (plant pathology, Nebraska) |
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Gregory Weidmann (plant pathology, Arkansas) |
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Gary Yuen (plant pathology, Nebraska) |
Vision. The Biological Control Working Group (BCWG) fosters the development and implementation of biological control of pests, pathogens and weeds as the central component of an ecologically-based approach for integrated pest management (IPM).
The goals of the BCWG are to:
establish linkages among current operating regional committees concerned wholly or in part with biological control for pests and pathogens to improve information exchange,
define and give visibility to biological control for agricultural and urban pests, pathogens, and weeds as distinct components of crop protection systems,
provide inputs in budget building processes
plan and organize interdisciplinary workshops and symposia
Objectives for 1997.
Promotion/Communication
Develop a format and committee structure for a workshop on commercialization of biocontrol agents to be held in 1998.
Improve the working group World Wide Web site to communicate working group activities and corrdinate biocontrol efforts among regional projects and others.
Incorporate biocontrol ento extensio programs possibility by stimulating workshops for extension specialists.
Regulation
Evaluate the risks associated with biocontrol, e.g. release of agents into the environment.
Interact with agencies in development of regulations for implementation of policy.
Funding
Coordinate and develop implementation mechanisms for budget developemtn between agencies.
Coordination
Establish and improve coordination between agencies, regional projects, disciplines, as well as with the environmental community and other groups including international organizations.
History and Accomplishments. During the National Interdisciplinary Biological Control Conference, sponsored by the USDA, CSRS, in February 1983, a group of scientists led by Dr. Arthur Kelman saw a need to examine ways in which cooperative relationships among the disciplines in attendance could be enhanced. At a special meeting scientists representing all disciplines then present met to examine ways that biological pest control programs in the SAES could be improved. Among the many issues examined, the establishment of a National Interdisciplinary Coordinating Committee was considered to be essential by the majority in attendance. The committee has since become the PMSS Biological Control Working Group.
Important activities of the Biological Control Working Group
organized a AAAS Symposium on Biological Control
organized a UCLA Symposium, 'New Directions in Biological Control' January 1989
organized a National workshop, 'Regulations and Guidelines: Critical Issues in Biological Control' June 1991
participated in the Biological Control Workshop at the 2nd IPM Symposium in Las Vegas
participated in the national discussion of the 1995 APHIS proposed rule for introduction of non-indigenous organisms
wrote and published information fliers promoting biological control
organized a discussion session on implementation of biological control at the 3rd IPM symposium
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