What is the definition of sustainable pest management?

Sustainable pest management is best defined as utilizing a variety of methods to manage pests. This approach integrates multiple strategies that are environmentally sound and economically viable, aiming to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides alone. By employing a combination of biological control, cultural practices, mechanical methods, and, when necessary, carefully selected chemical options, sustainable pest management seeks to maintain pest populations at acceptable levels while minimizing negative impacts on the ecosystem, human health, and beneficial organisms.

This integrated approach recognizes the complexity of pest ecosystems and the necessity of adapting management strategies based on specific situations, pest life cycles, and environmental conditions. It encourages the use of preventative practices, monitoring, and threshold levels for intervention, making pest management both effective and sustainable over the long term.

In contrast, reliance solely on chemical pesticides or mechanical methods, or requiring heavy pesticide use, does not align with the principles of sustainability. These methods may lead to a variety of issues, such as pesticide resistance, environmental degradation, and harm to non-target species, which sustainable pest management aims to avoid.