Planning for bird pest problem resolution: a case study

This paper presents a case history of a unique approach taken by the United Nations⧹Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the countries of Argentina and Uruguay to assess the need for and plan a binational, technical assistance project on bird pests in the two countries. It describes an intensive technical assistance and extensive planning effort based on 15 different consultancies to these countries in only a nine-month period during 1991. The paper presents an overview of the bird pest situation in the two countries and the technical findings and recommendations of these consultants to address the bird pest problem. While a number of important recommendations resulted, the main two stressed the need to obtain accurate assessments of crop loss by birds and develop alternative methods to toxicants to reduce these losses. This effort provided the framework for a project document Integrated Management of Pest Birds Common to the Plata River Basin, that is being considered for funding support and joint implementation by the two countries.