What is IPM?  It is an ecological approach to suppressing pest populations (insects and weeds) in
which all available necessary techniques are consolidated in a unified program, so that pests are
kept at acceptable levels in effective, economical, and environmentally safe ways. Because pest
problems are often symptomatic of ecological imbalances, the goal is to attempt to plan and
manage ecosystems to prevent organisms from becoming pests.

In theory and practice IPM is administered with an established set of guidelines:

IPM programs use an ecological approach to pest management utilizing thorough knowledge
of individual pests and their relationship with their environment.

Conventional pesticide-based programs, such as the Parks Department has been using, focus on
the control of the individual pest with no regard to the ecological relationships of the pest and its
environment.

IPM decisions depend upon detailed information about a variety of important factors: pest
life cycles, site conditions of pest infestations, previously applied pest control techniques, the
presence of natural predators. A computerized information management system is needed to
handle the amount and diversity of information required for an effective IPM program.

Conventional pesticide-based programs emphasize identification of the pest and its optimum
control method. Information related to pests and their causes is not considered. Treatment
records are simply filed to satisfy regulatory requirements, not to develop a database for
modifying treatments and mitigating ecological damage.

IPM is cost effective because it uses multiple options for pesticide management. While
permissible, pesticide use is minimized, and when used it is in its least toxic, safest form as a last
resort. Pesticide use is minimized through the development and use of other pest management
methods.

Conventional pesticide-based programs rely primarily on only one method of treatment for
effective pest control.

IPM reduces harmful environmental impacts by minimizing pesticide/herbicide use. This
promotes environmental quality, preserves the natural ecosystem, and reduces undesirable
effects on non-target and beneficial organisms.
Conventional pesticide-based programs emphasize treatment timing and equipment technology
to minimize non-tarter impacts.

IPM requires appropriate standards for pest control which promote tolerance of
non-damaging pests and appropriate thresholds for pest control that reduce unnecessary
treatments. Program efficiency is enhanced and dollars saved by avoiding unnecessary
treatments.

Conventional pesticide-based programs emphasize immediate treatment when potential pests are
seen. Pr-emptive treatments in anticipation of a pest problem are used even when there is
uncertainty as to the extent of the infestation. Tolerance levels for pest presence and damage are,
therefore, very low and not cost-effective.

IPM is a preventative method. IPM design and site modification practices reduce the need for
pesticide applications thus making resources available for other maintenance priorities. These
benefits promote environmental quality and encourage improvements in the aesthetic quality of
the areas under IPM. Life-cycle maintenance costs of specific landscape features such as sports
fields, flower beds, and fencelines are reduced. These savings should be calculated in
determining the cost-effectiveness of implementing IPM design and site modification.

Conventional pesticide-based management programs-
      provide only short-term control of pest problems;
      harm the environment by repeated applications of pesticides/herbicides;
      increase maintenance costs because of inefficient prevention of recurrent pest problems.

IPM provides preventative, long-term pest control which-
      benefits program effectiveness;
      promotes environmental quality by reducing unnecessary pesticide applications.

Conventional programs provide-
      short-term pest control
      negative impacts on program efficiency and environmental quality.
 

In summary, the strategies used to realize the objectives of IPM-
      promote natural, ecologically harmless controls;
      protect human health;
      minimize harm to non-target plants and insects;
      enhance the general environment;
      produce long-term, beneficial results;
      are easily and efficiently implemented;
      are cost-effective in both the short and long-run.

Communities currently using IPM include San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and San
Diego, California; Portland and Eugene, Oregon; Thurston County, Washington; and, Madison
Wisconsin.

The information in this article is taken from INTRODUCTION TO INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT (IPM) FOR “URBAN” LANDSCAPES by IPM Associates, Inc.
(www.efn.org/~ipma/), and ADVANCING ALTERNATIVES: SUCCESSFUL LEAST- TOXIC
PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA’S URBAN SETTINGS by Elisa Lynch
and Gregg Small of the Pesticide Watch Education Fund.

Other IPM sites for further information:
       www.ippc.orst/cicp/
       www.ipmalmanac.com/
       www.ipmworld.umn.edu/