Page 15 - IB Mar 2020

Map of infested parts of Mangaliliu, Mangaliliu village, north of Efate Island, Vanuatu.
Beating back the Pacific Rhino Beetle

The village of Mangaliliu, in northern Efate,
Vanuatu is facing an invasion that threatens one of
the most important sources of income for the entire
community. In 2019 locals began to see an increas-
ing number of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB)
that appeared to be resistant to standard control
measures.
Copra farmer Gabriel Paraso remembers being
concerned that he could lose his entire livelihood.
“We had only a little knowledge about the beetle
and no idea what the right solution to take to com-
bat its impact was, and we need to be educated on
how to get rid of these pests.”
The coconut industry in Vanuatu has unique
community-level value and is the second largest
contributor to foreign exchange earnings, contribut-
ing around 45% towards Vanuatu’s GDP. The
Moses Amos , Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture,
potential spread of this threat would have had a Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB),
devastating impact to the communities engaged in at the beetle site in Mangaliliu, Vanuatu. Photo: Ministry of
coconut farms, and to the nation as a whole. SPC Pest and Disease Management Adviser Fereti Agriculture, Vanuatu.
Atumurirava (left) with a Vanuatu Biosecurity officer in the
Vanuatu quickly gathered samples of the Vanuatu Biosecurity Lab. Photo: SPC LRD
invaders and sent them to Landcare New Zealand
to determine what exactly they were dealing with.
The result was a huge relief to the authorities. The
Beatle was not the dreaded “Guam Biotype,” but
instead was identified as the “Pacific Biotype” of
coconut rhinoceros beetle. While still representing a
significant threat, the Pacific Biotype is highly sus-
ceptible to biological controls which have proved
successful in managing the pests in Fiji, Samoa and
Tonga.
Biosecurity Vanuatu reached out to the Pacific
Community’s Land Resources Division (LRD) for
assistance, and SPC, understanding the urgent need Vanuatu Biosecurity officers trapping the beetle in its breeding Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRG) threaten local food security.
for action, began a rapid response program. site using fine net. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture, Vanuatu. Photo: SPC LRD
With support from the European Union funded
Coconut Industry Development for the Pacific climate change impacts, including invasive pests well as other invasive and exotic pests. At the same
(CIDP) project, SPC engaged technical expertise that pose a threat the most vulnerable populations. time, these projects will improve awareness around
and financial help that enabled the Vanuatu authori- However, the region is taking action. A 3-year the livelihood implications and the potential impact
ties to accurately map out the initial incursion site, project - ‘Pacific Awareness and Response to Co- of pest incursions.”
track the extent of the invasion and set up perimeter conut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) (PARC) Project’, After nearly a year of work by Vanuatu and
control systems to halt the progress of the beetles. funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and SPC, including close collaboration with stakehold-
The team carried out mass trapping, breed- Trade for New Zealand (MFAT) has been launched ers, public information efforts, mass trapping, field
ing site clean-up, and biological control (the CRB to coordinate CRB work at regional and national sanitation, biological control and surveillance,
strain in Vanuatu is susceptible to both virus and levels, instill regionally consistent CRB biosecurity the advance of the coconut rhinoceros beetle in
fungus). SPC also supported and strengthened regulations implement surveillance, containment, Vanuatu has now been contained, and officials are
coordination of the field response, which relies on and eradication; and ensure the efficient and effec- confident that it can be eradicated from the country.
a robust system of communication between people tive communication at national and regional levels. For copra farmer Gabriel Paraso, the coordi-
in the field, managers, and government officials, SPC’s LRD Director Mr. Jan Helsen believes nated action to tackle the beetle and the new knowl-
building capacity in all areas and activities of the that projects like CIDP and PARC are serving an edge has left him feeling empowered. “Coconut is
Vanuatu Biosecurity Staff. invaluable role for the entire region, “As a result part of our lives; what can we do? You know you
In a region of small island archipelagos spread of these projects, the Pacific region will be better can’t just sit and cry over spilt milk, you have to do
across the world’s largest ocean, the agriculture and prepared to detect a CRB incursion, and better something.”
forest sectors are faced with a variety of debilitating equipped to respond to the rhinoceros beetle and as SPC Land Resources Division
Islands Business, March 2020 15