No.60 Report of Monitoring and Assessment of Desert Locust in Africa and Asia Issued by AIRI-CAS and CBCGDF | The number of locust along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia and inland areas of Yemen will increase slightly in the next two months

On October 02, 2024, No.60 Report of Monitoring and Assessment of Desert Locust in Africa and Asia was jointly released by the Team of Prof. Huang Wenjiang, Associate Prof. Dong Yingying from Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF).

 

 

Integrated with multi-source Earth Observation data, e.g. meteorological data, field data, and remote sensing data (such as the MODIS in the US,etc), and self-developed models and algorithms for Desert Locust monitoring and forecasting, the research team constructed the ‘Vegetation pests and diseases monitoring and forecasting system’, which could regularly release thematical maps and reports on Desert Locust.

 

The remote sensing monitoring results showed that, in August 2024, desert locusts were primarily found in the western lowlands and coastal areas of the Red Sea in Eritrea, the central and southern coastal areas of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, and the western inland areas of Yemen. These areas experienced significant threats to vegetation, impacting 13.6 thousand hectares, 14.0 thousand hectares, and 30.3 thousand hectares, respectively. It is anticipated that, over the next two months, desert locusts in the western lowlands of Eritrea will lay eggs and reproduce on a small scale and migrate to the coastal areas of the Red Sea, where rainfall will be abundant. Due to rainfall from tropical cyclones, vegetation growth in the coastal areas of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and the inland areas of Yemen will be favorable for desert locusts to lay eggs and reproduce, leading to a slight increase in their numbers.

 

In August 2024, desert locusts were primarily distributed in the western lowlands and coastal areas of the Red Sea in Eritrea. These areas experienced abundant rainfall, fostering robust vegetation growth, which provided favorable conditions for desert locusts to lay eggs and reproduce, leading to a slight increase in their population. The monitoring results showed that in August, desert locusts damaged 13.6 thousand hectares of vegetation in Eritrea, including 3.2 thousand hectares of farmland, 6.3 thousand hectares of grassland, and 4.1 thousand hectares of shrubland (Figure 1).

In August 2024, abundant rainfall along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia provided favorable conditions for desert locusts to lay eggs and reproduce, leading to an increase in their population. The monitoring results showed that in August, desert locusts damaged 14.0 thousand hectares of vegetation in Saudi Arabia, including 2.2 thousand hectares of farmland, 5.1 thousand hectares of grassland, and 6.7 thousand hectares of shrubland (Figure 2).

 

In August 2024, desert locusts were primarily distributed in the western inland regions of Yemen, where abundant rainfall influenced by tropical cyclones and favorable vegetation growth provided conducive conditions for locust oviposition and reproduction. The monitoring results showed that in August, desert locusts damaged 30.3 thousand hectares of vegetation in Yemen, including 9.6 thousand hectares of cropland, 7.9 thousand hectares of grassland, and 12.8 thousand hectares of shrubland (Figure 3).

 

The comprehensive analysis suggests that, in the next two months, desert locusts in the western lowlands of Eritrea will lay eggs and reproduce on a small scale, then migrate to the Red Sea coastal areas, where abundant rainfall will occur. Due to increased rainfall from tropical cyclones, favorable vegetation growth in the Red Sea coastal areas of Saudi Arabia and the inland regions of Yemen will support locust oviposition and reproduction, leading to a slight increase in their numbers.

 

CBCGDF has always been contributing to this study and the series report aims to help developing countries in Asia and Africa fight invasive species and safeguard food security. The results of the report have been shared with developing countries in Southeast Asia and Africa for free, helping them improve their capability to control the impacts of desert locusts.

 

[Download the report:]

http://en.rscrop.com/Private/NewsImgs/638632944032354606301791527.pdf

 

Translator: Sara

Checked by: Daisy

Editor: Sara    

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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