No.62 Report of Monitoring and Assessment of Desert Locust in Africa and Asia Issued by AIRI-CAS and CBCGDF

On December 1st, 2024, No.62 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 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 October 2024, desert locusts were primarily distributed in the northwestern regions of Somalia and along the northern coastal areas of the Gulf of Aden, the central and southern coastal areas of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, and the western inland and coastal areas of Yemen. These areas experienced significant threats to vegetation, impacting 16.5 thousand hectares, 18.3 thousand hectares, and 29.0 thousand hectares, respectively. It is anticipated that, over the next two months, rainfall in the Gulf of Aden coastal areas will increase, promoting healthy vegetation growth and creating favorable conditions for desert locust survival and reproduction. As a result, locust numbers in the northern coastal areas of Somalia are expected to increase slightly. In contrast, decreased rainfall in the inland regions of Saudi Arabia and Yemen will lead to drier vegetation, creating conditions unsuitable for locust survival and reproduction. Consequently, locusts in these inland areas will migrate towards the Red Sea coastal areas, where locust numbers are expected to rise further.

 

In October 2024, increased rainfall in the northwestern regions of Somalia and along the northern coastal areas of the Gulf of Aden provided favorable conditions for desert locusts to lay eggs and reproduce, resulting in a rise in their population. Monitoring results indicated that in October, desert locusts affected 16.5 thousand hectares of vegetation in Somalia, including 5.9 thousand hectares of grassland and 10.6 thousand hectares of shrubland (Figure 1).

  

In October 2024, abundant rainfall along the central and southern coastal areas of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia provided favorable conditions for desert locusts to lay eggs and reproduce, leading to an increase in their population. Monitoring results indicated that in October, desert locusts affected 18.3 thousand hectares of vegetation in Saudi Arabia, including 3.7 thousand hectares of farmland, 6.9 thousand hectares of grassland, and 7.7 thousand hectares of shrubland (Figure 2).

 

In October 2024, desert locusts were primarily distributed in the western inland and coastal regions of Yemen. Abundant rainfall along the Red Sea coastal areas and favorable vegetation growth provided conducive conditions for locust oviposition and reproduction. Monitoring results indicated that in October, desert locusts affected 29.0 thousand hectares of vegetation in Yemen, including 9.0 thousand hectares of cropland, 9.5 thousand hectares of grassland, and 10.5 thousand hectares of shrubland (Figure 3).

 

The comprehensive analysis suggests that, in the next two months, rainfall in the Gulf of Aden coastal areas will increase, promoting healthy vegetation growth and creating favorable conditions for desert locust survival and reproduction. As a result, locust numbers in the northern coastal areas of Somalia are expected to increase slightly. In contrast, decreased rainfall in the inland regions of Saudi Arabia and Yemen will lead to drier vegetation, creating conditions unsuitable for locust survival and reproduction. Consequently, locusts in these inland areas will migrate towards the Red Sea coastal areas, where locust numbers are expected to rise further.

 

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/638684742983172690167594205.pdf

 

Original Chinese Article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/KKeskA8mvJPvGHBKBItCrw

Translator: Sara

Reviewed by: Daisy

Editor: Sara    

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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