Pacific Awareness and Response to Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

PROJECT: Pacific Awareness and Response to Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

The Pacific Awareness and Response to Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (PARC) initiative works to address the regional spread of the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB). The coconut pest has greatly impacted the livelihood of over 60 percent of Pacific Islanders that depend on coconut and other palms for food, water and economic security. PARC tackles both main strains of CRB recorded in the region – the Pacific Biotype (CRB-S) and the newer Guam Biotype (CRB-G) strain, discovered in Guam in 2007. Since its discovery, the CRB-G strain has rapidly spread to Hawaii, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Northern Mariana, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

PARC works with Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to limit the spread of CRB-G to new islands and localities, reduce the existing population in already affected areas, find long-term solutions for CRB-G management through biocontrol and integrated pest management, and enhance regional capacity in pest detection and response management.

The following is the initiative key objectives.

Secure viable and sustainable coconut and oil palm production across the Pacific that is resilient to the threat of CRB.
Empower and strengthen capacity of the region using collective action to control the spread and suppression of the CRB population.
Enhance Pacific ability to prepare for and response to CRB pest incursion
Upskill national level surveillance systems that are integrated into a regional CRB-G management surveillance system
Integrate a regional approach to CRB-G biosecurity education and awareness
Build a CRB-G research and development management system.