Invasion of locusts in Sardinia, disaster announced in the documents: «Errors in monitoring»

The disaster of the locust invasion in central Sardinia is already out of control. And perhaps it could have been avoided. Or at least, there was a chance to stem it. The flaws in the preventive control system are put on paper by Laore, the regional agency of the agricultural sector which has deployed men and vehicles in the Ottana plain (and beyond). And it also managed the two and a half million euro contract for the assignment of the "disinfestation service for the fight against water-crime for nymphs and mobile forms to be carried out in the areas of Sardinia most affected by the phenomenon".

The truth is among the papers attached to the announcement. In the illustrative technical report, to be precise, which bears the signature of Marcello Giovanni Onorato, director of the Development and Sustainability of Agricultural Activities service. The document dates back to February - with assignment of the service arrived at the end of March - but points the finger at precise responsibilities.

To deal with grasshoppers, it is explained, the monitoring phase is essential. To keep under control the «population of the insect and the agro-meteorological conditions of the agricultural year and over the years. It is important to georeference the areas in which the insect develops and its oviposition sites».

It is a pity that, and here is a sore point, «the limits of the 2023 monitoring will be determined by the fact that an accurate monitoring of the oviferous forms of 2022 should have been carried out , an operation not recommended and foreseen by the University of Sassari and considered, however, very important by FAO technicians», who dealt with locusts in Africa. So: according to Laore, it was those who had to give a scientific contribution, the experts of the Turritan university, who made a mistake.

And if that weren't enough, the accusation is also relaunched in another passage of the document. It is reiterated that monitoring is "an operation that has statistical implications at the base linked to the dynamics of the insect population and to some variables: degree of parasitization of the locust eggs, positioning of oviposition sites, soil geomorphology, mechanical operations implemented in autumn 2022, degree of grazing, presence of host plants such as Poa bulbosa. Without the scientific indications, which Uniss should have developed», is the new attack, «we will operate according to what has been learned in the seminars held by the FAO and by putting together the experiences and observations of past years».

If the level of the clash weren't clear, here's another passage: «The surface to be monitored» before hatching, write from Laore, «will be around 18,000-20,000 hectares. Area identified by the approximately 100 oviposition sites georeferenced in 2022 by Laore. To tell the truth», is the torpedo, «there are just a few points, for a total area of over 35,000 hectares but, unfortunately, no more precise indications have been given by those who could have given adequate and rigorous scientific support to the whole activity ». That is: from the University of Sassari. «The FAO technicians, on the other hand», is the emphasis, «during the seminars of December 2022, they clarified in a very detailed and timely manner the monitoring techniques to be implemented over the years».

Closing the document is even heavier. And sibylline: "The locust problem is a problem that occurs cyclically in the affected area, perhaps it is an endemic plague, which often spreads like wildfire", write from Laore, "to understand, study and prevent attacks by acrids it is necessary, above all, an accurate monitoring of the insect, of the environment, of the natural antagonists. These are the tasks of a serious, disinterested, honest "Research", which works for the good of the territory». That territory that is already undergoing invasion. And that it will be increasingly vast: it is feared that the locusts in this tour could destroy over one hundred thousand hectares.