From problem to progress: Rodent management in agricultural settings of sub-Saharan Africa and calling for an urban perspective

International audienceHighlights: • In Africa, agricultural intensification and urbanization are major changes. • These changes increase the risk of rodent proliferation in rural and urban habitats. • Conventional rodent control relies on reactive, inappropriate use of rodenticides. • Ecologically-Based Rodent Management has been poorly tested in sub-Saharan Africa. • This method can be a realistic, sustainable and environment-friendly alternative.Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, agricultural intensification and urbanization have increased the risk of proliferation of rodents in rural and urban habitats. Management of rodent populations is a challenge in terms of food security and public health. However, conventional efforts to manage rodents are currently reactive and based on the inadequate use of synthetic chemical rodenticides, including first- and second-generation anticoagulants and acute rodenticides. This approach carries substantial environmental and health risks and has yielded limited success in terms of reduction of rodent populations sustainably. In this paper, which is the second part of a diptych, we advocate for a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches, such as Ecologically-Based Rodent Management (EBRM), as a realistic alternative to synthetic rodenticides. This method is based on a good knowledge of habitat use, species diversity and population dynamics of major rodent pests, and involves community-based interventions aimed at reducing rodent abundance to economically and hygienically acceptable levels in the long term. We present for the first time a comprehensive compilation of published and unpublished information derived from observational field studies conducted in Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal with the aim to provide an overview of EBRM case studies in these countries of sub-Saharan Africa. This paper intends to serve as a catalyst for change, encouraging the transformation of rodent management practices towards sustainable methods. We aim at stimulating further research and interventions that promote EBRM in Africa, ultimately fostering more environmentally conscious and effective solutions.Graphical abstract: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0261219424001017-ga1.jp

Prolifération de rongeurs dans les milieux urbains et agricoles d’Afrique subsaharienne: Le côté obscur des rodenticides chimiques de synthèse

Nous tenons à remercier Valérie Golaz (INED-LPED), Marc Egrot (IRD-LPED) et les organisateurs de la conférence internationale « Mise en œuvre des politiques publiques et pesticides dans les Suds » qui s’est tenue en octobre 2021 à Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, projet PoPPesCI (Politiques publiques et pesticides en agriculture urbaine), pour avoir stimulé la rédaction de cet article.International audienceAround 400 million people in the world are affected by zoonoses associated with rodents. In addition, at least 280 million cases of undernourishment could be avoided in the world by the effective management of populations of rodents which destroy crops and stores of crops. Consequently, managing rodent populations which are reservoirs of pathogenic agents or which destroy crops and stores of crops is a challenge both in terms of food security as well as public health. In terms of public policy, many African countries have established farming intensification programmes aiming to improve their food self-sufficiency, with the direct risk of the prolifera-tion of rodents. In this article, which is the first in a two-part series, we present the background to controlling rodents in Africa in rural and urban areas, followed by an overview of the regu-lations and uses of rodenticides. We will go on to document the problematic situations which result from this, illustrating them with case studies. The use of synthetic chemical rodenticidesis the most widely used method to control rodents and is not only toxic for humans, other animals and the environment, but also ineffective against rodent populations (for example, it is costly, leads to a build-up of resistance, and the avoidance of bait). The circulation and uncontrolled use of these rodenticides in many African countries is associated with conside-rable risks to health and the environment, without leading to any significant improvements in terms of rodent control or reducing the damage they cause.Dans le monde, environ 400 millions de personnes sont touchées chaque année par des zoonoses associées aux rongeurs. En outre, au moins 280 millions de cas de sous-alimentation pourraient être évités grâce à une gestion efficace des populations de rongeurs ravageurs des cultures et des stocks. Par conséquent, la gestion des populations de rongeurs, qui sont des réservoirs d'agents pathogènes ou des ravageurs des stocks et des cultures, est un enjeu tant pour la sécurité alimentaire que pour la santé publique. En termes de politiques publiques, de nombreux pays africains ont mis en place des programmes d'intensification agricole visant à améliorer l'autosuffisance alimentaire, avec des risques directs de prolifération des rongeurs. Dans cet article, nous présentons le contexte du contrôle des rongeurs en Afrique dans les milieux ruraux et urbains, puis un aperçu de la réglementation et des utilisations des rodenticides, et nous documentons les situations problématiques qui en résultent à l'aide d'études de cas illustratifs. L'utilisation de rodenticides chimiques de synthèse est la méthode de gestion des rongeurs la plus couramment pratiquée, qui est non seulement toxique pour les humains, les autres animaux et l'environnement, mais aussi peu efficace contre les populations de rongeurs (par exemple, coûteuse en ressources, évolution de résistances, évitement des appâts). La circulation et l'utilisation incontrôlées de ces rodenticides dans de nombreux pays africains sont associées à des risques considérables pour la santé et l'environnement sans aucune amélioration significative en termes de contrôle des rongeurs ou d'atténuation de leurs nuisances