When the Asian Gypsy Moth entered the forests of the Pacific Northwest via Siberian freighters docking in U.S. ports, this voracious pest threatened to cause environmental and economic damage estimated at $34 billion. The execution of an eradication plan would require expanding the responsible Washington State Department of Agriculture team from 3 to 300 people in just 8 weeks. They asked us to help them gear up and get moving before the weather became warm enough for the moths to quickly hatch and spread.
Using our Rapid Action Planning (RAP) methodology, we helped them develop a coordinated action plan for hiring and training staff, developing a public media campaign, deploying 180,000 insect traps, and monitoring results after helicopters sprayed 10,000 acres with a biological substance to eradicate the moths. We designed methods for planning and collaboration among the quickly assembled teams of scientists, insect trappers, health experts, and media personnel. We facilitated multiple action planning sessions to build a forward path.
Project execution involved spraying thousands of acres, and then trapping insects still left alive. Suspect moths were examined using mitochondrial DNA analysis. Bottom line result: The moth infestation was eliminated, thus preserving the ecology and economy of the Pacific Northwest.