Safeguarding Plant Resources
through Regional Collaboration
Keep TR4 out of our region
Protect our banana industry
The Caribbean Plant Health Directors Forum
A collaboration of National Plant Health Services Regional and International Organizations, Government entities, Universities and Reference Laboratories with the common purpose of safeguarding the plant resources of the greater Caribbean Region (GCR) from the threat of quarantine pest; improving plant health through the control and management of existing pests; and expanding production and trade of agricultural commodities; in order to increase food security, protect the unique environment and enhance the quality of life and economic wellbeing of the people of the countries and territories of the Greater Caribbean Region.
Safeguarding Plant Resources
Safeguard our agriculture and nutrition do NOT bring in undeclared agricultural planting material or soil.
Improving Plant Health
Monitor for signs and symptoms of pest/diseases
Protecting Agriculture
Report any suspected signs and symptoms to your Ministry or Department of Agriculture.
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE CPHD FORUM SOCIAL MEDIA
CPHD FORUM SUCCESS TO DATE
The CPHD Forum, in it's 10+ years of existence has achieved numerous successes and contributed greatly to the plant health and protection sector in the Caribbean region. Here are just a few of CPHD Forum's notable achievements...
Annual Regional Plant Quarantine Principles and Procedures Training Course
Creation and Implementation of a Centralized Fruit Fly Trapping Database for the Caribbean Region
Creation of a Strong Regional Network (Knowledge Base) for Plant Protection
Formulation of the Regional Priority Pest List and Pest Risk Analyses
PRIORITY PEST THREATS
The threat of pest and diseases is real and has the potential to seriously damage our agriculture and food supply. These are some of the priority pests that can affect agriculture and cause a significant economic impact.
Red Palm Mite
Red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (acari: Tenuipalpidae) is a pest of coconut, areca palm and date palm in the Eastern Hemisphere – Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Mauritius, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan. They can be distinguished from sp...
Mediterranean Fruit Fly
The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemannis) better known as medfly. It is a species that has been introduced in many countries all over the world. It is considered a major pest, due to its ability to attack many hosts. In c...
Lethal Yellowing of Coconut
Lethal yellowing is a devastating disease that affects palms including coconuts. It is caused by a phytoplasma, specialized bacteria that are transmitted between plants by insect vectors. Symptoms and Infestation...
Giant African Snail
The Giant African Snail (GAS), sometimes referred to as the Giant African Land Snail (GALS), is one of a group of large terrestrial snails native to Africa. It can grow to 8 inches in length and is regarded as one of the most destructive ...
Frosty Pod Rot
Frosty pod rot, also called Monilia, is an invasive disease affecting cocoa caused by the fungus Moniliophthora roreri. Until the 1950s, frosty pod rot was confined to the North-western South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Western Venezuela) a...
Caribbean Fruit Fly
Of the fifteen (15) pest species of Anastrepha present in the neotropics, the Caribbean Fruit fly – Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) – also known as Caribfly poses the most imminent threat of invading the islands of the Caribbean regi...
Learn about our Technical Working Groups and Sub-Committees
The CPHD comprises of Technical Working Groups and Sub-Committees:
Fruit Fly Technical Working Group
To safeguard the Caribbean from threats and /or the impacts of introduction, economic damage, and spread of tephritid fruit flies through investigation/ research and the provision of advice and training on all matters related to tephritid fruit flies.
Mollusc Technical Working Group
To safeguard the Caribbean from threats and /or the impacts of introduction, economic damage, and spread of plant pests through investigation, research and the provision of advice on all matters related to Molluscs Pest.
Palm Pest Technical Working Group
The general objective of this working group is to safeguard the Caribbean from threats and/or the impacts of introduction, economic damage and spread of pests of palms through scientific investigation/research and the provision of advice on all matters related to pests of palms.
Emergency Preparedness Technical Working Group
To safeguard the Greater Caribbean from threats and/or the impacts from the introduction, establishment, and spread of plant pests by developing an emergency preparedness, response and recovery plan and mechanism for implementation to manage and mitigate pest outbreaks.
Safeguarding Technical Working Group
To assist in providing technical and policy recommendations to the Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD) Forum towards safeguarding the Caribbean economies (and such sectors as agriculture, tourism and the environment) from the impact of introduction, establishment and spread of plant pests.
Musa Technical Working Group
Description coming soon!
Communications Technical Working Group
To focus on all publications related to the Caribbean Plant Health Directors Forum.
Caribbean Pest Diagnostic Network
Caribbean Pest Diagnostic Network (CPDN) database provides a collaboration and communication tool for plant inspectors, scouts, consultants, extension personnel and diagnosticians to share information on plant pests.
Regional Pests Lists
Description coming soon!
Latest News
Latest News
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The Dominican Republic has had a decline in mangroves over the last 50 years. Mangroves have acted as a defense for coastal areas against hurricanes during hurricane season. They are a natural barrier against rising sea levels. Despite how they are seen, usually as mosquito-ridden and swampy, they are an important part of Dominican ecology. […]
In Session One – the Fusarium wilt of bananas (Musaceae)– is also known as Panama Disease, it is a destructive soil-borne fungus. In Session Two – Fusarium wilt of musaceae, tropical race 4 – There have been prevented measures taken to ensure that the Fusarium wilt of bananas is contained or prevented. Read more on Fusarium […]
Plant Quarantine Inspection is an important aspect of plant protection. Around the region, at various ports of entry, countries are taking a stricter approach to the importation of plants and animals, even seedlings as to avoid plant diseases and pests from entering the country and causing detrimental harm to the agriculture sector. The International Plant […]
Jamaica recently shipped over 12,000 pounds of mangoes to the United States. To avoid any forms of crop contamination or infestation of insect pests/diseases, the mangoes were put through an irradiation process, where ionizing radiation was used to augment the shelf life of the fruits, by controlling the respiration of the fruits. Jamaican mangoes go […]
CPHD ANNUAL MEETING
Virtually, 2020
Plant Health Directors from more than 20 countries and territories along with several partner organizations met virtually (via Zoom) for the 13th annual Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD) Forum meeting, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cessation of regional and international travel. During the August 11th-12th meeting, the plant health officials had intense discussions aimed at bolstering the ability of member countries to identify, exclude, and respond to pests and diseases that threaten regional agriculture and natural resources and to resolve issues that might impede the trade of Caribbean agricultural products regionally and internationally.
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Barbados’ Plant Protection Units’ main purpose is to protect the native biodiversity and plant health while also ensuring that imported crops, crop products, and foods are processed safely. One of its main initiatives is to educate farmers, schools, and other tertiary institutions about plant diseases and pests. The country’s food security is ensured by this […]