EcoWise Certified IPM Guiding Principles

EcoWise Certified Documents

  • Knowledge. IPM practitioners understand IPM principles and practices. They can identify important pests and describe life cycles, habits, and conditions that affect populations of those pests.
  • Communication and outreach. IPM practitioners communicate the IPM approach to their customers and others. Because they recognize that customer cooperation is essential for long-term pest management, IPM practitioners form a partnership with their customers to solve pest problems.
  • Monitoring and inspection. IPM practitioners use monitoring and inspection to stay fully informed about pest populations and conditions that can lead to pest problems.
  • Documented performance. IPM practitioners record monitoring and inspection results. They document their performance to justify pest management decisions.
  • Least-hazardous, effective options. IPM practitioners address issues of pest prevention, sanitation, and pest access, as appropriate, for the first line of defense against pests. IPM practitioners evaluate all pest management options for short- and long-term effectiveness, and for risks to health, the environment, and beneficial or other non-target organisms.
  • Pesticide applications are made according to need and not by calendar schedule.
  • Evaluation of performance. IPM practitioners evaluate treatment activities for effectiveness and customer satisfaction.
  • Continuous improvement. IPM practitioners prepare for changes in pests and pest management techniques, recognizing that improvement involves staying abreast of new technologies and concepts.
    • Adapted from IPM Star Evaluation for Structural Pest Management Service Providers and Services, IPM Institute of North America, Inc., January 2005.