European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/128/EG of 21 October 2009 contains regulations establishing a framework for achieving sustainable use of pesticides. This will be done for example through the application of integrated pest management (IPM). The Directive can increase the opportunities to increase competencies within Nordic golf course management in the long term, e.g. through IPM. One condition for this is that training, advisory work and R&D associated with the Directive have content that is relevant for the golf sector.
STERF can contribute to competence development within integrated pest management for the park and golf sector in the Nordic countries by communicating new knowledge and tested experience in an IPM perspective. In order to prepare the park and golf sector for the challenges contained in the new EU Directive, STERF has developed a digital reference library on IPM. This will also act as important teaching material within training programmes organised by actors in the park and golf sector and the general education system. In addition, it can be used in the planned skills training courses within the park and golf sector.
The aims of the project were to:
• Contribute to achievement of the environmental quality objective ‘Toxin-free environment’ through increasing competencies within IPM for the park and golf sector.
• Contribute to efficient implementation of the EU Directive on sustainable use of pesticides through increasing competencies within IPM for the park and golf sector.
• Contribute to more efficient management of golf courses and other grassed recreation areas through providing a better knowledge base that can be used to analyse the effects of different management methods and as data support in decisions on changes in management routines.
• Utilise communal Nordic experience to make the Nordic countries a model region within IPM for the park and golf sector
• Increase the use of digital information and training material.
The project has delivered:
• A digital reference library on integrated pest management (IPM site) where fact sheets, frame description and other training material are available and where current R&D projects are presented. This is part of the STERF website. The material on the IPM site will be translated into Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic and English.
• 18 central fact sheets presenting existing knowledge and tried and tested experience on ongoing and completed STERF projects, other relevant R&D projects, practical golf course management and relevant knowledge and experience from neighbouring sectors, e.g. agriculture, in an IPM perspective. These fact sheets focus on the following subject areas: Choice of grass species for Nordic conditions, control of diseases, weeds and insects of relevance for maintenance of green areas, optimal irrigation and fertilisation in order to create a grass plant that is tolerant to disease and can compete with weeds, recommendations for good overwintering and control of thatch.
• A brief framework description of what IPM means for the park and golf sector. This is based on Nordic and international experiences and experiences within neighbouring sectors.
• A steering group for competence development within IPM for the park and golf sector in order to ensure that communal Nordic experience is utilised for future continuous expansion of competences.
