In these times of instant access to new information through the various
electronic media, what can a book like this contribute? We hope the reader will
find out that this book goes well beyond what can be found on the Internet or
in electronic databases. The main theme of this book is to show that biological
control components provide a common basis for many integrated pest
management (IPM) systems, although the relative importance of biological
control varies in different systems. In 24 chapters, the book gives an
authoritative view of clearly defined problem areas in plant protection in Africa.
Some chapters describe research with preliminary results that offer promise for
successful implementation in the near future. Others cover projects that have
been effectively implemented in a few countries only, offering the potential for
similar success in other regions. A number of the chapters describe highly
successful implementation, which has in many cases resulted in huge returns to
the local economies.