What is the primary goal of pest management?

The primary goal of pest management is to manage pest populations at acceptable levels. This approach recognizes that while pests can cause damage or become nuisances, it is often impractical or impossible to eliminate them entirely. Instead, effective pest management aims to reduce pest populations to a point where they do not pose a threat to human health, property, or the environment.

This strategy focuses on balancing pest control with ecological considerations, ensuring that natural pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial organisms or employing cultural practices, are utilized alongside chemical controls when necessary. By maintaining pest populations at manageable levels, pest management promotes sustainable practices that benefit both the ecosystem and human interests.

Other options, such as eliminating all pests or avoiding pesticide use completely, do not represent practical or sustainable goals in pest management. Complete elimination is often unrealistic and can lead to ecological imbalances, while completely avoiding pesticides may not be viable in all scenarios, particularly in severe infestations where quick action is required to protect health and property.