Évaluation des dégâts agricoles causés par les vertébrés exotiques dans le nord de la Martinique

A survey was conducted among farmers in Martinique by the French Office for Biodiversity (Office Français de la Biodiversité) with the aim of assessing the extent of crop damage caused by invasive alien vertebrates in northern Martinique.This work resulted in 75 interviews with farm operators across 13 municipalities. The results show that 83% of respondents experience crop damage caused by exotic vertebrates, mainly attributable to four species: the feral pig, the rose-ringed parakeet, the raccoon, and rodents.The distribution and intensity of the damage are highly contrasted. Feral pigs cause damage to crops for 25% of respondents, with particularly severe consequences, as the average losses reported by affected farmers for vulnerable crops reached 71% of total yield. The most impacted areas are located along the western and northern coasts (municipalities of Le Prêcheur, Saint-Pierre, and Grand’Rivière).The rose-ringed parakeet also causes substantial damage, with 15% of farmers reporting losses and average estimated yield losses of 65% on susceptible crops, mainly fruit tree plantations, particularly in the northeastern municipalities (Macouba, Basse-Pointe).Damage caused by these two species frequently leads farmers to modify their agricultural practices and, in some cases, to abandon crops considered too vulnerable.Raccoons cause damage of variable magnitude depending on the parcels (23% of farmers affected, with an average estimated loss of 46%), mainly impacting fruit trees and vegetable crops. Rodents affect 56% of farmers but generate lower average losses (21%), notably due to the use of chemical control measures.In response to this situation, farmers have tested various control methods to limit losses, but these solutions often remain insufficient given the scale of the problem. Farmers now express a strong need for support and guidance to address this issue, which is perceived as increasingly severe.Current regulations allow population control of the rose-ringed parakeet, raccoon, and rodents, all of which are listed as invasive alien species. In contrast, the feral pig is considered a domestic species, and there is currently no legal framework allowing effective management of its populations.