It should be defined by some geographic entity that encompasses the area of interest (e.g., farms, rangelands, forests) including all components of the landscape, and should be conducted over large geographical areas with consideration of pest colonization and movement and dispersal of pest and beneficial species. The area should represent typical settings with representative pest problems and consistent populations of the key pest(s). It is important to have assurance that the target pest(s) is amenable to control using the areawide concept over a large geographical area that may extend across county, state and in some instances national boundaries.

An understanding of the pest biology, ecology, genetics, behavior, physiology, genetic variation within the pest, interactions with other organisms, and other biological and physical characteristics of the system are critical. The natural control and reasonable isolation of the area from other non-included infested areas are important to consider for migration and/or reduction in the area. The host range must be reasonably represented (including wild relatives of the crop plant in the case of crop AWPM programs) so that the effects of residual populations can be evaluated. Finally, accounting for other pests in the ecosystem that could increase as the target/key pest(s) is managed is also important for understanding indirect impacts.

There should be coordination by groups of key participants as opposed to just individual producers or other end-users, and the program should involve federal (as needed), state and local extension, commodity and private grower groups, land managers, communities, agribusinesses, and other stakeholders in a true partnership. Extension IPM programs should be in place in the state or region to be developed in synchrony with the AWPM program to ensure that as much as possible, multiple and secondary pest problems are managed and the full impact of a combined program is realized.

Bio-intensive, environmentally sound, and economical tactics must be available to the end-users and, of course, the program should focus on reducing and maintaining a pest population at an acceptably low density, providing positive environmental benefits, food and worker safety, with a high benefit-cost ratio. Implementation of AWPM requires overall participation and compliance of those in the area whether growers, land managers, or other, under the strategy for optimum success, as well as frequent evaluation to measure effectiveness and to assure that goals are being met.