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of the restrictive implications of recommendations 1 and 2, our initial reaction would therefore be negative, and this is recognised in the Report (in the paragraph on Protected Areas, p.102).
5.
As far as Diego Garcia is concerned you will note that it has been excluded in recommendations 1 and 2. Article 8 of the 1976 Agreement refers to conservation in an indirect way, "as far as possible the activities of the facility and its personnel shall not interfere with the flora and fauna of. Diego Garcia." The UK and US however take this obligation seriously and there is a Framework Plan for Conservation for Diego Garcia which was drawn up and agreed between the two parties in April 1987. The enforcement of conservation measures is the responsibility of the senior UK Representative on Diego Garcia in his role as Magistrate.
6... Recommendation 3. We would probably have some difficulty with this. We do not have the personnel on Diego Garcia to "manage" certain islands and in view of the low profile we aim to maintain we would not, I suspect, want conservationists working on clearance work etc., but much would depend on the scope of the work involved. As the Report points out a feasibility study for restoring native vegetation was in fact carried out during 1978-79 by a Joint Services Expedition would the MOD have details of the results? (On another matter this recommendation adds further weight against the proposed introduction of fruit bats on the Outer Islands?)
7.
Recommendation 4. This suggests that the MOD should prepare suitable briefing packs. I should be grateful for their comments.
8.
Recommendation 5. Article (4) of the 1976 Agreement provides for scientific research on Diego Garcia and its environs. If this exercise could be done without undue publicity and by as few scientists as possible, I would see no real difficulty.
9.
As
In general the section on the BIOT is reasonably favourable. It admits that International Protection Status is unlikely to be granted at present because of legal complications arising from the 1966 Treaty Agreement. already mentioned Diego Garcia is covered by a UK/US conservation plan. The Outer Islands are left relatively untouched; the environmental dangers seem to be from the earlier introduction of alien species (apart from localised coral destruction and the general disturbance within the area of the naval support facility on Diego Garcia).
10.
As you will note the BIOT is included in the UK S ratification of CITES (Convention on International Trade in
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/Endangered
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