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heicken. Bile 27/3
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R Oaten Esq
EAD
FCO
Dear Robin,
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AURE-264/4
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21 MAR 1988
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INDEX
v Talen
Your reference JEB 264/2
Our reference
Date
11 March 1988
1 x Rp)
22173
0 12 copy t
соруба
22
Miss Abbott Wal - MARD
© Bu. I week
(for Rivad's repla
CONSERVATION IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: "FRAGMENTS OF PARADISE"
BIOT
1.
You asked for our comments on your minute of 26 February 1988 to Mr Wood of the Legal Advisers about the pamphlet called "Fragments of Paradise" issued by the British Association of Nature Conservationists.
2.
I took the liberty of showing your minute and the pamphlet to Ted Wile in the State Department and asked him informally for his comments. We agreed with your points on Recommendations 1 and 2. Ted Wile thought the option of the use of the other islands for the US and UK defence needs might be cramped by their designation as World Heritage Sites. He was confident that if, at some time, those islands were used for defence purposes both governments would apply the same "Framework Plan for Conservation" to them as they do for Diego Garcia. He said he saw no need or plans at present to use the outer islands, however. He also wondered what the implications for liability would be if a World Heritage Site was designated and an oil spill from a US battleship occurred.
3.
On Recommendation 3 both Ted Wile and I have fresh in our minds the Fruit Bat issue. We believe the reasons for discouraging the introduction of Fruit Bats to the BIOT are similar to those for the proposed "active conservation management", especially with regard to our efforts for maintaining a low profile for the islands.
4. On Recommendation 4 Ted Wile thought MOD briefing packs might be acceptable for circulation to US forces so long as they were advisories as opposed to regulations. He also thought that something similar was already used by US Forces.
5.
He had no comment on the seabird survey.
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16.
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