TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 162

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Telex . 214 CON

Telephone Nos. ET 6311/6313

AV

Ref: 204

OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR,

ASCENSION ISLAND,

SOUTH ATLANTIC.

Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt

Maritime, Aviation & Environment Dept Foreign & Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

9 February 1988

MRE 26414

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY,

18 FEB 1988

DESK

INDEX

IR

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

Dear him Ablott Walt

CONSERVATION IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES:

FRAGMENTS OF PARADISE

1(87)

Thank you for your letter of 27 November 1987 asking for comments on the British Association of Nature Conservationists report on conservation in the Dependent Territories.

I have read the report with interest and it gives some useful pointers but it is a pity the author did not send a copy of her draft to me for comment before publication. The report contains a number of serious errors of fact and emphasis arising perhaps from too much reliance or reports made by transient visitors such as Bourne and Lt Col Clayden. The author did however consult me about conservation legislation but it would have been interesting to have had her comments on this. In detail I have the following observations:-

Government Status: SACC is of course the South Atlantic Cable Company. Ascension Island Services should be mentioned.

Population. This paragraph should be brought up to date and corrected. The total population, excluding RAF at the end of September 1987 was 1,186 of which 746 were St Helenians, 221 UK, 204 USA and 15 from the Republic of South Africa. For your information the services contingent is at present about 164 and I doubt if their presence was ever greater than that of any other organisation or nationality apart from a short time during the Falklands campaign.

Land Use. The Green Mountain Farm is run by Ascension Island Services and does not produce milk.

Vegetation. The paragraph implies that there are goats on the island. There are none.

Reptiles and amphibians. We have geckos and several species of lizard one of which is believed to be endemic. The latter was discovered by Cindy Buxton during filming for the Survival series of Anglia Television in 1984 but I have no further details.

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