TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 163

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Birds. Lt Col Clayden is quoted as saying that "a round the year survey of birds by the three Services Ornithological Societies is planned". This proposal has been overtaken by cost and manpower implications. However the RAF Ornithological Society visited Ascension for two weeks in early 1987. I am awaiting a copy of their report.

Conservation Situation. I am not sure what the author means by saying the MOD is involved in conservation activities through the military presence. They are not the conservation authority and they are obliged to obey the conservation laws as is every other organisation. It would be as true to say that the other organisations here and some individuals are equally involved.

Recommendations.

For all practical purposes Boatswain Bird Island is totally protected at present.

It is situated on the inaccessable side of Ascension and is surrounded by steep cliffs. Landing can only be made with difficulty by means of a rope which is now unsafe. Casual landings by visitors such as yacht crews are prohibited under the Port of Georgetown Regulations which specify the Pierhead, Georgetown as the only authorised landing place. The practical aspects of enforcement of a protected area would need to be considered but I should first like your guidance on the definition of a ก totally protected area" and what this implies, Incidentally the last time I authorised a visit to Boatswain Bird Island was in February 1987 by the RAF Ornithological Expedition.

b. No sand mining is permitted at any of the beaches during the turtle nesting season. Sand mining at Long Beach which accounts for 17% of nestings has been prohibited since October 1987 and for an indefinite period thereafter to allow the beach to recover from the operations of the MOD contractors who took large quantites of sand for the Airhead construction works. I would not wish to prevent turtle watchers visiting the beaches in the nesting season as I think this encourages an awareness of the need for conservation measures. A code of conduct for turtle watchers is published in the local press and circulated to organisations at the beginning of each turtle season.

C. We do not have the means on the island to monitor the endemic plants but I do keep an eye on the Euphorbia origanoides which is the only one I can recognise. Can you provide descriptions and pictures of the others, particularly Hedyotis adscensionis. If this information were available here. I am sure we could stimulate interest among amateur botanists.

d. It would be very nice if we could establish a botanic garden for the endemic plants but this would be an expensive operation. The wide range of environments needed to create the contrasting climates of the hot barren lower regions and the moister cooler regions inland would doubtless add to the difficulty and expense.

e. Please see my comments at "a" above. The pools where Procaris ascensionis and Typhlatya rogersi live are in an inaccessible part of the island where there is no threat of development. Any plans for development would require the permission of the Governor, their remoteness is a better protection than any legislation which we would not have the means to enforce on a regular basis.