Western Region. Small scale breeding is in progress in southern and central Mauritania where locust numbers will increase, but remain at low levels, as breeding continues during the forecast period. There is possibility that small numbers of adults are present and breeding in the Adrar des Iforas, Mali and in Aïr, Niger where conditions are favourable but there is no indication that surveys are being carried out. On the southern side of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, 225 ha of small hopper groups and fledglings were treated in early August.

Central Region. Although locusts were not seen during surveys in the summer breeding areas of Sudan, conditions are favourable and there is a possibility that low numbers are present and breeding in a few places in Northern Kordofan and Northern Darfur. Scattered adults were reported in northern Somalia. Good rains fell along the southern Red Sea coastal plains of Saudi Arabia and Yemen where low numbers of locusts may be present and could start to breed on a small scale in the coming weeks.

Eastern Region. Low numbers of adults were present in the eastern deserts of Pakistan and a late report indicated that they started to appear in Rajasthan, India at the end of July. Small scale breeding is expected to occur along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border where good rains have fallen but no significant developments are likely. No locusts were reported from south-eastern Iran.

In West Africa, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) broadly fluctuated around 18° N during August. As a result, some moderate to very heavy rains fell in most parts of the northern Sahel (see map) which caused damaging floods along the Senegal-Mauritanian border and in the Adrar des Iforas, Mali. Consequently, most of the vegetation in the northern Sahel is green or becoming greening, and conditions are highly favourable for breeding.

In North-West Africa, only light rains were reported from a few places south of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria as well as in the southern Hoggar Mountains of southern Algeria. Vegetation remained dry and conditions were unfavourable for breeding.

In Eastern Africa, moderate to locally heavy rains were reported in the northern Sahelian belt of Sudan where seasonal vegetation is green or greening up and conditions are favourable for breeding over large parts of Northern Darfur and Northern Kordofan. On the Red Sea coast, vegetation is drying out due to a lack of rainfall. Nevertheless, some wadis have been flooded in Sudan and Eritrea which could give rise to patches of vegetation. No rainfall was reported on the northern coastal plains of Somalia where vegetation remained dry.

In the Near East, frequent light to moderate rains as well as few very heavy rains fell in several places along the Red Sea coastal plain from Jizan, Saudi Arabia to Zabid, Yemen where patches of vegetation are becoming green. Dry conditions prevailed on the coastal plains of the Gulf of Aden and in the adjacent interior due to a lack of significant rainfall over the past four months.

In South-West Asia, light to moderate rains were reported from a few places of the summer breeding areas along the Indo-Pakistan border, mainly in southern Tharparkar, Pakistan and near Jaisalmer, India. Vegetation is green from southern Tharparkar to Bikaner, India and along the Indo-Pakistan border north-east of Jaisalmer. Conditions appear to be drier in Khipro and southern Cholistan deserts of Pakistan. Dry conditions prevailed in Baluchistan of western Pakistan and south-eastern Iran.

Morocco 225 ha (1-6 August)

Low numbers of mature adults were present during August in four areas: in southern Trarza near Rkiz (1700N/1530W and 1700N/1450W), in Brakna west of Moudjera (1750N/1250W), in Hodh el Gharbi north of Aioun el Atrous (1700N/0940W), and in Hodh Ech Chargui near Oualata (1715N/0700W). Limited breeding started in mid-July as indicated by the presence of a few second and third instar hoppers near Aioun el Atrous during the first decade of the month. Small scale breeding is in progress near Moudjera where females were seen laying during the first fortnight and a few hoppers started to appear by the end of the month.

No report received.

Scattered adults were seen in the eastern Aïr in Oued Tagora (1758N/0909E).

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during August.

No reports received.

During the first week of August, small groups of solitarious fourth and fifth instar hoppers mixed with fledglings at densities of 1 to 2 individuals per sq. m. were treated south of Errachidia at Khamlia El Khraoua (3100N/0410W), Laktit Rhiate (3045N/0425W) and Oued Tafraout (3150N/0440W).

No locusts were reported during August.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in Northern Kordofan between Sodiri (1425N/2905E) and Saiyala (1425N/3105E) on 8-23 August.

No locusts were reported along the Red Sea coast during August.

During surveys carried out from 31 July to 27 August, scattered immature adults were seen in northern coastal areas east of Mait in Wadi Durdure (1109N/4843E) and in Wadi Hidid (1103N/4724E). Isolated immature adults were seen on the nearby escarpment north of Erigavo (1039N/4722E) and in the north-west, in the Dobo Valley (1021N/4322E).

No locusts were seen during a survey carried out from 27 July to 4 August in the Harar Region.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported along the Red Sea coastal plains or in the interior during August.

The situation is reported to be calm and no surveys were conducted during August.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No surveys were conducted during August.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out on 29-30 July and on 25-26 August in Hormozgan and Kerman provinces.

During the second fortnight of July and the month of August, low numbers of solitarious maturing adults, up to 7 per ha, were present at 37 locations in Cholistan and Tharparkar deserts as well as in Lasbela, west of Karachi.

A late report indicated that a few locusts were seen at Birloka (2658N/7303E) on 28 July during surveys carried out in Rajasthan. No locusts were reported during the first fortnight of August.

No reports received.

Kazakhstan. Large-scale control operations against Italian Locust infestations were completed by 10 August. Egg pod surveys are currently in progress to estimate the potential size of next year's populations.

Locust reporting. Affected countries are kindly reminded to make sure that locust situation reports are sent to FAO HQ by the 25th day of the month so the information can be included in the FAO bulletin for the current month; otherwise, it will not appear until the following month. Reports should be sent even if no locusts were found or if no surveys were conducted.

Reporting by email. Affected countries are encouraged to send completed FAO Locust Survey Forms with a brief interpretation of the results by email to eclo@fao.org.

FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Eastern Region of its Distribution Area in South West Asia. The 13th session of the Executive Committee and the 22nd session of the Commission will be held in Tehran, I.R. Iran, on 17-21 September.

Monthly rainfall maps. Maps of monthly rainfall for 2000 (January - August) are available on the locust webpages at: www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/archiv00.htm.

Pictures from the recent national training course on Desert Locust survey and control in Pakistan are available on the locust webpages at: www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/paktrain/pakmain.htm.

The 1999 Report of the Pesticide Referee Group is available for downloading on the locust webpages at: www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/reports1.htm.

Central Asia. Representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed a resolution at a Round Table meeting, organized by the Government of Kazakhstan and FAO in Almaty on 23-24 August, requesting FAO to study the possible creation of a Regional Locust Commission for Central Asia.