Western Region. Locust numbers continued to decline in central and western Mauritania during February for the second consecutive month. Isolated hoppers and adults were present throughout the month in a few locations where breeding previously occurred near Atar and Zouerate. Control was carried out at one place on 18 ha. In Mali, there were unconfirmed reports of low densities of hoppers and adults in the northern Adrar des Iforas. No locusts were reported in Morocco, Algeria and Libya. No significant changes in the current situation are anticipated during the forecast period.

Central Region. Scattered adults persisted in a few places on the Red Sea coastal plains of Sudan and south-eastern Egypt as well as in a few cropping areas near Lake Nasser, Egypt. Small scale and localized breeding occurred on the coast of Sudan south of Suakin where low numbers of hoppers are present. Isolated adults were seen on the central coast of northern Somalia. Breeding conditions are likely still to be favourable along some parts of the Red Sea coastal plains of Saudi Arabia and Yemen but no surveys have been carried out since November. The absence of surveys is potentially risky and regular surveys are suggested to monitor the situation.

Eastern Region. Although no locusts were reported in Iran, Pakistan and India, a few adults may appear in spring breeding areas of Baluchistan, Pakistan and breed on a small scale in areas of recent rainfall. No significant developments are likely.

In West Africa, meteorological conditions during February were quite similar to those in the previous month. No significant rainfall has been reported in the Region since November 2000. In Mauritania, strong winds caused sand storms in the north and temperatures started to increase, reaching a maximum of 32°C by the end of the month. Vegetation continues to dry up in the central and northern areas where only localized patches of green vegetation remain in a few wadis and drainage lines. In Mali, low temperatures prevailed in the north and small patches of green vegetation were reported in a few wadis of Timetrine, Tadhak and in the central and western portion of the Adrar des Iforas.

In North-West Africa, several depressions formed during the month over the Atlantic and moved eastward across the Mediterranean and north of the African coast due to a dominant high pressure system over Libya. During periods when this high pressure system broke down, for example on 11-12 February, depressions moved east along the coast of Libya. The prevailing northerly and easterly winds were only temporarily interrupted by southerlies associated with the passing depressions. No significant rains fell in the Region for the second consecutive month except for light rains associated with depressions in southern Tunisia during the first half of February and in western Libya at Ghadames (21 mm) on the 26th. Consequently, vegetation is drying out in southern Morocco and Algeria. Temperatures continued to rise in Morocco, particularly in the south, but remained stable in Algeria.

In Eastern Africa, no significant rainfall was reported along the Red Sea coastal plains or in the interior for the second consecutive month. Dense, low clouds were present at times over the coastal plains of Sudan and Eritrea between Port Sudan and Massawa on 5-6, 18 and 25 February but no rainfall was reported except for light showers on the 5th near Khor Gowb, Sudan. Apart from a few patches of green vegetation reported near Khor Gowb and Massawa, vegetation is drying out on the coastal plains of Sudan and Eritrea and in the Tokar Delta. Drying vegetation was also reported in eastern Ethiopia and in coastal areas of northern Somalia except in a few wadis, along the foothills and on the escarpment where it was green.

In the Near East, dry weather prevailed throughout the Region despite a large frontal system extending from Chad across eastern Libya to north-western Egypt on 13 February and another one over northern Saudi Arabia on the 17th. Conditions continued to be unfavourable for breeding on the Red Sea coast of Egypt due to a lack of rainfall but remained favourable on the coastal plains of Saudi Arabia and Yemen from south of Jeddah to Hodeidah where good rains fell in late January. Light rain (3 mm), associated with a Mediterranean depression, fell on the 22nd at Siwa Oasis in the normally very arid Western Desert of Egypt. Dry conditions were reported on the northern coast of Oman.

In South-West Asia, light rain was reported at one location, Panjgur (7 mm on 12 February), in the spring breeding areas of western Pakistan where breeding conditions are likely to be improving. Dry conditions prevailed on the south-eastern coast of Iran and in western India.

Mauritania 18 ha (6-8 February)

Locust densities and the number of locations in which locusts were present continued to decline during February in central and northern Mauritania where they were reported in only two locations. Scattered maturing solitarious adults and a mixture of solitarious and transiens hoppers of all instars were present in interdunal areas south of Atar (2032N/1308W) where breeding had occurred in January. By mid February, most of the hoppers were fifth instar. Densities during the first dekad reached nearly 10,000 adults and hoppers per ha while in the second dekad they dropped to about 3,000 per ha. Isolated mature adults were seen in one area about 50 km north of Zouerate (2244N1221W) while surveys of surrounding areas did not find any locusts. Ground teams treated 18 ha of hoppers and adults at one location (1932N/1259E) on 6-8 February.

During February, there were unconfirmed reports from nomads, guides and travellers of low density populations of adults and fourth to sixth instar hoppers in a few places of the northern Adrar des Iforas near Tahort (1943N/0107E) and Edjerer (1953N/0130E).

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during February.

No locusts were reported during February.

No locusts were reported during February.

No reports received.

During February, there was no significant change in the locust situation as compared to January. Low numbers of solitarious immature and mature adults persisted in a few cropping areas along the Red Sea coastal plains between Port Sudan and Tokar: Hosheri (1918N/3717E), Handob (1914N/3716E), and Khors Gowb (1903N/3720E) and Ashat (1844N/3727E). Small scale breeding occurred in some of these places where low numbers of solitarious hoppers were present. No locusts were seen during surveys in the Tokar Delta.

No Desert Locusts were reported during February.

Isolated immature adults were present at one location on the central northern coast east of Meit in Wadi Ukrood (1101N/4733E) on 22 February. No locusts were seen elsewhere on the escarpment or coastal plains during the month.

No locusts were reported during February in the Dire Dawa and Jigjiga areas.

No surveys were carried out during February.

No locusts were reported during January and February.

No locusts were reported up to 25 February.

During February, low numbers of solitarious immature adults persisted in a few cropping areas along the western shore of Lake Nasser near Tushka (2247N/3126E). Similar populations persisted in several wadis on the south-eastern Red Sea coastal plains between Abu Ramad (2224N/3624E) and Halaib (2212N/3635E) and in adjacent subcoastal areas near Wadi Diib. No locusts were seen further north along the Red Sea coast or in the Western Desert.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in February on the Batinah coastal plains near Muscat.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out during the first week of February in Kerman and on the south-eastern coastal plains near Chabahar.

No locusts were reported during the second half of January and the first half of February.

No locusts were reported during the first half of February in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

No reports received.

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 Desert Locust Survey and Control Forms with a brief interpretation of the results by email to eclo@fao.org.

Desert Locust training course. A regional training course in Arabic on Desert Locust survey and control, organized by the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in North-West Africa, will be held in Ghadames, Libya on 16-30 March 2001.

The Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in North-West Africa. The 23rd Session will be held in Algiers, Algeria from 2-7 June 2001.

Desert Locust Control Committee. The 36th Session will be held in Rome from 24-28 September 2001.

Ms. Mona Zaki. It is with deep regret to announce the passing of our dear colleague, Ms. Mona Zaki, secretary to the Central Region Locust Commission at the FAO Regional Office for the Near East (Cairo). She will be greatly missed not only for her support of locust activities in the Central Region but as a charming and energetic person. We would like to express our sincere condolences to her family and to the Regional Office.