Western Region. The situation remained calm throughout the Region in August. Very low numbers of solitarious adults were reported in southern Mauritania and similar numbers are likely to be present in northern Mali and Niger and, perhaps, in northeastern Chad. Although conditions are favourable over most of the summer breeding areas, only small-scale breeding has been detected so far in Mauritania. Locusts are expected to gradually increase during the forecast period as breeding continues, but numbers will remain at non-threatening levels.

Central Region. Unusually heavy rains caused flooding along the Nile and Atbara rivers in Sudan as well as in eastern Sudan including Tokar Delta and in western Eritrea. Although breeding conditions are exceptionally favourable in both countries, only isolated locusts have been found so far in Sudan. Small-scale breeding will occur during the forecast period but locust numbers should continue to remain low and non-threatening. Good rains also fell on the Red Sea coast and interior of Yemen, on the southern Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia and on the escarpment in northwestern Somalia. Scattered adults and small-scale breeding may occur in these areas. A few locusts mixed with other species persisted in agricultural schemes in the Western Desert of Egypt where control was undertaken.

Eastern Region. Good breeding conditions prevailed along the Indo-Pakistan border where monsoon rains continued but only isolated adults have been reported so far. Although small-scale breeding is almost certainly in progress and will continue during the forecast period, locust numbers should remain at a low and non-threatening level.

In West Africa, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) fluctuated between 15-20°N over West Africa and at times reached as far north as 25°N and as far south as 10°N. Good rains fell throughout the region during August. In Mauritania, rainfall was heaviest and well distributed in the two Hodhs and to a lesser extent in Brakna, Assaba and Trarza. Rains were more sporadic in Tagant and traces fell in southwestern Adrar. The northern extent of green vegetation is about 18°N or roughly along an east-west axis north of Oualata — In Amar — Tidjikja — north of Magta Lahjar — south of Nouakchott. Breeding conditions are favourable throughout these areas. In Mali, good rains fell in the southern Adrar des Iforas and adjacent areas of Tamesna. Green vegetation is present in the main wadis of these areas south of 20°N and isolated patches are present near Tin Kar, Timetrine. In Niger, good rains fell in parts of Tamesna and western Air where green vegetation is present and conditions are favourable for breeding. In eastern Chad, vegetation is green to about Fada (17°N).

In North-West Africa, hot and dry conditions persisted throughout the region and no significant rainfall was reported. Consequently, ecological conditions were not favourable for breeding.

In Eastern Africa, good rains fell throughout the region during August. Heavy rains fell in Sudan and the highlands of Eritrea and Ethiopia causing the Nile and Atbara rivers to flood as well as Khor Baraka in Tokar Delta. Vegetation is green in the summer breeding areas south of 16°N in Northern Darfur as far north as the Teiga Plateau, in Northern Kordofan and along the banks of the Atbara River, the Gash near Kassala and Khor Baraka. Vegetation was also green in the western lowlands of Eritrea and in Ethiopia along the railway and in the northern Ogaden due to the heavy rains. In Northern Somalia, heavy rains fell on the escarpment between Hargeisa and the Djibouti border as well as in most of Djibouti. Breeding conditions are favourable in all of these areas.

In the Near East, good rains fell along the Red Sea coastal plains from Jizan, Saudi Arabia to Zabid, Yemen as well as in the interior of Yemen in Shabwah and Hadramaut. A total of 206 mm was reported in Jizan during the first two weeks of August. In Yemen, green vegetation is present in the main wadis along the Red Sea coast, in parts of Shabwah, near Marib and perhaps on the southern edge of the Empty Quarter in Wadi Markhah and the plateau north of Sayoun. Elsewhere, dry conditions prevailed except for the coastal plains of Salalah, Oman where the summer monsoon is in progress.

In South-West Asia, good rains associated with the monsoon fell for the third consecutive month over much of the summer breeding area along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border. Green vegetation was present in Tharparkar, southern Khairpur and Cholistan deserts in Pakistan and in most of Rajasthan, India. Breeding conditions are likely to remain favourable longer this year than in normal years due to the exceptionally heavy monsoon rains.

Egypt 360 ha (mainly Migratory Locust and grasshoppers mixed with some Desert Locust)

During August, isolated solitarious mature adults were reported from the 9th onwards scattered within several main areas: northeast of Nema (1632N/0712W), north and northwest of Aioun (1702N/0941W), between Nema and Aioun, and northwest of Moudjeria (1751N/1228W). A few first and second instar hoppers were seen in the latter area on the 20-21st suggesting that small scale breeding is in progress but that hoppers numbers are low and difficult to detect. There was also one report of isolated adults in the southwest of the country.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported in the Senegal River Valley up to 31 August.

No locusts were reported during July and August.

No locusts were reported during August.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out in August.

No reports received.

A late report indicated that isolated mature adults were found at two more locations in Northern Kordofan in July: Umm Sidir (1411N/3059E) and Umm Razuga (1407N/3105E) on the 23rd.

During August, similar infestations at densities up to 250 per ha were found in Northern Kordofan at several locations north of Sodiri (1423N/2906E) during a joint survey in the last week of the month.

No locusts were reported during August.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported in the eastern region during August.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during August.

Although no surveys were carried out during August, there were two unconfirmed reports of isolated solitarious locusts, one on the Red Sea coastal plains near Zabid (1403N/4318E) and the other in the Shabwah interior near Wadi Markhah (1459N/4548E).

During August, isolated immature adults were reported at a few places along the Red Sea coastal plains and subcoastal areas near Halaib (2212N/3635E). Mixed infestations of grasshoppers, Migratory Locust and a few Desert Locust adults and hoppers persisted in cropping areas at Sh. Oweinat (2240N/2845E) where 630 ha were treated during the month.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out in August.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys in Kerman, Hormozgan and Sistan Baluchistan provinces in August.

During the second half of July, there was no significant change in the locust situation along the Indo-Pakistan border and in the Las Bela area where insignificant numbers of solitarious mature adults continued to be reported.

No reports were received during the first half of August. During the second half of the month, low numbers of mature solitarious adults at densities of up to 8 per ha were reported at 21 locations along the Indo-Pakistan border and at two places in Las Bela.

During the first half of August, isolated adults were reported at one location in Bikaner district and at two places in Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan.

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.

eLocust. Details of a new system under evaluation for recording and transmitting locust survey and control data collected in the field can be found on the Internet at:

http://www.fao.org/news/2001/010601-e.htm

Upcoming meetings. The following meetings are scheduled:

• 36th session of the DLCC, 24-28 September 2001 (Rome) which coincides with the 50th anniversary of FAO's involvement in Desert Locust management
• 9th EMPRES Liaison Officers Meeting, 13-18 October 2001 (Khartoum)
• Expert Consultation on the Registration of Biopesticides for Desert Locust Control, 3-7 December 2001 (Rome)
• 4th EMPRES Consultative Committee Meeting, 15-17 January 2002 (Cairo)
• 23rd session of the FAO Commission for Desert Locust Control in the Central Region (CRC), 10-15 March 2002 (Damascus)