Western Region. Isolated mature adults persisted in a few places in northwestern Mauritania and northern Mali, and localized breeding occurred in Niger. No significant rainfall was reported during February but conditions are likely to be favourable for locust survival and breeding in southwestern Mauritania due to the unusually heavy rains in January. It is suggested that surveys are undertaken in these areas to clarify the situation.

Central Region. Dry conditions prevailed along the western side of the Red Sea where only a few scattered adults were seen in cropping areas in the Tokar Delta, Sudan during February. Small-scale breeding occurred on the northern coast of Eritrea where scattered late instar hoppers were reported. As a result of several successive months of rainfall, conditions were more favourable along the southern coast of Saudi Arabia and the central coast of Yemen where low numbers of locusts could be present. Surveys are suggested in these areas to clarify the situation. No locusts were reported elsewhere in the region.

Eastern Region. Isolated adults were present near the coast in western Pakistan where light rains fell in February and small-scale breeding could occur during the forecast period. This area should be checked during the joint survey between I.R. Iran and Pakistan in April. No locusts were reported in the region and no significant developments are expected.

In West Africa, no significant rainfall was reported or is thought to have occurred during February. In Mauritania, widespread clouds were present over the north and northwest on the 11th and light rain fell on the northern coast at Nouadhibou. Conditions were favourable for breeding in parts of southern and southeastern Tiris Zemmour. As a result of the unusually heavy rainfall in January, green vegetation was present in Trarza as far north as 1745N, in a large area of Agane (1800N/1330E), in low-lying areas of Brakna near Magta Lahjar and near Moudjeria in western Tagant. Vegetation was becoming green in some places of northwestern Inchiri and southwestern Adrar. Green vegetation persisted in a few wadis in the Adrar des Iforas, Mali and in Tamesna and western Air, Niger.

In North-West Africa, dry conditions prevailed in most of the Desert Locust areas. Light rains fell along the western coast of Morocco near Tan-Tan and Sidi Ifni at mid month. Light to moderate rains associated with a Mediterranean depression fell over a large portion of southern Tunisia and northwestern Libya on 6-9 February although no locusts are likely to be present to take advantage of these rains.

In Eastern Africa, no significant rainfall was reported and mostly dry conditions prevailed during February. In Sudan, vegetation was reported to be dry in most places along the Red Sea coastal plains from Port Sudan to the Tokar Delta because of a lack of rainfall. Green vegetation was present in the Tokar Delta where crop harvesting was in progress. Some rain may have fallen on the southern Red Sea coastal plains of Eritrea near Assaba and on the northern plains of Djibouti. Although light rain fell in eastern Ethiopia near Jijiga during the first week of February, vegetation was reported to be generally dry. In Somalia, dry conditions were reported except in the coastal areas of Bulhar and Geerisa where light showers fell and green vegetation was present.

In the Near East, rains fell sporadically in a few countries. In Egypt, clouds were present during most of the first three weeks of the month over the Western Desert due to several eastward moving Mediterranean depressions; Bahariya Oasis received 4 mm on 10-11 February. In Saudi Arabia, light to moderate rains, associated with a northerly surge of the Red Sea Convergence Zone, fell on the central Red Sea coast between Jeddah (10 mm) and Medinah (29 mm) on the 2nd. Light rains fell on the edge of the Empty Quarter where Sharurah reported 14 mm on the 18th. Light rain fell over the Musandam Peninsula, Oman and Ras Al Khaimah, UAE on the 19-20th. Despite this rainfall, dry conditions prevailed throughout most of the region except on the Red Sea coastal plains from Jizan, Saudi Arabia to Hodeidah, Yemen where green vegetation is likely to be present due to several successive months of rainfall.

In South-West Asia, conditions were slowly improving in the coastal areas of western Pakistan where light rain was reported during the second half of February At Turbat, Pasni and Gwadar. Dry conditions prevailed elsewhere in the region.

No control operations were reported during February.

During the first two dekads of February, isolated mature adults were seen at four locations in the northwest between Oujeft (2003N/1301W) and Zouerate (2244N1221W).

During February, a few individual maturing adult locusts were seen at Aguelhok (1927N/0052E) on the 12th.

Scattered immature and mature adults at densities of 20-50 locusts per ha and a single fourth instar hopper were seen in crops near Arlit (1843N/0721E) on 24 February. No other locusts were seen during surveys carried out in February near Agadez and west of In Abangharit (1754N/0559E).

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out during February.

No reports received.

During February, scattered mature adults at densities of up to 300 locusts per ha, mixed with African Migratory Locust, persisted in a few places in the Tokar Delta on the Red Sea coast. Adults were seen copulating in the delta at Dambeil (1820N/3745E) on the 12th. No locusts were seen further north along the coastal plains between Tokar and Suakin.

Scattered hoppers, mainly fifth instar, were present on the northern Red Sea coastal plains in the Mahmimet area (1740N/3832E) on 8 February.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out during February.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out on 14-23 February from north of Jijiga (0922N/4250E) to the Somali border near Borama.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during February.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported from the Red Sea coastal plains or in the Western Desert during February.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported in Dakhiliya, Dhahira and Musandam regions in northern Oman during February.

No reports received.

No reports received.

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

During the second half of February, isolated immature adults at densities of up to 3 per ha were seen in a few areas near the Baluchistan coast at Shooli (2542N/6237E).

No locusts were reported during the second half of January.

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 Guidelines. The revised edition in English was issued on 24 September and is now available from FAO. Please contact the Locust Group for more information.

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

Publications on the Internet. A list of publications that can be downloaded from the FAO Locust webpages is now available (http://www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/pubslist.htm). New additions are:

• Report of the 23rd session of the NW Africa Commission (CLCPANO) in French and Arabic
• Report of the 36th session of the DLCC recently held in Rome (English and French; Arabic upon request)
• FAO Desert Locust Guidelines, revised edition, 2001 (English)
• FAO Spray Monitoring Form (English)

EMPRES Contingency Planning Seminar. Details of the seminar recently held in Egypt are available on the Internet at: http://www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/0202cont/CPhome.htm

Desert Locust Control Diploma. The Graduate College of the University of Khartoum is offering a one year post-graduate diploma course in Desert Locust Control that is expected to start in August 2002. Applications should be sent before the first week of June to: Registrar of the Graduate College, University of Khartoum, POB 321, Khartoum, Sudan. For more details: Selbashir@hotmail.com

Upcoming events. The following are scheduled:

• 23rd session of the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC), 9-14 March 2002 (Damascus). Djibouti has applied for membership. Eritrea and Ethiopia will participate as observers.