Conservation Around the Worm 147

and to carry run-off into the bot tom of the canyon. Bevelling off of the steep or even perpendicular sides with heavy equipment, and planting the resulting more gradual slope with, for example, Giant Reed (Arundo donax), serves to stabilize the wails of the canyon. Rocks packed in large wire-net baskets are incorporated into dams; but the dams have been vulnerable in flash-floods at their weakest point, at the end where they are tied into the canyon-side. Too much of Bucaramanga ends up in the far-away delta of the Magdalena River at Barranquilla.

Attempts to save, as a great national park, the isolated Sierra Nevada near Santa Marta, meet with armed opposition. Colonists continue to clear and burn the forests as they carve out homesteads inside the clearly-marked park boundaries (Dorney, 1967; Morrison, 1969). To conclude, a Colombian woman raises an important question, 'Is it possible to save precious paramos and national reserves and the vanishing new world fauna, unless humans are adequately fed, and their rate of increase severely curtailed ?'

References

ANON. (1968). La explosion demografica frena al desar- rollo. El Tiempo (Bogot~i), Aug. 5, p. 15.

ARBELAEZ, PEREZ (1956). Plantas utiles de Colombia 3rd ed. Libreria Colombiana, 831 pp., illus.

BLYDENSTEIN, JOHN (1967). Tropical savanna vegetation of the Llanos of Colombia. Ecology, 48 (l), pp. 1-15.

DASMANN, R. F. (1965). Destruction of California. Mac- millan, New York, 247 pp., illus.

DORNEV, R. S. (1967). Present status of existing and proposed national parks and natural reserves in the Amazon Basin. Conservacao da Natureza e Recursos Naturais. 7 pp. 105-114.

ESP1NAL, SIGIFREDO • MONTENEGRO, E. (1963). Forma- ciones vegetales de Colombia con mapas ecologicas. Instituto Agustin Codazzi (Bogot,'i) 201 pp. illus.

GORDON, B. L. (1957). Human geography and ecology in the Sinu Country of Colombia. In Platt, R. S. (1959), Field studies in American Geog. Univ. Chicago p. 403. Figure shows changing extent of savannas.

MANN, GUILLERMO, (1966). Bases ecologicas de la explota- cion agropecuaria en la America Latina. Dept. de Asuntos Cientificos, Union Panam., O. E. A. Mono- grafia, No. 2, 77 pp.

MORRISON, TONY (1969). Watching the go-go. Animals l l (11), pp. 490--3.

RUEDA, PROSPERO (1967). A los bumagueses hay que educarlos en la gran lucha contra la erosion. Fan- guardia Liberal May 28.

CHARLES W. QUAINTANCE Professor o f Biology, Eastern Oregon College, La Grande, Oregon 97850, USA; formerly Fulbright Consultant in Ecology and Conservation to the Association of Colombian Universities

ETHIOPIA: LAST CHANCE FOR SWAYNE'S HARTEBEEST

The Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a wide- spread and variable species, ranging from Senegal eastwards to Ethiopia, and south to South Africa. Two subspecies--Swayne's Hartebeest (A.b. swaynei) and the Tora Hartebeest (A.b. tora)--have been included in the I U C N Red Data Book, and both of them occur in Ethiopia. The Tora Hartebeest is found also in the Sudan, but swaynei, although once extremely numerous in Somalia, is now believed to survive only in two or three localities in Ethiopia, and is classed as critically endangered.

Swayne's differs from Tora particularly in being of a darker colour. The ground colour, although subject to considerable variation, is generally deep chestnut, and there are blackish markings, which vary in extent, on the limbs and head. The rump is fawn-coloured, there are fawn markings on the limbs, and there is a fawn blaze on the face and muzzle. The horns, which are present in both sexes, are particularly widely spread and are borne on a high pedicle.

The precise status of Swayne's Hartebeest is difficult to assess. A few probably still survive in the Awash Valley, although the last authoritative report was of very small numbers with no immatures (Blower, J. H. (1967): I U C N Red Data Book, Vol. 1). There are also reports, as yet unconfirmed, that Swayne's Hartebeest occurs in Borana in southern Ethiopia. In September 1967, a herd was seen in the Rift Valley, west of Lake Awassa, but none could be found there by the writer in 1969. I f any do remain, there can be no hope for their continued survival as the area is rapidly being brought under cultivation. A population of hartebeest, which it was thought might have been Swayne's, exists on the plains to the north-east of Lake Rudolf ( IUCN Red Data Book, Vol. 1). However, these were investigated by the writer in July 1969 and found to be Neumann's Hartebeest (A.b. neumanni). This type is believed to have arisen as a result of the interbreeding of A.b. swaynei and A.b. lelwel, but there is no reason to believe that either Swayne's or Lelwel occurs in the area today. Finally, there remains a small population of Swayne's Hartebeest in the Rift Valley, in an area known as Nachisar, east of Lakes Margherita and Chamo. The future of the subspecies probably rests with this population.

A preliminary ecological survey of Nachisar has been undertaken, to be followed by a more thorough study, with particular attention to the ecology of the Hartebeest and to drawing up a detailed boundary description for a wildlife reserve. Once this has been done, there should be no excuse for delay in affording

148 Biological Conservation

the Nachisar Hartebeests the protection they so urgently require.

It is fortunate that, in many ways, Nachisar is a most suitable place for a reserve. The open grassland is largely enclosed by natural boundaries. To the west are Lakes Margherita and Chamo, with a fairly deep, unbridged river flowing between them. Other rivers present the same obstacle to the approach of vehicles and pack-animals from the north and south. To the east of the plains, a rugged range of mountains rises to a height to 3,600 metres. These mountains form a scenic backcloth to the proposed reserve, and by incorporating their foothills, a total reserve area of about 700 square kilometres is envisaged.

It is partly this difficulty of access for visiting hunters which has enabled herds of game animals to survive long after most game in the Rift Valley has disappeared. Undoubtedly the game animals (including the 'totally protected' Swayne's Hartebeest, Fig. 1) are being shot illegally by the local pastoralists--most able-bodied men carry rifles. But the herds have evidently not been subjected to the intolerable hunting pressure which has occurred elsewhere. The area is not densely peopled and the land is generally unsuited to cultiva- tion. The black-clay plains are strewn with lava boulders, and where the soil extends onto the slopes, it is usually very shallow and much of the surface is occupied by lava scree. Tsete fly occur but are not so numerous as the ixodid ticks which, at certain times of the year, swarm on the grassland in incredible numbers. Both may have played a role in spreading cattle diseases and thus limiting the build-up of domestic stock. The grassland has consequently remained in a better condition than elsewhere in the

Rift Valley, and some valuable perennial grasses are among the dominant species (e.g. Chloris myriostachya, Chrysopogon aucheri, Setaria trinervia, and Bothrio- chloa radicans).

During the preliminary survey, a total of 35 Swayne's Hartebeest were seen but only three calves and pro- bably not more than three yearlings were among them. This is most unlikely to be the whole of the Nachisar population however, and more information is needed before its vigour and size can be properly assessed.

In addition to the Hartebeest, the Nachisar Plains support over three hundred Common Zebra (Equus burchelli) and perhaps as many Grant's Gazelle (Gazella granti). Smaller numbers of Waterbuck (Kobus defassa) and Dik-Dik ( Rhynchotragus guentheri ) occur, and Greater Kuku (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and Mountain Reedbuck (Reduncafulvorufula) are present in fair numbers on the hills and mountains. Apart from hyaenas, large predators are scarce but Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Lion (Panthera leo) do occur. The lakes contain Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), Crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus), and a variety of fishes including the great Nile Perch (Lates) which may reach a weight of 100 kilograms and pro- vides excellent sport fishing.

Lake Chamo is becoming increasingly popular as a weekend resort for anglers and holidaymakers in general. A would-be hunter, however, must cross the lake by ferry and then find himself without any trans- port at the other side. The provision of a bridge across a single river will enable people to reach the game plains by car. Tracks will need to be prepared before a vehicle would be very much use there, and this at least will require some labour. The most important

~:iLi~i,i(i ~ii~,~ii~,~i,~Jili!il ii~ ̧

Fig. 1. A herd of Swayne's Hartebeest near Lake Chamo, Ethiopia. Photo: M. Bolton.

Conservation Around the World 149

thing to ensure, however, is that these developments do not take place before Nachisar is legally declared a reserve and the necessary measures to prevent poaching are in force.

MELVIN BOLTON, Ecologist; Wildlife Conservation Dept., P.O. Box 386, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

CONSERVATION IN PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA

Two Committees of importance to Conservation in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea have recently been established under the auspices of the Administra- tion, namely, the Flora Protection Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee to the National Parks and Gardens Board.

The Flora Protection Committee consists of repre- sentatives of the Department of Forests, the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries, the National Parks and Gardens Board, the Papua and New Guinea Scientific Society, the Horticultural Society, and a lay member.

In the Territory, examples of fauna and flora can be prevented from leaving the Territory if necessary, under the provisions of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) (Preservation of Fauna and Flora) Regulations 1969. The Flora Protection Committee, however, will look into the question of species of orchids and other plants which appear to be endangered. Further investigations will be made regarding these--including the necessity of field surveys of apparently endangered species.

The Scientific Advisory Committee, consisting of 12 scientists from various disciplines, was set up to advise the National Parks and Gardens Board on scientific matters relating to the establishment, care, control, and management, of national parks. The Board and the Scientific Advisory Committee will be concerned particularly in the immediate future in the examination of proposals for the establishment of parks and nature reserves in various areas throughout Papua and New Guinea.

DOROTHY E. SHAW, Chief Plant Pathologist, Department of Agriculture, Stock & Fisheries, Konedobu, Nr. Port Moresby, Papua & New Guinea

Ireland are now nature reserves under the Amenity Lands Act of 1965. This declaration follows recom- mendations by the Nature Reserves Committee, the Chairman of which is Mr Norman Crawford.

Two of the reserves have been acquired by the Ministry of Development by outright purchase, nine are being managed by agreement with the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, and one is being managed by agreement with Drainage Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. Six of the reserves are woodlands, three are boglands, one is notable for its freshwater ecology, one is a site of special geological interest, and one caters for a variety of interests.

A nature reserve is defined as an area reserved, managed, and used for the protection and maintenance of wild animals, wild vegetation, or objects of geologi- cal, physiographical, or other scientific or special significance. These reserves are created in the public interest and in order to provide opportunities for research or student study.

There are relatively few woodlands remaining in Northern Ireland which display native tree species in their natural environments, and five * that have been made reserves are among the best of these. They are (1) Breen Forest Nature Reserve, a 50-acre (20 ha) woodland in Glenshesk, North Antrim; (2) Castle Archdale Forest Nature Reserve, consisting of three islands in Lower Lough Erne (Inishmakill, Cleenish- meen, and Cleenishgarve), displaying mature and regenerating woodland; (3) Correl Glen Forest Nature Reserve, of mixed deciduous woodland on the uplands near Lough Navar, Co. Fermanagh; (4) Marble Arch Forest Nature Reserve, of ashwood in a limestone gorge of recreational interest in Co. Ferma- nagh; and (5) Rostrevor Forest Nature Reserve, a 40 acre (16 ha) oakwood, one of only two good examples in County Down.

Boglands undamaged by Man are particularly rare in Northern Ireland, and the Ministry has been very fortunate in securing the following sites: (1) Slievea- norra Forest Nature Reserve, in County Antrim displaying a series of stages in the development and erosion of blanket peat-bogs; (2) Killeter Forest Nature Reserve, of two small sites above the Derg Valley, Co. Tyrone, displaying bog development, and (3) Lough Naman Nature Reserve, an excellent example in Co. Fermanagh of a western maritime bog type.

The other Nature Reserves now declared are: (1) Portrush Nature Reserve, a two-acre (0-8 ha) stretch

NATURE RESERVES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The Minister of Development (Mr Brian Faulkner) has recently declared that twelve areas in Northern

* It appears to be of a sixth woodland reserve that it is reported 'At the twelfth site the interest is of such a fragile nature that no publicity is being given to it, though scient- ists and students will be facilitated in obtaining access to it.'--Ed.