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while the 'Forum' has always remained open also to any individuals who, apart from organizational affilia- tion, have an interest in the preservation of Nature.

One of the first actions of the 'Forum' was the preparation of a list of natural areas which merited protection--a task that involved much argument and disagreement at first, and considerable compromise before it was accomplished. The attempt was made to select and describe at least one fine example of each of the principal kinds of plant communities in New Hampshire, such as alpine, sand-dune, virgin boreal forest, deciduous forest, salt-marsh, and those of many other habitats including several types of bogs. We then proceeded to determine what areas had been set aside, to check off the desired habitats and plant communities on our list, and to establish some priorities for future attention in our hope to preserve good examples of all. The list of areas and accompanying descriptions provided the groundwork for a booklet published in 1962 by Dartmouth College entitled Natural Areas of New Hampshire Suitable for Ecological Research, which because of its usefulness and popu- larity was soon exhausted and is now virtually unob- tainable.

Each participating organization now, with the added support of the considerable body of scientists, career conservationists, politically oriented pragmatists, and dedicated individuals, who comprise the 'Forum', could go into action to acquire desired areas. Thus the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests has acquired an inland tract of Chamaecyparis thyoides (Coast White-cedar) that was particularly recommended to it by the 'Forum'. Similarly, both Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire are now custodians of tracts of forest, bogs, etc., that owe their preserved status to the 'Forum'. The New England Wild Flower Preservation Society now maintains a tract, near the Connecticut River, of deciduous woodland that is particularly rich in spring flowers. The Audubon Society of New Hampshire, directly or indirectly, has worked with the 'Forum' in setting aside areas of excellent forest as well as some splendid wetlands.

In addition, the 'Forum' has provided counsel to the State Park Division in selecting areas to add to the Park System--notably in the vicinity of Ossipee Lake, where one of our finest ericaceous bogs encloses an especially interesting bog-pond. At Pawtuckaway State Park the officials have set aside some areas of old-growth forest and certain other particularly interesting geological and botanical features where trails will not be improved, trees will not be cut, and camping will not be permitted. Indeed, the Park Division has adopted the practice of zoning scientific or aesthetic features under their jurisdiction as natural

areas. The Director of the White Mountain National Forest has been most receptive to ideas generated at 'Forum' meetings. Highway encroachments and com- mercial interests such as ski developments are constant threats to our fine National Forest. With considerable advice from the 'Forum', a number of special features, such as stands of virgin forest of spruce and fir, the upper tracts of boreal forest, etc., have been set aside as wild or scenic areas following the specifications established by the Forest Service.

The 'Forum' has several dinner meetings each year and also regularly carries out field excursions to points of interest about which more information is needed. It is not formally constituted; to function it needs only chairmen in rotation, a secretary to keep careful notes of meetings, and a member organization to send out notices, agendas, and minutes. Fortunately an able recording secretary is a faithful attendant at the meetings, and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests takes care of the modest quantity of office work.

It should be kept in mind that our 'Forum' does not try to exert pressure except through its member organi- zations. It is a clearing house, fact-finder, debating club, sifter and sorter of ideas--a catalyst.

A somewhat similar effort, but on a much larger scale and with a much more complicated organization, is being carried out in Colorado, U.S.A., as the 'Colorado Open Space Coordinating Council', started in 1964.

One or other kind of coordinating agency may prove to be useful in many parts of the world. Wherever concerted action is called for to set aside land for conservation, it might be well to begin with a relatively simple organization modelled somewhat after our New Hampshire Natural Preserves Forum.

A. R. HODGDON, Taxonomist(formerly Chairman), Department of Botany, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N. H. 03824, U.S.A.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Game has probably never been as plentiful in Nigeria as in East and Central Africa, and until recently there has been no check on the widespread decrease in wildlife in Nigeria. Apart from the smaller mammals, and birds which are especially abundant on the shores of Lake Chad in the north-east and at Sokoto in the north-west, wildlife has become danger- ously depleted in Nigeria within the past 50 years.

Conservation Around the Worm

The Ostrich, Hunting dog, Cheetah, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, and Hippopotamus, are all facing extinction locally in the near future. In the vast area of Northern Nigeria there are two main causes of this deplorable state of affairs: loss of habitat has occurred exten- sively, due to clearing the 'bush' for farming and grazing, and the further damage done to these areas by cattle, goats, and sheep, is much greater than that caused by the native fauna. In many parts of Africa over-hunting has not resulted in any appreciable loss of game; but in a protein-deficient country such as Northern Nigeria, hunting has been a very important factor in the decline of wildlife. It has been variously estimated that from 25 to 50 per cent of all the meat which is eaten here is from wild animals.

For these reasons the Yankari Game Reserve, the first in Northern Nigeria, was established in 1955 some 60 miles (96 km) south-east of Bauchi town, which is on the edge of the plateau in central Nigeria. An area of 720 sq miles (1865 sq km) is involved, and the maintenance of the reserve is very popular with the local people who realize that their game is rapidly declining. Since 1962 the reserve has been open to the public for about 6 months of the year. Following the success of Yankari, a second reserve, the Bornu Game Reserve, was established in 1962 some 400 miles (640 kin) west of Yankari. It covers 1462 sq miles (3686 sq kin) and is the largest reserve in Nigeria. Undoubtedly both these reserves help to preserve some of the larger mammals of Nigeria, but unprotected game outside the reserves is still being drastically reduced.

Within the past few decades there has been increas- ing use of residual insecticides in Northern Nigeria. Local farmers are being increasingly urged to apply organochlorines to their crops several times a year to control insect damage. In the control and eradication of tsetse flies (vectors of animal and human trypanoso- miasis), DDT iS sprayed onto scrub vegetation. Un- doubtedly much of the deposited insecticide is washed into the soil. Evidence suggests that in some sprayed areas honey-bees, snakes, smaller game animals, and birds, have become noticeably reduced in numbers. Another factor is that eradication of tsetse from an area permits reinvasion by human populations, and this results in the destruction of vegetation and wild- life. On a more localized scale, Simulium flies (vectors of ochocerciasis) are controlled by large dosages of DOT added to the larger streams and rivers. There seems little doubt that both aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates are killed by such applications.

Despite the considerable and increasing use of persistent accumulative insecticides in Northern Nigeria of late there has, as yet, been very little con- cern for its effect on the various ecosystems. With the

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realization in resent years of the decline in the larger animals, it would be appropriate if attention were now devoted to any side-effects resulting from the use of insecticides in Northern Nigeria.

M. W. SERVICE, WHO Consultant, WHO/A CR UI, P.O. Box 503, Kaduna, Northern Nigeria.

SABAH (NORTH BORNEO), MALAYSIA:

SEPILOK FOREST ENDANGERED

The Sepilok Forest Reserve, 15 miles (24 km) west of Sandakan, Sabah, is one of the finest protected tracts of primary lowland rain-forest remaining any- where on earth. This 10,000 acres (4050 ha) area is under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department of Sabah, one of the states of the nation now called Malaysia. During the period of British rule, logging was stopped in this forest in 1954, so that 5000 acres of untouched forest remain, with 5000 acres in various stages of regrowth. This constitutes one of the finest possible areas for research on tropical high forest.

A great deal of study has been invested in this forest--thousands of trees have been numbered, and inventories have been recorded of many sample plots. About 450 species of trees have been recorded in the area. Trees have been measured up to 250 feet (76 m) in height and 22 feet (6.7 m) in girth.

Hunting has been prohibited since 1964 and the Game Branch of the Forest Department has patrolled it, to protect remaining populations of Orang-utan, gibbons, bears, and many birds. It is one of the last sanctuaries for the Orang-utan.

In tropical conservation circles the fact that a newly independent state in one of the developing nations would show the foresight to establish a reserve such as Sepilok (and a magnificent national park such as Kinabalu) has been regarded as a most encouraging indication that perhaps at least some of the younger nations would not have to learn the value of conser- vation the hard way by first losing most of what they have.

Hence, it is a shock and a grave disappointment to learn that this forest is in serious danger of being opened to logging by a company owned by a very influential government official of Sabah. To stave off this disaster, which was already approved by a cabinet decision, the Conservator of Forests had to sacrifice two other virgin forest reserves south of Sandakan Bay. The only likelihood that this will be more than a very temporary reprieve is the possibility that a