Conservation Around the Worm 69

Ce refuge, gnstitu6 et amrnag6 pour l'observation par son proprirtaire, prrsident du WWF italien, est donc un succ& remarquable. De plus, le marquis M. Incisa della Rocchetta a l'intention de constituer, en refuge pour la faune, le reste de son domaine qui s'rtend jusque dans les collines h 10 km de la mer. Les boise- ments denses des rrgions 61evres sont peuplrs de Sangliers, de Chevreuils, et l 'on y trouve m~me le Porc-rpic. Toute cette proprirtr, oh l'on ne chasse presque plus et seulement pour protrger les cultures, est tr~s riche en oiseaux.

La crration des refuges de Burano et de Bolgheri par la socirt6 italienne du WWF doit &re salure avec d'autant plus de satisfaction que la chasse aux petits oiseaux a 6t6 de nouveau autorisre en Italie.

views across the lower-lying landscapes. The interesting mountain flora enhances the beautiful scenery.

Biologically the area is very interesting. There is ample terrestrial animal life and, as there is sufficient grazing, various game species could be re-introduced. The bird life lends special charm to the Park. Here, some of the rarest African birds such as the Bald Ibis and the Lammergeier still survive.

This National Park could increase the flow of foreign capital into Lesotho as it is ideal for the dis- criminating tourist with particular interests. The climate is ideal, in both winter and summer, and the winter months have the added attraction of skiing. Already Lesotho can be regarded as the Switzerland of Southern Africa.

PAUL GI~ROUDET, Collaborateur scientifique du WWF, 1110 Morges, Suisse.

J. E. M. VERWEY, Director, South African Wildlife Foundation, P.O. Box 456, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK IN

LESOTHO

The South African Wildlife Foundation has been the decisive factor in the establishment of the first National Park on the ' roof of Southern Africa'. This first national park of Lesotho (formerly Basutoland), the Sehlabathebe National Park, covers an area of 25 sq miles (65 sq km) and is situated on a mountain complex 8500 feet (2590 m) in height. It was proclaimed a national park in the Lesotho Government Gazette dated 27 February 1970.

Early in 1969 the newly-established Parks Board of Lesotho requested the South African Government to advise on the possibility of establishing a national park in Lesotho--mainly for the protection of indigenous plants and animals. Senior officers of the National Parks Board of South Africa visited Lesotho several times, and the Sehlabathebe area was found to be the most suitable for the development of a national park. Negotiations between the Lesotho Government and the SA Wildlife Foundation resulted in the financing of this undertaking by the Foundation. A grant will be made available to the Lesotho Government for the fencing-in of the Park, for the purchase of a Landrover and equipment, for the development of project control centres and research units, and for the protection of the exceptionally clear and prominent rock paintings existing in the proclaimed area.

The Sehlabathebe National Park borders Natal and the Cape Province and, being considerably higher than the adjacent country, it offers magnificent panoramic

FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION IN QUEENSLAND

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia leaves with the member States the responsibility for such matters as forestry, wildlife conservation, and national parks administration. In Queensland, the Department of Forestry is responsible for national parks.

Queensland lies between 10 and 29 degrees south latitude and has an area of about 1¼ million square kilo- metres (670,500 square miles), a coastline of 5200 kilometres (3236 miles), and over 700 named islands. Its highest mountain is a little over 1600 metres (5275 feet), and the annual rainfall varies from less than 10 centimetres in the south-west to over 500 centimetres on the tropical coast. Thus there is a diverse range of environments supporting a very large number of plant and animal species.

Offshore, the Great Barrier Reef extends for some 2000 kilometres. Within and behind this complex of coral reefs, many of the islands have been reserved as National Parks. These range from small but biologi- cally important coral cays with individual areas of only tens of hectares, to Hinchinbrook Island of 393 square kilometres. Whitsunday Island (109 square kilometres) and Hook Island (52 square kilometres) are also National Parks, and there are seven others with individual areas of over 10 square kilometres. However, the numerous smaller islands are also of significance, especially where complete groups have been reserved.