I. Ecological And Climatic Conditions

Climatic conditions are characterised by an important movement of the anticyclone that stretches from the Canary Islands right up to the Mediterranean Sea. The zone of depression observed here in Mauritania has caused North to North Easterly winds bringing with them thick fog reducing visibility in coastal regions.

The Inter-Tropical Front is fluctuating between 8 and 15°N. Rains of different intensities have been noted between the 7^th and 9^th May in the southern and central regions of the country. Most notably in Kaédi (Gorgol), around Lejouwade/Benichab (Inchiri), at Leyseye Rahmane (Trarza), at Blejmil (7mm)/Kankosso (8mm) (Assaba), around Abaye/ Arihara (20mm)/ Bele (Brakna) and finally around Tintane (Hodh El Gharbi).

II. Locust Situation

Lack of locust activity persists in all areas teams are operating in, and no sightings whatsoever have been noted.

III. Control operations

During this period the teams in the field have not had to intervene, meaning the overall area treated since the start of the 2004/05 campaign (01/07/04) has remained unchanged since the last period at 1 072 539.85 ha.

IV. Personnel and Resources

The CLAA is operating with 16 Mauritanian teams at this time, aided by 2 Algerian teams. Among the national teams, 4 are operating out of Nouakchott to help maintain the ground teams in the field. They are deployed as follows:

- One coordination team

- One logistics team

- One maintenance and repairs team

- One medical and environmental team

V. Outlook

• The ecological conditions will continue to be unfavourable because of the recent rise in temperatures and lack of precipitation in the centre and North, as well as in the all regions of the south.
• In spite of the recent calm in activity, the teams must continue to survey all regions, in order to detect possible arrivals in the future.

VI. Other News

· National Training sessions on the Desert Locust, organised by the FAO and the CLAA, have commenced in Aioun El Atrouss (Hodh El Gharbi) which is programmed between 5^th and 10^th May 2005. A group of 30 agents from Delegations/MDRHE of the two Hodh, Assaba, and of the CLAA will take part. The other national training sessions will take place as follows:

o From the 15^th to 20^th May, sessions will be at Boghé (Brakna) for agents from Brakna, Guidimakha, Gorgol, Trarza, Tagant and some agents of the CLAA.

o From the 25^th to 30^th May, sessions will take place at Akjoujt (Inchiri) for those from Inchiri, Adrar, Tiris Zemmour and from Nouakchott.

· The Norwegian delegation, His Excellence Bjern Johannessen the head of the ministry of foreign affairs, and Mr Baard Johannessen, project manager of NETTFORSK AS recently made a visit to our country. It was with honour to receive the delegation here at CLAA on the 9^th and 10^th May 2005. Our own minister of Développement Rural de l’Hydraulique et de l’Environnement was there to greet them.