§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on conserving the endemic plants of St. Helena for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
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§ Mr. Chris PattenThe approximate figures are:
£ 1982–83 2,500 1983–84 2,500 1984–85 5,000 1985–86 23,000 1986–87 27,000 In addition, the World Wildlife Fund gave a grant of £7,000 in 1984, which has been used to provide new equipment for the St. Helena Government's special nursery.
§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts are being made, and with what success, to stop the St. Helena olive from becoming extinct.
§ Mr. Chris PattenA number of attempts have been made to propagate from the single surviving specimen of the St. Helena olive discovered on the island in 1977. Ninety five cuttings were taken in 1986, of which five rooted and two survived. These are being nurtured carefully in St. Helena's special nursery. Two more seeds germinated earlier this year and recent cuttings are showing promise. The parent tree is healthy and is visited regularly by Agriculture and Forestry Department personnel. A number of legal and practical measures have been taken to protect the endemic flora of St. Helena, including the St. Helena olive.