Bahrain. A national body to protect wildlife in the country was deemed 
essential because of the rapid development and continuous shrinking of 
coastal areas and natural habitats. The Committee has already approved 
plans for the protection of critical habitats and rare and endangered 
species, and is organising a symposium on wildlife next year. The 
Committee comprises a number of government bodies and its Secretary 
is Dr Saeed A. Mohammed, who prepared the Bahrain chapter for the 
IBAs in the Middle East 
CYPRUS 
Ban on spring shooting re-instated - We are pleased to report that the 
President of Cyprus has re-instated the spring ban on shooting. The ban 
was originally imposed in 1990 but was lifted in 1993 by 3\e newly 
elected 
President Glafkos Clerides. (Source: Network News 2 (2).) 
JORDAN 
Birdlife Committee formed - The Royal Society for the Conservation of 
Nature has recently established the Jordan Birdlife Committee whose 
main objective is bird conservation and the promotion of birdwatching 
in Jordan. Ms Fadia Husseini has been appointed as coordinator for the 
Committee. A bird survey of the Kingdom has been started to update 
information on birds and tiieir habitats and to produce a revised checklist 
and bird book for the country. 
KUWAIT 
Threat to Jahra Pool Reserve - The Jahra Pool Reserve, a listed Important 
Bird Area, is Kuwait's only freshwater wetiand, and owes its existence to 
waste-water outflow from the nearby town. In a country entirely lacking 
in rivers and natural standing fresh water, it is not surprising that the site 
is omithologically important, a claim supported by the fact ti\at over 70% 
of the 300+ species on the Kuwait List have been recorded there. The 
reserve comprises 250 ha of coastal suhkha lying between the town of 
Jahra and the sea. About 70 ha are fenced in to offer protection to tiie main 
pool (some four or five ha of open, shallow water) and dense reed beds, 
which extend out across a small delta to the sea. 
In 1992 the Kuwait Oil Company inflicted serious and persisting damage 
on the Reserve, when it bulldozed away the east gate to widen and 
consolidate a road across the site. Since then hunters and others have had 
a route across the marshes, which is both sound and free from the 
hazards of unexploded ordnance, into the heart of the Reserve. Apparentiy 
the Oil Company ignored tiie protected status of the site and made no 
attempt to consult with the Environment Protection Council (EPC) at any 
time. 
23 
