asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Seychelles Government to safeguard existing virgin stands of lodoicea seychellarum; and what is the estimated number of surviving wild specimens of this palm.

Virgin stands of the palm lodoicea seychellarum occur mainly in the extensive Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island. This area was purchased for protection purposes by the Seychelles Government in 1948. Smaller stands also occur on Praslin and on Curieuse Island. All these areas are regularly patrolled by Government forest rangers to prevent tire and spoliation. The total number of palms is estimated to be about 10,000.