American Samoa

Resources

Geography

Geographic description

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located about 4 190 km/2 604 statute miles south-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, just east of the International Date Line (lat. 14° 18' S. and long. 170° 41' E.). These islands are 1 600 miles from New Zealand and 4 200 miles from Los Angeles. It consists of a group of seven islands/atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean: the main island of Tutuila (Figure 1)(139 km²/54 miles²); Aunu’u (1.5 km²/.5 miles²) and the Manu’a group (Figures 2 and 3), consisting of Ta’u (45.8 km²/16.5 miles²), Olosega 5.4 km²/2.08 miles²) and Ofu (7.3 km²/2.8 miles²). Some 320 km/199 miles to the north lay the privately owned Swains Atoll (2.6 km²/1 mile²) and uninhabited Rose Atoll {a wildlife refuge}(.5 km²/ .1 miles²). Swains and Rose are coral atolls while the other islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin. The total land area is 200 km²/77 miles², (48 011 acres/19 430 ha).

The islands have a wet tropical climate. Temperatures range from 21 to 32° C (70^o to 95^o F). The annual rainfall ranges from 3 175 mm/125 inches at the airport to 5 000 mm/200 inches in Pago Pago to 7 600 mm/300 inches or more on the upper elevations on Ta’u Island. The driest months are June through September and the wettest December through March. The coolest weather coincides with the dry season and the warmest weather with the wet season. Heavy rain showers can occur all year and often cause damage such as flooding, landslides, electrical power failures and road and culvert damage. Hurricanes are fairly common, occurring generally once every decade.

Figure 1. Map of Tutuila Island. (American Samoa National Park in green).

Figure 2. Map of Ta’u Island (American Samoa National Park in green).

Figure 3. Map of Ofu and Olosega (American Samoa National Park in green).

Description of ecological zones

Before the arrival of the Polynesians more than 3,000 years ago, nearly all of American Samoa, from the seashore to the tops of the mountains, was covered with rain forests. Due to human activities-mostly shifting cultivation, and since the 1880’s, the development of commercial coconut plantations- the forest was replaced by secondary vegetation. Today, the very little virgin forest that remains is mostly on steep interior slopes and in the wet, cool montane regions away from villages. (Cole et al. 1988). Detailed zone information is shown in figure 4.

Figure 4. Schematic drawing of ecological land zones in meters above sea level.

Forest cover

Description of the natural woody vegetation

Many tracts of forest up to 500 m elevation have been altered at least to some degree by subsistence agriculture and other activities. Swains Island is an atoll that is politically part of American Samoa but phytogeographically allied to the Tokelau group. The following description of vegetation types and zones are derived from Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg (1998) and Whistler (1980, 1983, 1984, and 1992). Cole et al. (1988) did an additional survey and inventory.

Natural forests

Closed broad-leaved forests

Littoral Forest

Growing on sandy or rocky substrates in a narrow zone, littoral forest occurs between low- strand vegetation on the seaward side and lowland forest inland. The most extensive of the littoral communities, it is often dominated by a single tree species, especially Barringtonia asiatica, Calophyllum inophyllum, Hernandia nymphaeifolia, Pisonia grandis or Terminalia catappa. Rose Atoll supports a Pisonia forest. Other characteristic trees include Cerbera manghas, Cocos nucifera, Cordia subcordata, Guettarda speciosa, Neisosperma oppositifolia, Thespesia populnea and Tournefortia argentea.

In some areas seaward of the littoral forest, mono-dominant thickets of Pandanus tectorius 1 to 6 m high can be found (e.g., east coast of Ta‘u; Swains Island).

On Swains Island, only scattered patches of littoral forest remain, dominated by Hernandia nymphaeifolia or Pandanus. Other tree genera include Guettarda, Neisosperma, Pisonia and Tournefortia.

Mangrove Scrub and Forest

Mangrove forests dominated by stands of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (oriental mangrove) typically occur in protected coastal bays and estuaries where fresh water enters the ocean forming closed canopy 12-15 m /40 to 50 ft high. These habitats are inundated by saline or brackish water at high tide and are often flooded by fresh water. The closed canopy allows only Bruguiera seedlings in the understory, but the swamp fern Acrostichum aureum and Rhizophora samoensis mangle (Red Mangrove) occur in disturbed, open areas. Species such as Xylocarpus moluccensis (Puzzlenut) and trees typical of littoral forests are also found along the margins of the mangrove forests.

Often fronting mangrove forests in disturbed areas is a mangrove scrub community dominated by small to medium-sized trees of Rhizophora samoensis. Where Rhizophora competes with the larger Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, the former is shaded out. Mangrove scrub is found, particularly, on the south-central coast of Tutuila.

Lowland Rain Forest

This is the most wide-ranging and complex forest type in American Samoa, the following three lowland rain forest types are distinguished by their assemblage of species and by substrate and moisture characteristics.

Diospyros Forest: A medium-statured forest on well-drained soil inland of littoral forest, this zone is dominated by Diospyros elliptica and D. samoensis in association with Syzygium clusiifolium and S. dealatum. Ficus obliqua is an important component and littoral species such as Pisonia grandis are occasionally seen. An example of this forest can be foundon Nu‘utele Islet off ‘Ofu.

Dysoxylum Forest: A low-statured forest dominated by Dysoxylum samoensis D. maota, this forest type can typically be found in alluvial valleys, on steep lowland cliffs, and on talus slopes (e.g., northern coast of Tutuila, east coast of Ta‘u). Other canopy trees include Barringtonia samoensis, Bischofia javanica, Cananga odorata, Elaeocarpus ulianus, Ficus scabra, Kleinhovia hospita, Macaranga stipulosa, Myristica fatua, Neonauclea forsteri and Terminalia richii.

Syzygium Forest: Representing a mature rain forest on ancient, deeply weathered volcanic soils, Syzygium forest can be found on lowland ridges and steep interior slopes. It is dominated by S. inophylloides; associated canopy trees include Alphitonia zizyphoides, Calophyllum neo-ebudicum, Canarium vitiense, Fagraea berteroana, Intsia bijuga, Myristica hypargyraea, Planchonella garberi and Syzygium samoense.

Montane Rain Forest

Above 500 m elevation conditions become wetter (5 000 mm rainfall at 600 m elevation), the drier lowland rain forest gives way to a montane forest dominated by Dysoxylum huntii. Two other species of Dysoxylum (D. samoensis, D. maota), common in the lowland forests, thin out at these elevations. Associated canopy species include Astronidium spp., Bischofia javanica, Fagraea berteroana, Hernandia moerenhoutiana, Reynoldsia spp., Spiraeanthemum samoense, Syzygium spp., Trichospermum richii and Weinmannia spp.

Open broadleaved forests

Cloud Forest

This forest occurs at the highest elevations on Ta‘u and Olosega. These habitats are typified by constant cloud cover, dripping wet conditions, and a clothing of epiphytes on tree trunks and branches. A low-statured, gnarled forest on Ta‘u is dominated by two species of tree fern (Cyathea), Syzygium samoense and Weinmannia affinis. Common woody species include Ascarina diffusa, Astronidium pickeringii, Dysoxylum huntii and Streblus anthropophagorum. This forest has been damaged by recent hurricanes (1987 and 1990), and sections are dominated by a scrubland of the woody vine Freycinetia storckii, along with terrestrial ferns (Blechnum vulcanicum, Dicksonia brackenridgei), Cyathea spp. tree ferns, and shrubs of Cyrtandra spp. Other terms such as Moss or Dwarf forests are associated with this region.

Other wooded land

Shrubs

Littoral Scrub

Typically dominated by Scaevola taccada and/or Wollastonia biflora on both sandy and rocky substrates, this vegetation type grows between the herbaceous strand zone and littoral forest or Pandanus scrub. Other characteristic species include Clerodendrum inerme, Colubrina asiatica, Ficus scabra and Premna serratifolia.

Montane Scrub

Occurring only on the summit mountain area of Tutuila and Ta’u is restricted to summit trachyte plugs, most notably Matafao, Rainmaker and Ta’u mountain. Fertility is low on the hard clay soil of these plugs and the rooting depth is shallow, causing Dwarf Forests. Many of the species growing on these traychyte plugs are only found on these inhospitable areas. The type is dominated by scrubby understory species with scattered trees of low stature. Consisting of a mix of ferns, shrubs, and climbers with scattered trees that include Metrosideros collina, Pandanus reineckei, Rapanea myricifolia and Spiraeanthemum samoense. The dominant ferns are Davallia epiphylla, Dicranopteris linearis, Dipteris conjugata and Nephrolepis biserrata. The woody vines of Freycinetia spp. are also common.

Forest fallow

Secondary Scrub

This community develops on recently abandoned lands, which are quickly inhabited by fast-growing species that are effectively dispersed and often heliophytic. Many of the latter disappear as scrub is eventually replaced by secondary forest that shades out the understory plants. Characteristic trees include Hibiscus tiliaceus, Macaranga harveyana, Omalanthus nutans, Pipturus argenteus and Trema cannabina.

Secondary Forest

This high forest is dominated by shade-intolerant trees that replace the secondary scrub. The dominant overstory tree species are Alphitonia zizyphoides, Elattostachys falcata and Rhus taitensis; however, these species are rare in the understory, indicating that they will eventually be replaced by other secondary and primary forest species. Other common secondary forest species include Adenanthera pavonina, Bischofia javanica, Cananga odorata, Dysoxylum spp., Hibiscus tiliaceus, Kleinhovia hospita, Macaranga stipulosa and Neonauclea forsteri.

Most of Swains Island is covered by a woodland of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) abandoned once copra exports were discontinued. Patches of littoral forest are scattered throughout, but most of the understory consists of an impenetrable thicket of young coconut palms and the birdsnest fern, Asplenium nidus s.l.

References

Cole, T. G., C. D. Whitesell, W. A. Whistler, N. McKay and A. H. Ambacher 1988. Vegetation survey and forest inventory, American Samoa. USDA Forest Service, Pac. Southwest Forest and Range Exp. Sta. Resource Bull. PSW-25, Berkeley, CA. 14 pp.

Mueller-Dombois, D. and F. R. Fosberg 1998. Vegetation of the tropical Pacific islands. Springer-Verlag, New York. 733 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1980. The vegetation of Eastern Samoa. Allertonia 2(2): 1–190.

Whistler, W. A. 1983. The flora and vegetation of Swains Island. Atoll Res. Bull. 262: 1–25.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Vegetation of Samoa and Tonga. Pac. Sci. 46(2): 159–178.

Information on forest assessments

Area of forest cover

Table 1 - Bibliographic references

Country	American Samoa
Title	American Samoa Forest Resources Fact Sheet
Author	Sheri S. Mann & O. Colin Steele
Year	1999
Source	Http://mail.admin.gov.gu/agri/PIC/amrsamoa_rfs.html
Date of consult.	24/6/00
Location (of publication)	In FRA Pacific Islands box

Description of source

(including type of source, overall quality assessment and utility for FRA 2000)

Web page with gross area of forest land, acres of non-industrial private forest land, are under stewardship plans and other info. Demographic information included. Area of Forest Land given as 43,500 acres, converts to 17,603 ha.

Information content (check one or more topics as appropriate)

Natural Forest	X		Protected areas
Plantations			Biodiversity
Other wooded land			Forest ownership	Some
Forest area change			Wood supply potential
Total volume			Non-wood forest products
Total biomass			Trees outside forest
Commercial volume			Forest fires

Name of reviewer: Jim Space

Country	American Samoa
Title	Vegetation Survey and Forest Inventory, American Samoa
Author	Cole et al
Year	1988
Source	USDA Forest Service Resource Bulletin PSW-25
Date of consult.	24/6/00
Location (of publication)	In FRA Pacific Islands box

Description of source

(including type of source, overall quality assessment and utility for FRA 2000)

Good quality but information is out of date.

Information content (check one or more topics as appropriate)

Natural Forest	X		Protected areas
Plantations	X		Biodiversity
Other wooded land	X		Forest ownership
Forest area change			Wood supply potential
Total volume	X		Non-wood forest products
Total biomass			Trees outside forest
Commercial volume	X		Forest fires

Name of reviewer: Orlo Colin Steele, Jim Space

Country	American Samoa
Title	Technical Report 87 Botanical Inventory of the Proposed Tutuila and Ofu Units of the National Park of American Samoa
Author	Dr. Art Whistler
Year	1994
Source	National Park Service
Date of consult.	05/09/00
Location (of publication)	American Samoa Forestry Office

Description of source

(including type of source, overall quality assessment and utility for FRA 2000)

Good National Park forest description and break down of present vegetation, including an annotated plant list.

Information content (check one or more topics as appropriate)

Natural Forest	X		Protected areas	XX
Plantations			Biodiversity	X
Other wooded land	X		Forest ownership	Some
Forest area change	Some		Wood supply potential
Total volume			Non-wood forest products
Total biomass			Trees outside forest
Commercial volume			Forest fires

Name of reviewer: Sheri S. Mann

Country	American Samoa
Title	Technical Report 83 Botanical Inventory of the Proposed Ta’u Unit of the National Park of American Samoa
Author	Dr. Art Whistler
Year	1992
Source	National Park Service
Date of consult.	05/09/00
Location (of publication)	American Samoa Forestry Office

Description of source

(including type of source, overall quality assessment and utility for FRA 2000)

Good Ta’u National Park forest and vegetation descriptions. Annotated plant list.

Information content (check one or more topics as appropriate)

Natural Forest	X		Protected areas	XX
Plantations			Biodiversity
Other wooded land	X		Forest ownership	Some
Forest area change			Wood supply potential
Total volume			Non-wood forest products
Total biomass			Trees outside forest
Commercial volume			Forest fires

Name of reviewer: Sheri S. Mann

Country	American Samoa
Title	Towards a Territorial Conservation Strategy and Establishment of Conservation Area System for American Samoa. A Report to the Natural Resources Commission.
Author	Volk, R.D. et al.
Year	1992
Source	Natural Resources Commission
Date of consult.	05/09/00
Location (of publication)	American Samoa Forestry Office

Description of source

(including type of source, overall quality assessment and utility for FRA 2000)

Very informative. Incorporates background conservation information on biodiversity, forest facts, trends, regional schematic maps of Tutuila and Manu’a, tables, inventories of candidate conservation areas, biological resources and cultural resources and more.

Information content (check one or more topics as appropriate)

Natural Forest	X		Protected areas	X
Plantations	X		Biodiversity	X
Other wooded land	X		Forest ownership	Some
Forest area change	X		Wood supply potential
Total volume			Non-wood forest products
Total biomass			Trees outside forest	X
Commercial volume			Forest fires

Name of reviewer: Sheri S. Mann

Table 2 - Description of forest inventories/surveys

Country

American Samoa

Reference year

1988

Title of inventory

Vegetation Survey and Forest Inventory, American Samoa

Type of inventory

Mapped forest with field plots

Field / aerial photos / satellite images / ...

Brief summary of methodologies used

Vegetation types were delineated on 1:10,000 aerial photos taken in 1984 and transferred to maps. Limited ground truthing due to steep slopes. Variable plot sampling in 34 (2.5 ha) plots with 5 sampling points each. Species, DBH and height collected.

Reporting level	National	Country coverage	Complete
	National / sub-national		Complete / partial
Map output	Yes	Scale of the map	1:24,000
	Yes / no (also indicate format: analogue / digital)

Vegetation types included	yes/no		Additional information included	yes/no
Natural forests	yes		Area by forest formation	Yes
Plantations	yes		Volume	Yes
All forests	yes		Biomass
Other wooded land	yes		Forest naturalness	Yes
			Forest biodiversity
			Forest ownership
			Wood supply potential

Remarks

Reliability class

2

1=high 2=medium 3=low

Country

American Samoa

Reference year

1992

Title of inventory

Towards a Territorial Conservation Strategy and the Establishment of a Conservation Areas System for American Samoa

Type of inventory

Mapped forest with field plots

Field / aerial photos / satellite images / ...

Brief summary of methodologies used

Vegetation types were delineated on 1:10,000 aerial photos taken in 1984 and transferred to maps. Limited ground truthing due to steep slopes. Variable plot sampling in 34 (2.5 ha) plots with 5 sampling points each. Species, DBH and height collected.

Reporting level	National	Country coverage	Complete
	National / sub-national		Complete / partial
Map output	Yes	Scale of the map	1:24,000
	Yes / no (also indicate format: analogue / digital)

Vegetation types included	yes/no		Additional information included	yes/no
Natural forests	yes		Area by forest formation	Yes
Plantations	yes		Volume	Yes
All forests	yes		Biomass
Other wooded land	yes		Forest naturalness	Yes
			Forest biodiversity
			Forest ownership
			Wood supply potential

Remarks

Reliability class

2

1=high 2=medium 3=low

Table 3 - Area of woody vegetation according to national classification

Reference year: 1985 Geographic Unit: All main islands of American Samoa

Forest and other woody vegetation types (country classification)	Area in Acres (ha) Actual #’s
1.Closed forest – Upland forest	22,763 (9.212)
2. Closed forest – Coastal forest	2,085 (844)
3. Closed forest – Mangrove forest	129 (52)
4. Closed forest – Dwarf forest	667 (270)
Subtotal	28,686 (11,609)
5. Closed forest – Moss (cloud) forest	3,042 (1,231)
6. Scrub – Secondary vegetation	608 (246)
7. Forest fallow – Agroforest	136 (55)
8. Forest fallow – Agroforest with coconuts	12,950 (5,241)
9. Forest fallow – Agroforest with bananas	7 (3)
Subtotal	15,510 (6,277)
Subtotal of country classes corresponding with FRA 2000 forest and other wooded land	44,196 (17,843)
Subtotal other land	2.276**
Total land area	46,472 (18,847)

Definitions: See PSW-25

**Includes 978 ha of coconut plantations and 26 ha of inland fresh and saline water.

Comments:

Table 4 - Comparability between country classification and FRA 2000 classification

Reference year: 1985

Geographic Unit: Main islands, American Samoa

Title of the inventory/survey: Vegetation Survey and Forest Inventory of American Samoa, PSW-25

Forest and other woody vegetation types (country classification)	Corresponding FRA 2000 classes
Upland forest Coastal forest Mangrove forest Dwarf forest Moss (cloud) forest	Closed Forest
Disturbed Forest	Open Forest
Dwarf Forest Moss (cloud) forest	Shrub
Secondary vegetation Agroforests with other trees (hardwoods, medicinal & other) Agroforests with coconuts Agroforests with bananas	Forest fallow system

Note: Open and closed forests make up “natural forest”; shrub and forest fallow make up “other wooded land”

Comments:

Change in forest cover

No information

Plantations

Gross estimated area 12 ha Annual planting 1 ha

Species group	Gross estimated area		Purpose (%)		Ownership (%)
	ha	%			Public	Private	Others
Acacia spp.			Industrial
	0.9	7.0	Non-Industrial	100			100
Casuarina spp.			Industrial
	0.5	4.0	Non-Industrial	100			100
Eucalyptus spp.			Industrial
	1.7	14.0	Non-Industrial	100			100
Mahogany			Industrial
	1.2	10.0	Non-Industrial	100			100
Terminalia spp.			Industrial
	0.5	4.0	Non-Industrial	100			100
Other Broadleaved spp.			Industrial
	7.4	61.0	Non-Industrial	100			100

Casuarina spp.: C. equisetifolia

Terminalia spp.: T. richii

Mahogany: Swietenia macrophylla

Other Broadleaved spp.: Adenanthera pavonina, Alphitonia zyzyphoides, Calophyllum neo-ebudicum, Diospyros samoensis, Flueggea flexuosa, Insita bijuga, Pometia pinnata, Planchonella spp., Syzugium inophylloides, etc.

Explanatory note on 2000 estimates Oliver (1999) gives a table of plantation area by species and age-classes. And the total plantation area at the end of 1998 and the established area during that year. Annual planting was 3.2 ha, which exceeded the annual goal of 1 ha, so in this estimate, annual planting is supposed to be 1 ha. Applying this to the total of the year 1998 as a base, the total plantation area of the year 2000 is estimated to be about 12 ha. Regarding ownership and purpose, Oliver (1999) says that most plantations are owned by customary ownership, but it is not clear if this is private or public. Plantations are aimed to produce timber, to protect from soil erosion and to conduct research about forestry matter. Data about purpose is not available.

References

Oliver, W. 1999. An Update of Plantation Forestry in the South Pacific. RAS/97/330 Working Paper No.7, Pacific Islands Forests & Trees Support Programme

Volume and biomass

Table 6 - Volume data (of natural forests)

Reference year: 1985

Part 1 : Forest Inventory Description

Name of the Inventory: Vegetation Survey and Forest Inventory of American Samoa (PSW-25)

National Forest Inventory (Yes or No): Yes

Geographic location: Main islands of American Samoa (Tutuila, Aunu’u, Olosega, Ofu, Ta’u, Nu’utele)

Total inventoried area (000 ha): 176.5

Sketch map attached (Yes or No): Yes for Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega and Ta’u. Others no.

Part 2: Inventory methodology

Stratification criteria: Forest lands only: including upland, coastal, mangrove, dwarf and moss forests. However, volume estimates are for timberland only or forests not on steep slopes, scrub or moss forests.

Sampling design: A 1.5 km square grid was superimposed on vegetation maps. Intersections with forest lands were chosen as plots (2.5 ha each, n = 20). In each plot 5 points were taken using variable plot sampling.

Sampling intensity (%): 0.74% (50 ha out of 6,728 ha)

Species coverage: All species within the timberland category

Minimum diameter: >12.5 cm. However, smaller trees were measured within 2.36 m of point centre.

Type of volume measured: sawlog, upper stem, craftwood bolts, branches; over bark

(including or excluding branches, underbark or overbark, etc.)

Part 3: Inventory results (by reporting unit)

Reporting Unit name: All timberland on the main islands of American Samoa

Area (ha): 6,728 ha

Average volume per hectare (m3/ha): 34.96

Sampling error for average volume per hectare at 95% probability (%): Plus/minus 23% at the 67% probability level.

Stand and stock tables attached (Yes or No): No

Comments:

Table 6A - Volume of woody vegetation according to national classification

Reference year: 1985 Geographic Unit: American Samoa

Forest and other woody vegetation types (country classification)	Volume (1 000 m3)	Biomass (1 000 m3)
1.Timberland* (6,728 ha)	235.2
Subtotal of country classes corresponding with FRA 2000 forest and other wooded land

Definitions:*Excludes nonforest lands, secondary vegetation, agroforest and areas incapable of growing trees over 5 inches.

Comments:

Change in volume and biomass

No information.

Forest health and protection

Fire situation in American Samoa

There have not been significant forest fires during this time. However, hurricanes or cyclones damaged the forests of American Samoa in 1987, 1990 and 1991.

Date: 10/31/99 confirmed 05/09/00

Source of information: Personal observations & communications

Country correspondent: Sheri S. Mann & O. Colin Steele ASCC/AHNR-Forestry Division

E-mail address of correspondent: [email protected] & [email protected]

Community involvement in fire management activities

There is a Fire Protection division that is facilitated through American Samoan Government Department of Public Works. USDA FS Fire Protection Division provides annual funds for public awareness, trucks, training programs, etc. Wildfires are very rare however. In 1998 there was a drought that created fire hazard conditions. There was no fire though. Further American Samoan fire information can be provided by Dennis Orbus [email protected].

Insects and disease-

There is a Forest Health Program within the Forestry Division. The primary role of this program is to document insect and disease problems on the islands. A Forest Health 5 yr plan of work is being created in order to broaden the scope of this program. We hope to begin the USDA FS Forest Health Monitoring and/or Forest Inventory Programs in 2002. In June 2000, AS Forestry hosted a Forest Health Workshop to assess the probability of a future Forest Health Inventory and Monitoring Program.

There are a number of insect and/or disease problems. A significant pest is the Rhinoceros Beetle Oryctes rhinoceros, Scarabaeidae. Damage estimates are being collected and should be available in 2001. A biological control program involving the release of two pathogens 1) a fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and 2) a baculovirus Rhabdionvirus oryctes are being implemented. Results will be available in Jan. 2002. Introduced insects and diseases need to be controlled i.e., quarantine protocols implemented/improved, and the native forest, which appears to be relatively undisturbed from exotic insects, needs to be monitored closely.

Invasive species

For information on invasive plant species, see http://www.hear.org/pier/asreport.htm.

Weather (hurricane, tsunami, etc.)

Significant damage to forests from hurricanes in 1987, 1990 and 1991. Historically, hurricanes happen once or twice per decade.

Mangrove Area

Ha	Year	Source	Remarks
129	1985	Cole, T. G., C. D. Whitesell, W. A. Whistler, N. McKay and A. H. Ambacher (1988). Vegetation survey and forest inventory, American Samoa. USDA Forest Service, Pac. Southwest Forest and Range Exp. Sta. Resource Bull. PSW-25, Berkeley, CA. 14 pp.	121 ha on Tutuila and 8 ha on Aunu’u. Rapid land conversion due to population and development pressures on Tutuila are reducing these numbers.

Description

Mangrove forests dominated by stands of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza typically occur in protected coastal bays and estuaries where fresh water enters the ocean. These habitats are inundated by saline or brackish water at high tide and are often flooded by fresh water. The closed canopy allows only Bruguiera seedlings in the understory, but the swamp fern Acrostichum aureum and trees of the species Rhizophora mangle occupy openings.

Often fronting mangrove forest is a mangrove scrub community dominated by small to medium-sized trees of Rhizophora mangle. Where Rhizophora competes with the larger Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, the former is shaded out. Mangrove scrub is found, particularly, on the south-central coast of Tutuila.

References

Cole, T. G., C. D. Whitesell, W. A. Whistler, N. McKay and A. H. Ambacher 1988. Vegetation survey and forest inventory, American Samoa. USDA Forest Service, Pac. Southwest Forest and Range Exp. Sta. Resource Bull. PSW-25, Berkeley, CA. 14 pp.

Mueller-Dombois, D. and F. R. Fosberg 1998. Vegetation of the tropical Pacific islands. Springer-Verlag, New York. 733 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1980. The vegetation of Eastern Samoa. Allertonia 2(2): 1–190.

Whistler, W. A. 1983. The flora and vegetation of Swains Island. Atoll Res. Bull. 262: 1–25.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Vegetation of Samoa and Tonga. Pac. Sci. 46(2): 159–178.

Forest management

Forest legislation and policy

No information.

Institutions and organisations

No information.

Status and trends in forest management

Forest management plans

Table 18 - Area of forest under management

Reference year: 1999

Forest type (using country classification)	Total area (000 ha)	Area under management1 (000 ha)
		Production	Conservation	Other purpose (please specify)	Total
1.National Park*	3.310		3.310		3.310
2.Non-industrial private forest land	7.972			0.045**	8.017
All forest types (Total Forest)	11.282		3.310	0.045	11.327

^1. Area under management is defined here as the forest that is managed for various purposes (conservation, production, other) in accordance with a formal, nationally approved, management plan over a sufficiently long period (five years or more)

Comments: *Total land area of the National Park of American Samoa (1120 ha on Tutuila and 2190 ha on Ta’u). A breakdown by forest types is not available.

**Area currently under stewardship plans per Forest Resources Fact Sheet, 1999.

References:

Volk, R. D. et al. 1992. Towards a Territorial Conservation Strategy and Establishment of Conservation Area System for American Samoa. A Report to the Natural Resources Commission.

Special programmes and incentives to promote sustainable forest management

Forest Stewardship Program – provides assistance to landowners to help them meet their objectives while providing benefits such as clean air, clean water, soil conservation, and wildlife habitat. The FSP helps State Forestry agencies to provide service forestry support for the Stewardship program, and helps fund the operation of State/Territory Stewardship Committees.

Key issues and concerns

Expanding public awareness about sustainable forest management is an important issue. With the population on Tutuila rapidly increasing, there is limited land for housing and agriculture. Forests are being cut on slopes in excess of 60%. Implementing and/or improving quarantine protocols on Tutuila and in Manu’a are very important. Save the existing lowland rain forests is an urgent issue, as the few remaining owners of such land want to sell to developers.

Future outlook for the forestry sector

The forestry sector will play an increasingly more important role in future natural resource planning as local population places more pressure on forest resources.

Land ownership

Exact forest land ownership figures are not available at this time.

Protected areas

Area Name	Subclass	Type of area	IUCN Cat.	Size (ha)
National Park of American Samoa	NATIONAL	National Park	II	3725
Fagatele Bay	NATIONAL	National Marine Sanctuary	IV	64
Rose Atoll	NATIONAL	National Wildlife Refuge	Ia	653
Star Mound	National	Historical Land Mark		.05

Forest products production, trade and consumption

Contribution of the forestry sector to the country’s economy

Products

No information.

Trade (1998)

Fuelwood and wood energy

No information.

Non-wood forest products

Much of the information for the non-wood forest products was gathered from person-to-person interviews and/or surveys done from January 2000 to the present.

.

QUANTITATIVE DATA ON NWFP

Product			Resource				Economic value
Category	Impor-tance	Trade name Generic term	Species	Part used	Habitat	Source	Desti-nation	Quantity, value	Remarks	References
	1, 2, 3				f,p,o	W, C	N, I
Plants and plant products
Food	3	Lopa	Adenarthera pavonina		f,p	W,C		$125/yr
Fodder
Medicines	2	Nono/Noni	Morinda citrifolia	entire	f,p,o	W,C
Perfumes, cosmetics	2 2	Moso’oi Laga’ali	Canaga odorata Aglaia samoensis	Fl,oi Fl,oi	F,p f	W,c c
Dying, Tanning	2 1	O’a Lama	Bischofia javanica Aleuritas molucca	ba, fl fr
Utensils, handicrafts, construction materials	3 2 2	Ifilele Lau fao Lau fala	Intsia bijuga Iteliconis laufao Pandanus tectorius	st, ba, fi st le	F,p F F,p	W,c W W,c		$416,000/yr $10,000/yr	Crafts, tools, canoes Coconut straining fiber
Ornamentals	1 2 2	Moso’oi Laga’ali Lau maile	Canaga odorata Aglaia samoensis Alyxia braeteolosa	pl				$78,000/yr $180,000/yr $78,000/yr
Exudates
OTHERS – medicines

Product			Resource				Economic value
Category	Impor-tance	Trade name Generic term	Species	Part used	Habitat	Source	Desti-nation	Quantity, value	Remarks	References
	1, 2, 3				F, P, O	W, C	N, I
Animals and animal products
Living animals				an
Honey, beeswax				ho, bw
Bushmeat		Pigeons Bats	Ducula pacifica Pteropus spp.	An	F F,p
Other edible animal products		Aufatu	Cerambicid ??	An	F,p	w
Hides, skins
Medicines	2 2	Ma’anunu Ti	Tarenna sambucina Cordyline fruiticosa	Ba Le				$13,000yr	Body Pain Headache, fever
Colorants
Other non-edible animal products

Importance: 1- high importance on the national level; 2 – high importance on the local/regional level; 3 – low importance

Part used: an – entire animal; ba – bark; bw – beeswax; le – leaves; nu – nuts; fi – fibres; fl – flowers; fr – fruits; gu – gums; ho – honey;

la – latex; oi – oil; pl – entire plant; re – resins; ro – roots; sa – sap; se – seeds; st – stem; ta – tannins

Habitat: F - natural forest or other wooded lands; P - plantation; O – Others: Trees outside forests (e.g. agroforestry, homegardens)

Source: W - wild, C - cultivated

Destination: N - national; I – international

Forest services

Wildlife habitat and biodiversity

Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Appendix

Population and trends

Population- 62,000 (1999 estimate)

Growth rate- 3.8%

Density- 1800 people per square kilometer.