FAO Forestry country profiles - legislation

American Samoa

Forestry legislation

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. The islands are administered by the United States Department of the Interior, although American Samoa has its own constitution and legislature and is largely self-governing. The territory is, however, subject to US civil and criminal legislation including environmental legislation, for example, the 1973 Endangered Species Act and the 1997 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Enhancement Act. Responsibilities for local administrative matters rest with village, county and district councils comprising local chieftains and clan heads. American Samoa presently has no specific legislation governing forestry development.