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                     Faasologa                                                           (ontents

                                                                                                                                                                                      Z11
                       5   0 le a le mea e faapitoa ai laueleele susu (vaia)?              5   What is so special about wetlands?
                       7   0 a laueleele susu (vaia)?                                      7   What are wetlands?
                       9   0 ituaiga o laueleele susu (vaia)                               9   Wetland types
                                                                                                                                                                          U
                     14    Laau masani o laueleele susu                                  14    Typical wetland plants
                                                                                                                                                                    A,
                  1  17    0 "tulafono masani" e iloa ai ia laueleele susu               17    A "rule of thumb" for determining if
                                                                                                                                                           .;w  , - - ,
                                                                                               an area is a wetland
                     18    0 le tulaga ese o togatogo i Amerika Samoa
                                                                                                                                                                   C
                                                                                         18    The unique character of
                     7U    0 laueleele susu aupito taua i
                                                                                               American Samoa's wetlands
                           Tutuila ma Aunu'u
                                                                                         20    Tutuila and Aunu'u's most important
                     22    0 le taua o nei nofoaga faataufusi
                                                                                               wetland sites
                  1  30    Mea e faaleagaina. ai laueleele susu
                                                                                         22    Wetland values
                           o Amerika Samoa
                                                                                         30    Threats to American Samoa's wetlands
                     31    Aisea e tatau ai ona uipuia laueleele vaia
                                                p
                                                                                         31    Why wetlands need to be preserved
                     32    Pe faapefea ona puipuia laueleele vaia
                                                                                         32    How wetlands are being protected
                     34    0 le a le uiga o le puipuia o pala ma
                           taufusi mo tagatanu'u                                         34    What wetlands protection means
                                                                                               for residents                                                       141
                     40    Faafanua o laueleele susu (vaia) o Tutuila
                           ma Aunu'u                                                     40    Maps of wetland areas of Tutuila and Aunu'u



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                                                                         7A

                                                                                                                                            41




                      0 le a le mea e faapitoa                                                What is so spe lial
                      ai laueleele susu (vaia)?                                               aboutwetlands?



                      0 le laueleele vaia pe maua ai le vai, (pei o pala ma                   American Samoa's wetlands are areas of lush, tropical
                      faataufusi) e lauolaola ai laau o le teropika e tamaoatga i             vegetation, rich with life, and offering a wide range
                      meaola esecse ma e tele Iona taua ma le aoga. No alualu i               of valuable functions. As more is known about them,
                      luma le malamalama e uiga i nei nofoaga, ua faapena ona                 wetlands are emerging as important contributors to the
                      alia'i mai ai nei nofoaga ma ni o latou sao taua i le lauusiusi         island's well-being and, consequently, the well-being of
                      lelei o le motu, atoa ai ma le soifua solo lelei o tagata soifua        everyone who lives here. They are fragile ecosystems easily
                      uma o loo nonofo ma ola ai. 0 nei nofoaga o laau ma                     affected by other activities in associated watersheds. Their
                      meaola ma mea o loo si'omia ai, e faaeteete gata tele ma e              biological and physical features are unique and largely
                      faigofie ona aafia i galuega po o gaoioiga e fesoota'i ma so o          irreplaceable. The importance of protecting these im-
                      se nofoaga. o lo o maua ai le suavai. 0 lo latou tulaga i               mensely valuable natural resources is becoming increasingly
                      meaola Gaau ma manu) ma le tino mai e tulaga ese ma e                   clear.
                      matele ina le mafai ona toe suia pe a faaleagaina. Ua atili ai          Wetlands include coastal mangrove swamps, inland fresh-
                      ona m  'anino mai le taua o le puipuia o nei ala manuia faale-          water marshes and swamps, and streams. They are produc-
                      natura e anoanoa'i lo latou aoga. .                                     tive and important habitats for fish and shellfish, birds,
                      0 nofoaga vaia nei e aofia ai togatogo e tau atu i le sami, o           animals, and plants. They help to control flood waters,                0 togomumu (Rhizophora
                      faataufusi ma pala e lata i uta, ma vaitafe. E taua nei nofoaga         provide a source of drinking water, and offer opportunities            mangle) e mafai ona o1a i
                      e fofoa ma tuufua ma nonofo ai i'a, ula, manu felelei, manu             for agricultural production.                                           laueleele samia latou tefaia
                      vaefa ma isi meaola atoa ma laau. E fesoasoani foi nei                                                                                         galue8a aoga ma taua mo
                      nofoaga e taofiofi tafeaga, i taimi o lologa, e auala inai ai foi       Many of American Samoa's people live on, around, and near              laueleele susu o Ame7ika Samoa.
                      le suavai taumafa ma maua ai avanoa mo mea toto ma                      wetlands. One consequence of this close interaction is the             ne salt-tolerant red mangrove
                                                                                              serious threat to the health of these sensitive areas caused by        (Rhizophora mangle)plays an
                      faatoaga.                                                               human activity. Within the last 30 years, at least a quarter of        important role in the wetlands of
                      0 le toatele o tagata Amerika Samoa o lo o nonofo i luga,               the wetlands has been destroyed, and some mangrove                     Ameilcan Samoa.
                      faataamilo po o tafatafa o nei nofoaga e iai le vai. 0 se tasi o        swamps have been reduced by half. As the population
                      tulaga e tula'i mai i lenei feumia'iga vavalalata o le lamatia          continues to increase, so will the pressures on wetlands. if
                      tele lea o le ola lelei o nei nofoaga faaeteete-gata e mafua            we follow the path we are on, our wetlands will disappear.
                      rnai i galuega a le tagata soifua.                                      At worst, they will be filled in for development. At best, they
                      I le 30 tausaga Lia mavae e tusa ma le kuata o nei nofoaga ua           will continue to be polluted by trash or runoff from
                      faaleagaina, ma o nisi togatogo tusa o le afa ua faatama'ia. A          piggeries and other upland development. if future genera-
                      o faatupula'ia le faitau aofa'i o tagata soifua, o le a faapena         tions of American Samoans are to benefit from the richness
                      foi le a'afia o nei nofoaga. A tatou mulimuli ai pea i le ahi o         of this natural resource, wetlands need protection and
                                                                                              careful management from now on.

                                                                                           5







                                         to o tatou ui ai nei o le a le pine ona mou atu o tatou
                                         laueleele faataufusi ma pala. 0 le itu sili ona le manuia o le
                                         tanu o nei nofoaga mo atina'e. Ae sili atu le faaauauina o le
                                         faaleagaina i otaota po o leaga i le tafe mai o pa pLia'a ma isi
                                         atina'e i uta. Ae a iai se faamoemoe e manuia tupulaga o le
                                         lumana'i o Amerika Samoa ile tamaoaiga o nei alamanuia
                                         faale-natura o Iona uiga e mana'omia e nei nofoaga (pala
                                         ma faataufusi) le puipuiga ma le vaaia lelei e amata atu nei.















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                           0 a laueleele susu (vaia)?                                                              What are wetlands?


                           0 le faaupuga laueleele susu pe vaia, o laueleele ia e iai le                           Wetlands are "wet lands," as you would expect. But for
                           suavai, a e le faigofie Iona faapupulaga pe le maua tonu                                federal and territorial governments, a precise- definition of
                           sona uiga sab i le faauigaina e le Malo Tele po o le                                    "wet lands"     is not so easy. Is a wetland covered by water or
                           faigamalo a le teritori. Po o Iona uiga ea o se laueleele e                             just muddy? Is it wet every day, or every now and then?
                           ufitia i le vai pe na'o le palapala? Pe susu ea i aso uma, pe                           Does it become a wetland when it is flooded with irrigation
                           susu mai lea taimi ma lea taimi? Po'o le mea faato'ata'u o le                           runoff? To answer these questions, federal law has defined
                           laueleele, o se laueleele vaia pe a faasusuina i le vai e tafe                          three specific elements which, together, make up a wetland.
                           mai ni mea sa eli? 0 le tali o nei fesili, ua faamatala mai e le                        These elements are:
                           tulafono a le Malo Tele ni elemene patino tuufaatasi, ona
                           maua lea o le laueleele vaia.                                                           Vegetation                                                                             0 le hapupulaga lenei o laueleele
                           0 elemene la nei:                                                                       To be a wetland, an area must contain plants that survive                              vaia a le Mato o Amerika Samoa:
                                                                                                                   well in wet soil conditions. In other words, it should support                         "0 nei nofoaga e lojia atoa i le vai
                           0 la'au e A ai                                                                          water-loving, or hydrophytic, plants.                                                  ma luga o le eleelepo o le vai mai
                           E avea se nofoaga ma laueleele vaia pe a ola ai ni laau e ola                                                                                                                  lalo i se vaitainu e talafeagai e
                                                                                                                                                                                                          lagolagoina ai, ma o tulaga
                           lelei ai i le tulaga susu. I se isi faaupuga e tatau i le nofoaga                       Soils                                                                                  masani o laau e o1a lava latou i le
                           faapea ona ola lelei ai laau e fiafia i le vai.                                                                                                                                eleele nei e lilqfia i le suavai. 0
                                                                                                                   The soils in a wetland typically contain very little oxygen                            laueleele susu (vaia) la nei e aofia
                           Palapola                                                                                because they are frequently covered by water. These soils                              aifaataufusi, pala, togatogo,
                                                                                                                   are called "hydric soils." Hydric soils are usually dark with                          auvai ma nofoagafaapena.
                           0 le eleele i nofoaga nei e masani ona itiiti se okesene e                              bright blotches.
                           maua ai aua foi e tele taimi e ufitia ai i le suavai. 0 nei                                                                                                                    The government of American
                           ituaiga o palapala e taua o palapala susu (vaia). 0 eleele nei                          Hydrology                                                                              Samoa defines a wetland as:
                           e malosi le lanu e pei e pa'auli.                                                                                                                                              "Tbose areas that are inundated
                                                                                                                   Wetlands typically are located in low-lying areas where                                or saturated by su rface or
                                                                                                                   water collects or are next to stream where they can be                                 groundwatcratafrequency
                           Vaia                                                                                    flooded. A wetland must be flooded with water, perma-                                  and duration sufficient to
                                                                                                                                                                                                          support, and that under normal
                           0 laueleele susu (vaia) e masani ona maua i nofoaga                                     nently or occasionally, or at least saturated by groundwater.                          circumstances do support, a
                           maualalalo e to'a ai ma faaputu ai le suavai pe lata foi i se                           if a wetland was drained, it would be destroyed.                                       prevalence of vegetation
                           auvai e tatau ona lofia i le suavai i taimi uma, pe mai lea                                                                                                                    typically adapledJbr life in
                           taimi ma lea taimi pe ulufia foi i le vai mai lalo o le laueleele.                                                                                                             saturated soil conditions.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Wetlands generally include
                           A faapea e faatafea'ese le vai mai nei nofoaga ona faatama'ia                                                                                                                  swamps, ma7sbes,   ,mangroves,
                           loa lea.                                                                                                                                                                       streams, and similar areas.





                                                                                                                7










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                         0 ituaiga o laueleele                                                               Wetland @pes
                         susu (vaia)

                         E maua i Amerika Samoa ituaiga laueleele susu (vaia) eseese                         American Samoa supports several kinds of wetlands includ-
                         e a'afia ai pala togatogo, pala vai, pala tu latalata i le sami,                    ing mangrove swamps, freshwater swamps, saltwater
                         pala faataufusi, pala ua faato'aina, pala ua afaina. 0 le tele o                    marshes, freshwater marshes, cultivated wetlands, and
                         auvai ma vaitafe e mafai ona aofia ai i le faapupulaga o                            ruderal or disturbed wetlands. Many streams and open                                            O@J 1(
                         laueleele susu. 0 nei nofoaga o lo o faamatalaina i                                 water bodies can be included within the definition of
                         parakarafa ia o lo o soso'o ai.                                                     wetlands. Each wetland type is described below.
                         Palo togatogo                                                                       Mangrove swamps
                         0 togatogo (po o pala) e mafai ona ola a'e i vai sami i                             Mangrove swamps (the pala) are salt-tolerant wetlands
                         tafatafa ane o gataifale i faga po o le mulivai o ni auvai i le                     found in such coastal areas as sheltered bays or near the
                         mea e fetaui ai le sami ma le vai. I nei pala 0 10 0 tUtUpU ai                      mouth of a stream where fresh water and salt water mix. In
                         laau, e maua ai le laau o le togo (taga'i i le itulau 13) ma le                     these forest swamps you will find oriental and red man-                               \N,
                         sa'ato. E mafai foi ona vaaia ai le laau maua gata o le le'ile'i.                   groves (see page 13) and swamp fern. You may even see                                    j
                                                                                                             the rare puzzlenut tree.
                         0 laueleele susu e aupito sili ona maua gofie i Tutuila ma
                         Aunu'u. E mafai ona maua pala togatogo i:                                           Mangrove swamps are the most common type of wetland on
                                                                                                             Tutuila and Aunu'u. Exam les of mangrove swamps can be                             0 le saato (Acrostichum aurem),
                             * Nu'uuli (Pala Lagoon)                                                         found at:                        p                                                 o se la'au lea e masani ona maua
                             - Alofau                                                                                                                                                           i laueleele susu o A merika Samoa.
                             * Aoa                                                                               o Nu'uuli (Pala Lagoon)                                                        E masani ona maua ifaasi @-
                                                                                                                 - Alofau                                                                       usiuga opala ma mulivai, e iai
                               Masefau                                                                                                                                                          taimi e masani ai ona vaaia o too
                                                                                                                 * Aoa                                                                          o1ajaaqpeaqpea i totonu o ogavai.
                             o Le Pala i Aunu'u                                                                  - Masefau                                                                      The swampfern (Acrostichum
                             - Leone (Pala)
                                                                                                                 * Pala Lake, Aunu'u                                                            aurem) is afamiliar resident of
                             - Aua (ua tele ina faalcagaina lenei pala)                                                                                                                         American Samoa's wetlands.
                             * Vatia                                                                             9 Leone (the pala)                                                             Found in coastal marshes, at the
                                                                                                                 * Aua (this mangrove swamp is mostly destroyed)                                edge of mangrove swamps and
                             9 Taufusi i le A'oga i Aunu'u                                                                                                                                      rivermotubs, it sometimes grows
                                                                                                                   Vatia                                                                        as afloating mass infresb water.
                         0 le pala togatogo i Nu'uuli e aupito sili ona tele, ma o le                            e School Swamp, Aunu'u
                         laueleele vaia aupito tele f6i lea i Tutuila ma Aunu'u . E tusa
                         e 123 eka Iona tele, amata mai i le itu i saute o Mulinu'u                          The Nu'uuli pala is the largest mangrove swamp and the
                         (Coconut Point), seia oo i le fale pamu vai i le Paka Liona i                       biggest wetland on the islands of Tutuila and Aunu'u.
                         Tafuna.                                                                             Covering about 123 acres, it extends from the southern end
                         0 le pala togatogo i le Pala Vai i Aunu'u e ese mai ai lava                         of Coconut Point around the lagoon to the pumping station
                                                                                                             at Lions Park in Tafuna.



                                                                                                         9







                                                             ona e le Uo i le sami. 0 le togatogo i le Pala i Aunu'u e ese                                      The mangrove swamp at Pala Lake (Aunu'u) is unusual
                                                             ona e le papa'i i le sami. Ae maua ai lava le suasami, e masa- I because it does not directly touch the sea. Salt water prob-
                                                             lomia o lea suasami e ui rnai i lalo o le eleele.                                                  ably comes from underground.
                                                             Pala Vai                                                                                           Freshwater swamps
                                                             0 pala vai e tele ona tutupu ai laau o le fau, ifi, falaga, ma le                                  Freshwater swamps are dominated by beach hibiscus,
                                                             teuila. 0 lo o maua tele i totonU i laueleele e le o lelei le                                      Tahitian chestnut, Bat-dngtonia samoensis, and red ginger.
                                                             alagavai aga'i i le sami e latalata i le itu aga'i i le laueleele 0                                They are found inland on poorly-drained lowlands or near
                                                             pala togatogo. 0 pala vai e maua gofie i Amerika Sarnoa ae                                         the landward edge of mangrove swamps. Freshwater
                                                             le t
                                                                  ele, o lo o iai i:                                                                            swamps are uncommon in American Samoa, but there are
                                                                                                                                                                a few:
                                                                     Malaeloa
                                                                     Leone (ua tele i le faato'aina)                                                                 * Malaeloa
          A "a o le ifi Onocarpus fagifer).                          Pala Vai i Aunu'u (se mea itiiti o lenei vai)                                                   o Leone (mostly cultivated)
          Roots of Tabitian cbestnut                                                                                                                                 e Pala Lake, Aunu'u (a small portion of the lake)
          (InocarPLIS fagifer).                              0 le pala vai i Malaeloa e ese mai lava ma taua ona o Iona
                                                             tele.ma Iona tulaga lelei. E le'i faaaogaina lava lenei                                            The freshwater swamp in Malaeloa is unique and important
                                                             laueleele vaia, e tusa e 72 eka o lo o maUa mai i auvai e tele                                     because of its size and pristine condition. This relatively
                                                             o lo o tafe faatasi iai mai mauga. Ua fautuaina ia avea ma                                         undisturbed 72-acre wetland is fed by streams draining into
                                                             ogaeleele faapitoa ia puipuia ma tausia Iona tulaga na sau                                         it from the hills above. It has been recommended as a
                                                             a'i.                                                                                               Special Management Area to protect and maintain its pristine
                                                             Pala e tu latalata i le sami                                                                       condition.
                                                             0 pala e tu latatata i te sarni e maua i taufaasi'usi'uga o                                        Saltwater marshes
                                                             togatogo i nofoaga ua faaleagaina po ua motusia mai le                                             Saltwater marshes occur along the edges of mangrove areas
                                                             sami, o i, e te maua ai ituaiga o vao faapitoa.                                                    that have been disturbed or cut off from the sea. Here you
                                                             0 pala e ialata i le sami o ituaiga ia o pala e seasea ona maua                                    will see grasses and sedges such as knottgrass.
                                                             i Amerika Samoa. Pau lava le faata'ita'iga o lea ituaiga pala o                                    Saltwater marshes are the rarest type of wetlands in Ameri-
                                                             loo maua i:                                                                                        can Samoa. The only example is:
                                                                     Mulinu'u (Coconut Point), i le taufaasi'usi'uga                                                    Coconut Point (on the end of the point)

                                                             Pala faataufusi                                                                                    Freshwater marshes
          0 vao ma vao selesele e iai le                     0 pala faataufusi e ola ai vao, ma laau pei o laugasese, ae e                                      Freshwater marshes support grasses and ferns rather than
          vao lima, o nisi nei la'att e ola                  le o maua ai ni laau tetele poo laau malo pei ona maua i pala                                      the woody shrubs and trees found in freshwater swamps.
          latiusiusi i in vaegafaigata 0                     vai. 0 ituaiga o laau e masani ona maua i nei nofoaga e aofia                                      Characteristic plants include job's tears, mile-a-minute vine,
          pala tu latalata i le sami.                        ai sagasaga, fuesaina, selesele, sa'ato, utuutu, ma le vao                                         marsh cyperus, swamp fern, water chestnut, and willow
          Grasses and sedges sucb as                         malo. 0 faataufusi nei e maua i nofoaga papa'u e to'a ai le                                        primrose. Freshwater marshes are found in shallow,
          Paspalum tolerate extreme                          vai pe tafetafe lemu i mulivai e latalata i le oneone poo                                          slow-moving, or standing water, at the mouths of streams
          i@






          conditions in the saltwater marsh.                 autafamauga, poo tofe, e maua ai vaitafe e tele. 0 ma'umaga                                        blocked by sand bars, and near the steep slopes of moun-
                                                             foi ua lafoa'ia e masani ona tafia aga'i i pala vai.                                               tains, where streams are more plentiful. Abandoned taro
                                                                                                                                                           10







                       0 pala faataufusi e maua i nuu nei:                                          fields also may revert to marshland. Freshwater marshes
                                                                                                    are found in:
                            -Masefau
                                                                                                          Masefau
                            9 Vatia
                            -Pala Fa  iMLI]ivai e maua i le omoa'i o le mauga                             Vatia
                             i Aunu u                                                                     Faimulivai Marsh, in the crater on Aunu'u
                            - Tula                                                                        Tula
                            - Aoa                                                                         Aoa
                            -Nu'uuli (tafatafa o le South Pacific Traders,                                Nu'uuli (by South Pacific Trader's; small, but lush)
                             e itiiti ae lauusiusi)                                                       Alao                                                                          'z
                             Alao
                                                                                                    The largest freshwater marsh in American Samoa is
                       0 le faataUfusi aupito tele i Amerika Samoa o Faimulivai. 0                  Faimulivai Marsh. The marsh, which covers about 40 acres,
                       lea faataufusi e aofia ai se laueleele pe a ma le 40 eka ma o                is in pristine condition. The site has been recommended as a
                       lo o iai i ona tulaga pei ona iai i la tausaga ua mavae. 0 lenei             Special Management Area, which would afford it special
                       nofoaga ua fautuaina ia avea ma se nofoaga e vaaia faapitoa                                                                                    on
                                                                                                    pr otection. The rare Australian gray duck has been seen
                       e mana'omia ai se puipuiga faapitoa. 0 lo o maUa i lenei                     this lake.
                       faataufusi le toloa efuefu, e masani ona vaaia i lenei tuloto.
                                                                                                    (ultivated wetlands                                                         Palafaataujitsi.
                       Pala ua faato'aina                                                                                                                                       Fresbwater marsb.
                                                                                                    Cultivated wetlands are naturally occurring wetlands used
                    i  0 pala ua faato'aina e rnasani ona faaaogaina e toto ai le                   for growing taro. Besides taro, these areas may contain
                       talo, ua le nao talo, ae mafai foi ona maua ai i nei nofoaga                 marsh cyperus, swamp morning glory, and Mexican
                    1  selesele ma isi laau. E ui lava o nei pala o loo faato'aina e i              seedbox. Even though these wetlands are under cultivation,
                       lalo pea o le faaupuga o laueleele SUSU Iona uiga e pulea i                  they are considered wetlands and so fall under the require-
                       tulaga mana'omia o le puipuiga o pala ma faataufusi.                         ments governing wetlands protection.
                       0 faataufusi poo pala nei ua faato'aina e masani ona tuaoi                   Cultivated wetlands often border other wetland types. They
                       ma isi laueleele susu. E mafai ona vaaia i nu'u o loo ta'ua i                can be seen in the following villages:
                       lalo:
                                                                                                          Nu'uuli
                             Nu'uuli                                                                      Masefau
                             Masefau                                                                      Vatia
                            eVatia                                                                        Alao
                            - Alao                                                                        Tula
                            e Tula                                                                        Leone
                            - Leone                                                                       Taro fields, Aunu'u
                            * Ma'umaga i taufusi i Aunu'u                                                                                                                       Talo (Colocasia esculenta).
                                                                                                    The taro fields on Aunu'u are the best example of cultivated
                                                                                                                                                                                Taro (Colocasia esculenta).
                       0 ma'umaga nei o lo o totoina i taufusi i AunL1'U 0
                       faata'ita'iga aupito sili ia o pala ua faato'aina. 0 le ta o e               wetlands. These taro fields are unusual because they receive
                                                                                    I               freshwater runoff from the crater slope and from under-
                       maua mai nci taufusi e tulaga ese aua foi e latou te maua le                 ground, rather than from streams. This wetlqnd has been
                       suavai mai vaitafe o tumutumu o mauga ma lalo foi o le                       used for taro cultivation for several centuries.








                                              eleele, a e le sau sa'o mai vaitafe. Ua tele seneturi o
                                                                                                                         Ruderal wetlands
                                              faaaogaina lenei taufusi e toto ai ma'umaga.
                                                                                                                         The term "ruderal wetland" describes disturbed areas such
                    11@   31-
                                                                                                                         as ditches, ponds, or disturbed mangrove swamps. In
                                              0 pola ua afaina
                                                                                                                         ruderal wetlands you may see Mexican seedbox, ferns,
                                              0 le faaupuga "pala ua afaina" e faamatalaina ai nofoaga pei               and wild ginger.
                                              o autu, o vai, poo togatogo ua faaleagaina. I nei nofoaga e
                                                                                                                         There are ruderal (disturbed) wetlands in the following
                                              mafai ona e vaaia ai laau pei o le avapui.
                                                                                                                      I  villages:
                                              E maLia ia pala (faaleagaina) i nuu nei:
                                                                                                                               Nu'uuli (the hummocky, or hilly, area between
                                                  o Nu'uuli (laueleele e iai mauga laiti, i le va o le South                   South Pacific Traders and the Pumping Station at
        Opala ua afaina.                            Pacific Traders ma le pamu i le Paka Liona)                                Lions Park)
        Ruderal (disturbed) wettand.              a Aoa                                                                        Aoa
                                                  a Tula                                                                       Tula
                                                  a Taufusi i le aoga i Aunu'u                                                 School Swamp on Aunu'u
                                                                                                                               Leone
                                              0 ouvai ma alavai                                                          Streams and open water bodies
                                              0 ia auvai ma alavai e i ai vai tetele, vaivai, ma vai tu                  Such streams and open water bodies as large ponds,
                                              matafaga e ta'ua o laueleele susu tusa lava pe le o iloga uma              intermittent stream channels, and coastal waters are consid-
                                              ai elemene e tolu (laau e ola ai, laueleele, ma le vaia) ua                ered wetlands even though they do not display the three
                                              Lima ona faamatalaina i luga. E ta'ua ia o laueleele susu ona              basic elements (vegetation, soils, and hydrology) discussed
                                              o ituaiga laau o lo o ola ai.                                              above. They are considered wetlands because they contain
                                                                                                                         typical wetland vegetation.
                                              0 le Polokalama o le Va'aiga o le Gataifale ma LaufanUa o se
                                              vaega lea o le Ofisa o Atina'e ma le Manuia Lautele, e mafai               The American Samoa Coastal Management Program, which
                                              ona fesoasoani atu i nisi faarnatalaga e tusa A o ni auvai po'o            is part of the Economic Development Planning Office
                                              alavai o ni laueleele susu.                                                (EDPO/ASCMP), can help you with more information to
                                                                                                                         decide whether a particular area of a stream or open water
                                                                                                                         body is a wetland.



        FaimulivaiiAunu'u.

        Crater Lake, Aunuu.













                                                                                                                      12















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                     O'tulafono mosani'e                                                      Arule of thumb'for determining
                     iloa ai ia laueleele susu                                                if an area is a wetland

                     Mo se malamalamaga atili e faatatau i laueleele poo se                   If you are wondering whether an area is a wetland, ask
                     laueleele susu, fesili i le Ofisa o Atina'e ma le Manuia                 EDPO/ASCMP for positive confirmation, especially if you
                     Lautele/Polokalama o le Va'aiga o le Gataifale ma Laufanua               are planning any construction, digging, or filling. The
                     mo se faamaoniaina aemaise lava pe afai o le a fausia ai se              following exercise, however, can serve as a rough guide:
                     fale, eliina, pe tanuina. 0 mea nei e tatau ona fai, e avea ma                 Hydrology. Is the area regularly wet or muddy?
                     ta'iala :                                                                      Soils. is the soil dark and mucky?
                   i       Vaia. Pe masani ona susu ma vaia lenei laueleele?                        Vegetation. Look at all of the vegetation growing
                           Laueleele. Pe lanu malosi ma eleelea lea laueleele?                      in a 6-foot circle. If two or three of the plants
                           0 laau e ola ai. Vaai uma i laau o lo o ola ise vaega                    mentioned in the list on page 16 of this guide (not
                           e 6-futu le lapotopoto. Afai o ola ai ni laau e lua p6                   just obligates) are in the circle, the site is probably a
                           tolu o laau o lo o ta'ua i le itulau 16 o lenei                          wetland. Even if only one of the plants mentioned
                           tusitusiga (o le na'o laau vai) i lenei faa-                             is found in the area, however, it may
                           lapotopotoga, e le taumate o se laueleele susu.
                                                                                                    still be a wetland.
                           Tusa fo'i p@ tasi se laau e maua i lena vaimea, e
                                                                                                    Note; ifyoufind obligateplants, the area is
                           le iloa lava po o se laueleele susu.
                                                                                                    a wetland:
                           Faamatalaga: A maua ai ni laau vai, o Iona uiga 0
                           le laueleele susu.
























                                                                                           17




                                              0 le tulaga ese o -togatogo                                                The unique character of
                                              i Amerika Samoa                                                            American Samoa's wetlands

                                              Ua na'o Samoa lava se tasi o atunuu, i se fuainumera itiiti o              The Samoan island group is one of the only places in the
                                              atunuu. i le lalolagi e ola faatasi ai le togatogo saina ma le             world where both the oriental mangrove and the red
                                              togatogo mumu. 0 le togatogo mumu (Rbizopbora mangle)                      mangrove grow together. The red mangrove (Rbizopbora
                                              e tupu i atunuu vevela e i le itu sisifo o le 0 tikeri le                  mangle) grows in tropical areas to the west of 0 degrees
                                              maualuga. Maua i Aferika i sisifo, Brazil i sasa'e, atunuu o le            longitude. Found in West Africa, eastern Brazil, the Carib-
                                              Keripea, Amerika Tutotonu, ma le sitete o Florida, ona oso                 bean, Central America, and Florida, the distribution of the
                                              mai ai lea o le ola o nei laau e pasia le Sami o le Pasefika i             species then leaps across the Pacific Ocean to Samoa, Fiji,
                                              Samoa, Fiti ma Niu Sila.                                                   and New Zealand.
                                              0 le togatogo saina (Bruguiera gymnorrbiza) e tupu tele i le               The oriental mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorrbiza), on the
       Togomumu.                              itu sasa'e o le 0 tikeri le maualuga. E masani ona maua lenei              other hand, grows mostly to the east of the 0 degrees
       Red mangrove.                          togatogo i Aferika i sasa'e, i le itu saute o le gataifale o Initia,       longitude mark. Typically, this mangrove is found in East
                                              Melesia, Ausetalia sisifo ma matu, Maikolonisia, Fiti ma                   Africa, the southern Indian coast, Malaysia, western and
                                              faaauau mai i Samoa. Pau lava isi atunu'u e maua uma ai nei                northern Australia, Micronesia, Fiji and continues on to
                                              laau e lua o ola faatasi o Niu Sila, Niu Kaletonia, Fiti ma isi            Samoa. The only other places where both species are found
                                              atunu'u o le Pasefika.                                                     together are New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, and some
                                              E ui i le tele o pala ma taufusi i Amerika Samoa o lo o tutupu             other Polynesian islands.
                                              ai laau e maua foi i isi vainu'u o le funaite Sitete, o togatogo i         While most of the marshes and swamps of American Samoa
                                              laueleele susu, aemaise ia e lagolagoina le tutupu o laau                  contain plants found commonly in other parts of the U.S.,
                                              tetele, e pei o lea e iai i Nu'uuli, e le aumaua. 0 le mea lea e           the 'mangrove wetlands, especially those which support
                                              ala ai ona tele le naunau mai o Ofisa ole Malo Tele i                      mature forests, such as those in Nu'uuli, are uncommon.
                                              togatogo i laueleele vaia. E taua ma e tulaga ese ma e tatau               This is part of the reason why American Samoa's mangrove
                                              ona puipuia.                                                               wetlands receive so much attention from federal govern-
                                                                                                                         ment agencies. They are unique and should be protected.






       Togosaina.
       Oriental mangrove.







                                                                                                                      18



























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                                                   0 laueleele susu aupito taua i                                                     Tutuila and Aunub's most
                                                   Tutuila ma Aunub                                                                   important wetland sites

                                                   0 pala i Nu'uuli ma Leone ua iloga o ni laueleele vaia aupito                      The Nu'uuli and Leone palas are recognized as important
                                                   taua ia e tatau ona puipuia ma faaleleia mc, tupulaga o i                          wetland areas needing protection and maintenance for
                                                   luma. Ua ta'ua ia pala o "Nofoaga Vaaia Faapitoa" i lalo o le                      generations to come. They have been designated "Special
                                                   tulafono faatulagaina o le Vaaia o le Gataifale o le 1990. 0                       Management Areas" under the Coastal Management Act of
                                                   loo mana'omia ai ofisa o le Malo faapea tagatanuu ia latou                         1990. This requires government officials and the public to
                                                   vaaia nei laueleele susu ma laueleele o i autafa o ia laueleele                    ensure that these wetlands and surrounding "buffer" areas
                                                   susu, ma ia puipuia mai atina'e e ono, afaina ai.                                  are protected from harmful development.
                    NU'UUIi                        0 pala i Nu'uuli ma Leone e taua tele ona o maf-ua'aga nei:                        The Nu'uuli and Leone patas are important wetlandareas for
            L@one                                      9  E iai laau togatogo ua tauolaola, o loo tutupu faatasl                      the following reasons:
                                                          ai togatogo saina. ma togatogo mumu.                                            - They contain well-developed mangrove forests in
                                                       *  0 nei pala o loo iai ituaiga laueleele susu eseese. 0                             which both oriental and red mangroves are present.
                                                          le pala i Nu'uuli o loo iai le togatogo tele lava, o se                         - Both palas include a variety of wetland types. The
                                                          pala sami latalata ane i Mulinu'u (Coccinut Point),                               Nu'uuli pala contains a large mangrove swamp
                                                          ma se pala vai itiiti e i tua o le South Pacific Traders.                         area, a saltwater marsh area near Coconut Point,
                                                          0 le Pala i Leone o loo iai togatogo ma. taufusi vai.                             and a small freshwater marsh area behind South
                                                          0 nei pala e lua e taua ona e iai ofaga o i'a ma                                  Pacific Traders. The Leone pala contains mangroves
                                                          meaola ta'aloa.                                                                   and a freshwater swamp area.
                                                          0 le pala i Nu'uuli e nofo ai le toloa efuefu, e                                e Both palas are important fish and wildlife habitat
                                                          faapea ua le toe aumau ai iinei.                                                  areas. The Nu'uuli pala provides habitat for the rare
                                                          0 le pala i Nu'uuli e fai ai tafaoga, o fagotaga,                                 Australian gray duck which, until recently, had
        Afaaauaupea le afaina o togatogo                  ta'elega, ma ti'etiega va'a.                                                      been believed to be extinct locally.
        o A me?ika Samoa, e Vu ina afaina                                                                                                 o The Nu'uuli pala covers about 123 acres, making it
        ai no/baga o loo maua ai le toloa              *  0 le pala i Leone ua iloga mai anamua i le
        efu efu.                                          faaaogaina lea e maua ai mea taumafa a le nuu o                                   the largest wetland in the Territory.
        Witb continueddevelopment                         Leone i aso anamua.                                                             * The Nu'uuli pala provides such recreational activi-
        affecting American Samoa's                     9  0- le puipuiina o le pala i Leone ia mama le suavai                               ties as fishing, swimming, and boating.
        wetlands, tbebabitatoftbe                         ma le ola lelei o amu i le aau i le Fagaloa o lea nuu                           9 The Leone pala holds historical significance since it
        Australian gray duck is tbreatened.               e tatau ona matua faaeteete i ai.                                                 served as a primary food source for the residents of
                                                   E lua foi isi'nofoaga faapea i Tutuila ma Aun           u'u e taua tele                  the prehistoric village of Leone.
                                                   ma e tatau lava ona puipuia faapitoa ona o lo la tulaga ese                              Protection of the Leone pala will protect water
                                                   ma le aoga. 0 ia hofoaga o le faataufusi lea i Malaeloa, ma                              quality and the health of a diverse coral reef in
                                                   Faimulivai, o se faataufusi e i luga o le mauga i le omoa'i i                            Leone Bay.
                                                   Aunu'u.



                                                                                                                                  20






                      0 le pala lea i Malaeloa e taua tele ona o itu nei:                       Two other wetland areas on Tutuila and Aunu'u are also
                          * 0 le laueleele susu lea, e Iona lua i le laueleele susu             important and should be afforded special protection be-
                            aupito tele i totonu o le teritori, e tusa ma le 72 eka.            cause of their uniqueness. These two sites are the freshwater
                          * Pau lava lea o le-faataufusi vaimagalo i Tutuila ma                 swamp in Malaeloa and Faimulivai Marsh, a freshwater
                            Aunu'u.                                                             marsh located in the Crater on Aunu'u.
                          * 0 lo o i ai se laau e maua gata e ta'ua' o le gatae o lo            Malaeloa's freshwater swamp is an important wetland
                            o maua ai i lea taufusi. 0 le taimi mulimuli lava na                site because:
                            iloa ai lea laau o le tausaga e 1929 i le nu'u o Leone.                 * It is the second largest wetland in the Territory
                                                                                                      (72 acres).
                      E taua le faataufusi lea i Faimulivai ona taluai:                             0 It is the only pristine freshwater swamp on Tutuila
                          - 0 le nofoaga aupito tele lea o lea ituaiga e maua ai                      and Aunu'u.
                            le vaimagalo ma e ola ai laau e le o faalavelaveina                     * A very rare plant, gatae (Erythiinafusca), has been                                         Faimulimi
                            foi i totonu o le Teritori.                                               identified within the swamp. The last known
                          * E taua tele le faataufusi lenei ona e maua ai i'a ma le                   collection of this plant was in Leone in 1929.                          Malaeloo
                            tele o isi meaola taaloa e pei o le toloa efuefu sa ifoa
                            ai i se taimi.                                                      Faimulivai marsh is an important wetland site because:
                          . 0 se nofoaga e le'i tagofia ma e matagofie tele.                        * it is the largest, least disturbed, true herbaceous
                                                                                                      freshwater marsh in the Territory,
                                                                                                    - The marsh offers excellent fish and wildlife habitat
                                                                                                      and the rare Australian gray duck has also been
                                                                                                      sighted there.
                                                                                                    * It is pristine and is very beautiful.

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                                                                                                                                                                       Palafaataufusi i Faimulivai, Aunu'u.
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                                                                                                                                                                       FaimulivaiManb, Aunu'u.


                                                                                             21





                                                   0 le faua o nei                                                                    Wetland values
                                                   nofoaga faataufusi

                                                   0 faamanuiaga e maua mai nei nofoaga pei o taufusi ma                              The benefits provided by wetlands, or "wetland values,"
                                                   pala e tele lo latou sao i le soifuaga o tagata Samoa i auala                      contribute to the overall quality of life for Samoans in
                                                   e tele.                                                                            many ways.
                                                   va, figota, ma meaola tu'ufuo                                                      Fish, shellfish, and wildlife habitat
                                                   0 le tele o ituaiga i'a eseese ma ula e ola i se vaega o lo                        A variety of fish and shellfish live at least part of their lives
                                                   latou olaga i totonu o togatogo, o alavai, ma isi nofoaga e                        amongst the mangroves, freshwater streams, and other open
                                                   maua ai le vai i Amerika Samoa. E i le va o le 10 ma le 40                         water bodies of American Samoa. Between 10 and 40
                                                   pasene o i a taua o le sami ma vai o lo o faalagolago tele i                       percent of the important inshore and coastal fishes depend
                                                   togatogo ma pala mo vaega uma po o se vaega o lo latou                             on mangrove swamp ecosystems for all or part of their
                                                   atina'eina o lo latou ola. 0 le tele o i'a ma ula e faalagolago                 1  development and livelihood (see list opposite). Many fish
                                                   sa'o lava i mea'ai mai togatogo ma pala. 0 malauli ma pusi                         and shellfish depend directly or indirectly on food from the
                                                   ma tuna e ola i mando ma apofu ia e ola i togatogo ma pala.                        mangrove wetlands. jacks, groupers, snake eels, and
                                                   0 pa'a ma ulavai ma tama'i i'a e aai i limu e pipi'i i a'a o                       freshwater eels feed on the mud skippers and gobies that
                                                   togo. E faapena f6i fuafua ma apofu e faalagolago f6i i                            live in the mangroves. Mangrove crabs, shrimp, and small
                                                   togatogo mo a latou mea'ai ma e maua ai foi e tama'i i'a le                        fish feed on the algae growing on the roots of the man-
                                                   puipuiga mai isi fili ina i'a lapopo'a i le felavasa'i o a'a o                     groves. Mullet and gobies also rely on mangroves for food
                                                   togo. I le vaitaimi timu, o mea'ai nei e tafi mai le pala i le                     and the young, small fish find protection from predators
                                                   aloalo, po o pala ma aau e maua ai mea'ai mo'ina po o                              among the tangle of mangrove roots. During the rainy
                                                   tuitui, o ulavai ma isi ituaiga o figota. 0 nei mea'ai e maua                      season, nutrients washed from the pala into the lagoons,
                                                   mai i lala pala o togo ua pa'uu i totonu o le pala (taga'i                         mud flats, and coral reef flats provide food for sea urchins,
                                                                                                                                      goat fish, lobster, cowries, and other species. These nutri-
                                                   itulau 24).
                                                   0 le toatele o tagata Samoa e tausasami i i'a ma figota nei e                      ents are manufactured by the decomposed leaves, twigs,
                                                   maua i le pala, ma aau amu, po o vaitafe foi. 0 figota pei o                       and branches that fall from the mangroves (see page 24).
                                                   pa'a ma tugane e aumai sa'o lava mai le pala. Taluai la e                          Many Samoan families eat fish caught in the pala, from
        0 Pa mafigota ia e matia ai alaga          faalagolago tele i'a o le gataifale ma figota i meaai nei e                        amongst the coral reefs, or from streams. Crabs, clams, and
        manuia mo le tele o tagata Samoa           maua mai le pala ma togatogo ma faataufusi o lea e taua tele                       other shellfish are harvested directly from the pala. Because
        e n7anaomiafoi e i latou togatogo          ai le faatumauina pea o nei nofoaga ina ia mautinoa ai le                          inshore and coastal fish and shellfish rely, in part, on
        manuia ma le lelei.                        maua pea e figota po o i'a o a latou mea'ai.                                       nutrients from the mangroves and other wetlands, it is
        Fisb apd sbelpb, wbicb provide                                                                                                important that these habitats be preserved to support the
        food and incomefor many                    0 le tele foi o meaola taaloa e latou te faaaogaina pala ma                        food chain.
        Samoans, benefilfrom bealtbly              nofoaga nei e aai ma tuufua ai. 0 manulele ia pei o le iao,                 -                                                                                                 I
        wetlands.                                  tiotala ma isi figota e momoe i lala o togo i faataufusi e sadi                    Several species of wildlife use wetland habitats for feeding
                                                   ai mea'ai po o se mea foi e tau ina malolo i ai. 0 le toloa                        or nesting. Such birds as the honey-eater, white-collared
                                                   efuefu, po o le pato faaefuefu mai Ausetalia e seasea maua.                        kingfisher and starling perch amongst the branches of

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                                              Puipuiga mai lologa ma foaleagaina i A                                     Flood control and storm damage prevention
                                              E faaitiitia e laueleele vaia le afaina mai lologa i le ulufia lea         Wetlands reduce flood damage by absorbing and then
                                              o vaitafe mai lologa. Mai laueleele susu eseese, o togatogo e              slowly releasing floodwaters. Of all wetland types, man-
                                              aupito sili ona aoga i tafe o vai ma puipuia mai le malosi o               groves provide the most effective flood control and storm
                                              afa ona o ia laau latou te taofia vai e tele, e sili atu i lo              damage prevention because forested areas hold more water
                                              laueleele mutia. 0 le lelei o le laueleele susu e iloga lea i              than grassy, marshy areas. How effective a mangrove
                                              Iona tele. I Tutuila ma Aunu'u, e le tetele ni pala togatogo o             wetland will be depends on how big,it is. On Tutuila and
                                              iai ma e le lava se puipuiga mai lologa ma afa. Afai e                     Aunu'u, the mangrove swamps are not very large and offer
                                              faateteleina ia laueleele susu, e tele le aoga ma le puipuiga              only moderate or low protection from storm damage. if the
                                              mai lologa ma faaleagaina i afa.                                           mangrove wetlands are enlarged, the flood control and
                                              E taua tele le puipuia o Amerika Samoa ma isi motu o le                    storm damage prevention benefits will increase accordingly.
                                              Pasefika mai lologa o le a tutupu mai ona o le fesuia'iga o le             The flood control protection provided by wetlands is
                                              tau, e pei ona valoia e le toatele o saienisi. Afai e si'isi'i le          important as American Samoa and other Pacific Islands plan
        0 togatogo latou tepuipuia            maualuga o le sami i tausaga e 50 o i luma, o le a afaina ai le            for the flooding that may result from global climate change,
        Amerika Samoa mai lologa              gataifale o atumotu pei o Amerika. Samoa.                                  as has been predicted by many scientists. if the.global sea
        ma aj@.                                                                                                          level rises even a few centimeters a year over the next 50
        Mangroves helpprotect                 Pueina a le palapala ma le toofia a le faaotaota                           years, low-lying coastal areas of such islands as American
        American Samoa by mini-                                                                                          Samoa could be affected.
        mizing storm damage and               0 togatogo o le gataifale latou te pu'eina palapala lelei ma
        controllingfloods.                    mea'ai e fafagaina ai i'a ma figota o lo, o faamoemoe lo latou             Sediment trapping and pollution abatement
                                              ola i le pala. Ana leai togatogo i le gataifale latou te pu'eina
                                              palapala lelei ia e mafai ona faatafeaina i le aau. 0 le                   Coastal mangroves trap sediments and nutrients that feed
                                              faatama'iaina o Pa o le aau ma figota o le a faaiditia ai le tele          and provide habitat for a number of fish and shellfish living
                                              o Pa mo fagotaga.                                                          in or dependent on the pala. Coastal wetlands also trap
                                              0 laueleele susu latou te ulufia le otaota e iai vailaau faalelei          sediments that would otherwise wash onto offshore reefs,
                                              eleele, pauta tamea, ma feau a tagata (se'i tulou). 0 le ulufia            causing them to die off. The subsequent loss of reef fish and
                                              o nei otaota ua puipuiina ai e laueleele susu le vai taumafa               shellfish would reduce stocks for local fishing.
                                              ma nofoaga o i'a ma meaola ta'aloa.                                        Wetlands trap and dissolve pollutants such as fertilizers,
                                                                                                                         detergents, and fecal matter. By dissolving these pollutants,
                                                                                                                         wetlands protect the island's drinking water as well as fish
                                                                                                                         and wildlife habitat areas.













                                                                                                                     26





                        Tafaogo ma aoaogo                                                          Recreation and education
                        0 le laueleele susu e le iai se otaota ma se tanu, e matagofie             Wetlands, free of trash and fill, invite fishing, boating,
                        mo fagotaga, ti'eti'ega va'a, ta'elega ma savaliga faanatura.              swimming, and nature hikes. At present, Nu'uuli pala is the
                        Na'o le pala i Nu'uuli ua mafai ai nei mea i lenei vaitaimi, ae            only wetland with these recreational opportunities, but
                        o le a mafai foi e isi pala o le atunuu ona maua nei tulaga                other wetlands would make equally attractive recreation
                        felei.                                                                     sites.
                        0 vasega o a'oa'oga e masani ona asiasi i laueleele susu ina               School groups often visit wetlands to learn about the island's
                        ia a'oa'oina ai e tusa ma le si'omaga. 0 Tutuila ma Aunu'u e               local ecosystem. Both Tutuila and Aunu'u offer a variety of
                        maua ai ituaiga laueleele susu, e iai laau ma mea ola                      wetland types, each with its own characteristic plants and
                        faapitoa.                                                                  animals.                                                                                    J
                        0 le teina ma le toe faaaluino a                                           Groundwater recharge and discharge
                        voi i oo o le laueleele                                                    Freshwater wetlands collect and store fresh water, which
                                                                                                   gradually seeps into underground water collection areas. In
                     1  0 laueleele vaia e pu'eina le vai lelei ma teuina, o nei vai
                        lelei e toe faaalu lemu i vai o loo i lalo o le laueleele. 0               this way, the wetlands are said to recharge groundwater
                        laueleele susu latou te toe faatumuina vai i lalo o le                     resources. In some coastal areas, wetlands prevent salt water              E mafai ona e iloa atili ia
                        laueleele. I nisi gataifale, o laueleele susu latou te taofia le           from entering underground water supplies. The Tafuna                       laueleele susu o A merika
                        vai sami i le oo atu. i vai lelei i lalo o le laueleele. 0 le talivai      Plain is Tutuila's main collection and storage area for ,                  Samoa pea e asiasi atu iai.
                        i Tafuna o le talivai autu lea i Tutuila, o togatogo i le Pala             underground water supplies. The mangroves in Pala Lagoon                   The best way to leam about
                        Taufusi e faagaoioina le taliina o le vai.                                 facilitate the collection of water.                                        American Samoa's wetlands is
                                                                                                                                                                              to experience tbemfirst band.
                        Aoga faaneionapo i suesuego a mea mai                                      Archaeological and historical uses
                        anamuci ma Iona faaaogaina                                                 Historically, American Samoa's two largest villages, Leone
                        I aso anamua, o nuu aupitc, tetele o Leone ma Pago Pago, e                 and' Pago Pago, bordered mangrove wetlands. Early Samo-
                        tuaoi ai laueleele susu. Na iloa lelei e tagata Samoa anamua               ans recognized that healthy mangrove swamps were
                        le taua o laueleele vaia mo le olaota o i'a ma figota faapea               important breeding grounds for fish and shellfish as well as
                        fafie mo le saunia o mea taurnafa ma isi fuafuaga. 0 vali                  a source of wood for cooking and other uses. Dyes for
                        mo laei taua ma ni mea faapepe i'a na maua mai lea i le                    ceremonial outfits and poison for killing fish were produced
                        togatogo. 0 vai taurnafa foi na mafai lava ona aumai sa'o                  by mangroves. Drinking water could be taken straight from
                        mai auvai ma auvai i tafatafa o punavai e faarnamaina ai to'i              streams and streams near prehistoric quarries were used to
                        fdigaluega.                                                                clean adzes (ax-like cutting tools).
                        0 le mea masani, o laueleele susu e masani ona faaaoga e                   Traditionally, freshwater wetlands have been used for taro
                        toto ai talo, o vao vai ma kome na faaaoga e fai ai atc, ma                cultivation and freshwater grasses and reeds were used for
                        isi mea.                                                                   making baskets and other items.




                                                                                                27




                                            0 le taua o laueleele susu                                              Econornicimportance
                                            Mo le tamaoaiga                                                         of wetlands

                                            0 le a le aoga o le laueleele vaia? E le o maua tonu se tau             just how much is a wetland worth? The actual dollar amount
                                            tupe ae o le laueleele vaia lelei e aoga rno le tamaoaiga               is difficult to calculate but healthy wetlands have significant
                                            atina'e. 0 laueleele susu e pei o se inisiua poo se tupe i le           economic benefits. Wetlands are like an insurance policy or
                                                                                                                         ey in the bank because you can cash in the funds, but
                                            faletupe, e mafai ona maua mai ai le tupe ae le mafai ona               mon
                                            silia le tupe to mai i tua. F lua ona aoga. Muamua, o le le             you are not able to overdraw. The community saves twice.
                                            faaaogaina lea o tupe e suia ai laueleele susu i se isi mea, ma         First, by not spending money to convert wetlands into
                                            Iona lua, tuu pea ia iai se aoga mo le lumana'i.                        something else and, second, leaving open the option to
                                            E iai foi le taua i le soifua maloloina. 0 le ola lelei o se            realize future opportunities.
                                            laueleele vaia, e tele Iona aoga i le tamaoaiga ma le va                Healthy wetlands also pay healthy dividends. The healthier
                                            fealoa'i. 8 le'i faaaogaina lava laUeleele SUSLI mo ni galuega i        a wetland, the greater the potential to produce economic
               V                            Amerika Samoa. 0 galuega ma mea e maua ai e tele. 0 nisi                and social value. Wetlands have not yet been tapped as a
                                            o mea e maua mai ai o i'a maunu mo fagotaga, i'a teropika               market opportunity in American Samoa. The types of jobs
                                            mo tane i'a teu fale e mafai ona faatauina atu i le Iunaite             and products available from American Samoa's wetlands,
                                            Setete, o laau ta mo turisi, o laau vai fofo mo le atunuu               however, are many. Some of these include harvesting bait
                                            faapea mo atunuu i fafo. 0 ni pisinisi laiti, mo, nuu ta'itasi,         fish for local fishermen or tropical aquarium fish for sale in
                                            ma mea e faatau atu mai mea e maua mai i laueleele lelei, e             the U.S., wood carvings for the tourist market, and medicinal
                                                                                                    -ai le          plants for local and overseas markets. Small business
                                            faaleleia ai le tamaoaiga o tagatanuu, ma vaaia lelei
       Efesoasoani laueleele susu           siomaga. I le itulau o loo soso'o, e maua ai se faapupulaga o           opportunities, village cooperative options, and export
       i lefaamatagofieina o                nei avanoa e maua mai laueleele susu.                                   possibilities based on these products could improve eco-
       Ametika Samoa.                       0 laueleele susu o le a le tau faaalu ai ni tupe e tele mo le           nomic self-sufficiency for villagers and, at the same time,
       Wetlands add to Ametican             puipuiina o le atunuu mai lologa, galulolo (tsunami) ma afa.            enable sustainable management of the environment. On the
       Samoa's scenic beauty.               0 laueleele susu e matagofie ma lanulau'ava, laau o lo o ola            facing page is a sample list of market opportunities related
                                            ai. A faaitiitia laueleele susu, ua faapena f6i ona mou atu se          to wetlands.
                                            tasi vaega matagofie o Amerika Samoa, i le va'aiga a tagata             Wetlands save millions of dollars that otherwise would have
                                            fai mai ma tagatanu'u o lo tatou motu.                                  to be spent on substitute control measures for flood, tsu-
                                                                                                                    nami, and hurricane protection. Wetlands are beautiful,
                                            Ao9a masani a laueleele susu                                            scenic areas of lush, tropical vegetation. American Samoa's
                                            E inasani i tausaga e tele ua tuana'i ona soona faaaoga o               visual appeal, for both residents and tourists, would be
                                            laueleele susu ae le lava se faailogaina. E ui ina ua iloga le          diminished without them.
                                            aoga o laueleele susu, ae tele ona le fiafia iai i o latou              Histork uses of wetlands
                                            manogi ma faapea o mea e lafo iai le otaota. I aso ua tuana'i,
                                            e le'i tele se taimi na nonofo ai nisi i laueleele susu. Sa             Wetlands historically have been over-used and under-
                                            faigata ona maua vai lelei ma o tulaga o faato'aga ma le taina          valued. Although the benefits of wetlands are acknowl-
                                            o laau sa le lelei i se taimi umi. E ui ina tele mea sa                 edged, they have too often been viewed as smelly mudflats

                                                                                                                28












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                                               Mea e faalea aina ai laueleele                                                Threats to American
                                               susu o Ameri a Samoa                                                          Samodswetlands

                                               I le 30 tausaga ua tuana'i, e silia ma le kuata o laueleele susu              In the last 30 years, over a quarter of American Samoa's total
                                               i Amerika Samoa ua faaleagaina. Mai le 600 eka i le 1961,                     wetland acreage has been lost. From a total of 600 acres in
                                               na'o le 463 eka, (77%) o lo o totoe ile 1992. Mo laueleele                    1961, only 463 acres (77%) are left in 1992. For individual
                                               susu ta'itasi i Nu'uuli, Leone, Tula, Alofau, ma. Aoa, o le                   wetlands, such as those in Nu'uuli, Leone, Tula, Alofau, and
                                               tulaga ua faaleagaina ai nei laueleele susu. ua vave tele ma                  Aoa, the rate of loss has been much higher. Between 30 and
                                               maoa'e. E i le va o le 30 i le 60 pasene o nei laueleele ua                   60 percent of each site's total acreage has been lost in the
                                               faaleagaina i le 30 tausaga ua te'a. Ua faaleagaina le tele o                 last 30 years. These wetlands have historically been reduced
                                               nei laueleele susu ona o le atina'e. Afai e faaauau pea lava le               in size or damaged by encroaching development. if the
                                               faaleagaina o lo o iai nei, e oo atu i le 100 tausaga o i luma o              average rate of loss continues for these wetlands, they will
                                               le a matua'i leai lava se laueleele susu e totoe. 0 Nu'uuli e                 disappear completely within the next 100 years. The greatest
       ofagavao, faalelei eleele ma            pito tele ai le faaleagaina, (61 eka); a'o Tula ma Leone o lo la              loss of wetland acreage (61 acres) has occurred at Nu'uuli
       le lafoia o mea leaga i totonu          faaleagaina ua matua faaitiitia (tusa ma le afa o ia eka o totoe              pala, while Tula and Leone have suffered the greatest
       opala ma taufusi ua afaina              talu mai le 1961). A'o laueleele susu i Aunu'u, e le o tele ai ni             percentage decrease (over half of the wetland acreage
       ai laueleele susu ia e                  atina'e o faia, e le o tele f6i se faaleagaina. Ole maftia'aga o              existing in 1961). By contrast, the wetlands of Aunu'u,
       faamoemoe ai isi meaola.                le tele o laueleele susu ua faaleagaina i Amerika Samoa ona                   where there is less development pressure, have not de-
       Pollutionfrom pesticides and            ua tele atina'e ma mea fai. Ua faaaogaina ma tanuina le tele                  creased.
                                               o laueleele susu mo fale o aiga, sai o pua'a, ma fale pisinisi.
       fertilizers and the dumping of                                                                                        The. primary- cause of the loss of American Samoa s wetlands
       wastes tbreaten the delicate            0 isi mea e ono afaina ai laueleele susu e iai:                               is development. Wetlands are cleared and filled fof-Y''Illage
       wetland ecosystem on wbich                                                                                            homes, piggefies, and commercial buildin
                                                                                                                                                                               gs.,
       many animals depend.                        * 0 le lafoina ai o otaota, e faaleaga ai laau o loo iai
                                                   ï¿½ Tatipiina o togo mo fafie                                               Other threats to the wetlands include:
                                                   ï¿½ Lafoina lea o leaga o meatuaolo poo tagata iai                             *  Dumping of trash, ash, and other debris which
                                                   ï¿½ Faaotaotaina o vai mai lalo o mauga                                           smothers vegetation
                                                   ï¿½ Faamamaina lea o laau o laueleele susu mo                                  *  Cutting mangroves for fire wood
                                                     faatoaga e faaaoga ai vailaau ma le totoina ai o isi                       *  Dumping or piping piggery wastes and human
                                                     laau pei o laau ile eleele matutu.                                            sewage into the wetlands
                                               E le gata i le faalavelave i le ola lelei o laueleele susu, o le                 o  Polluting up-stream water
                                               tele o nei mea e ono afaina ai le soiftia o tagata. 0 le faarna'i                -  Clearing wetland vegetation to plant crops, using
                                               ate fefete na pipisi i le nuu o Nu'uuli i le vaitaimi o le 1980                     pesticides, and filling wetlands to plant dryland
                                               ona o tugage faaleagaina. mai paipa mo le otaota ua ta'i aga'i                      crops.
                                               i le pala. Na pipisi le cholera (faama'i faigata e tupu ai le                 Besides interfering with the continued productivity and
                                               manava tata, faa'asuatigofie, ma le manava tiga; a le togafitia
                                               vave e i'u lava ina maliu. ai se ua maua ai) i Truk i le 1984 na              survival of wetlands, some of these threats pose health
                                                                                                                             hazards to residents. A hepatitis outbreak in Nu'uuli in the
                                               tupu mai i se togatogo ua faaleagaina. 0 lenei mea na                      1                                                                                         1
                                                                                                                         30





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                                                Mea e faalea aina ai laueleele                                                Threats to American
                                                susu o Ameri a Samoa                                                          Samoa's wetlands

                                                I le 30 tausaga ua tuana'i, e silia ma le kuata o laueleele susu              In the last 30 years, over a quarter of American Samoa's total
                                                i Amerika Samoa ua faaleagaina. Mai le 600 eka i le 1961,                     wetland acreage has been lost. From a total of 600 acres in
                                                na'o le 463 eka, (77%) o lo o totbe ile 1992. Mo laueleele                    1961, only 463 acres (77%) are left in 1992. For individual
                                                susu ta'itasi i Nu'uuli, Leone, Tula, Alofau, ma Aoa, o le                    wetlands, such as those in Nu'uuli, Leone, Tula, Alofau, and
                                                tulaga ua faaleagaina ai nei laueleele susu ua vave tele ma                   Aoa, the rate of loss has been much higher. Between 30 and
                                                maoa'e. E i le va o le 30 i le 60 pasene o nei laueleele ua                   60 percent of each site's total acreage has been lost in the
                                                faaleagaina i le 30 tausag@ ua te'a. Ua faaleagaina le tele o                 last 30 years. These wetlands have historically been reduced
                                                nei laueleele susu ona o le atina'e. Afai e faaauau pea lava le               in size or damaged by encroaching development. If the
                                                faaleagaina o lo o iai nei, e oo atu i le 100 tausaga o i luma o              average rate of loss continues for these wetlands, they will
                                                le a matua'i leai lava se laueleele susu e totoe. 0 Nu'uuti e                 disappear completely within the next 100 years. The greatest
       Ofagavao, faalelei eleele ma             pito tele ai le faaleagaina, (61 eka); a'o Tula ma Leone o lo la              loss of wetland acreage (61 acres) has occurred at Nu'uuli
       le lafoia o'mea leaga i totonu           faaleagaina ua matua faaitiitia (tusa ma le afa o ia eka o totoe              pala, while Tula and Leone have suffered the greatest
       opala ma taufusi ua afaina               talu mai le 1961). A'o laueleele susu i Aunu'u, e le o tele ai ni             percentage decrease (over half of the wedand acreage
       ai laueleele susu ia e                   atina'e o faia, e le o tele f6i se faaleagaina. Ole mafua'aga o               existing in 1961). By contrast, the wetlands of Aunu'u,
       faamoemoe ai isi meaola.                 le tele o laueleele susu ua faaleagaina. i Amerika Samoa ona                  where there is less development pressure, have not de-
       Pollutionfrom pesticides and             ua tele atina'e ma mea fai. Ua faaaogaina. ma tanuina le tele                 creased.
       fertilizers and the dumping of           o laueleele susu mo, fale o aiga, sai o pua'a, ma f       .ale pisinisi.      The primary cause of the loss of American Samoa's wetlands
       u)astes tbreaten the delicate            0 isi mea e ono afaina ai laueleele susu e iai:                               is development. Wetlands are cleared and filled for village
       wetland ecosystem on wbich                                                                                             homes, piggeries, and commercial buildings.
       many animals depend.                         - 0 le lafoina ai o otaota, e faaleaga ai laau o loo iai
                                                    9 Tatipiina o togo mo fafie                                               Other threats to the wetlands include:
                                                      Lafoina lea o leaga o meatuaolo poo tagata iai                              - Dumping of trash, ash, and other debris which
                                                      Faaotaotaina o vai mai lalo o mauga                                           smothers vegetation
                                                      Faamamaina' lea o laau o laueleele susu mo                                  * Cutting mangroves for fire wood
                                                      faatoaga e faaaoga ai vailaau ma le totoina ai o isl                        9 Dumping or piping piggery wastes and human
                                                      laau pei o laau ile eleele matutu.                                            sewage into the wetlands
                                                E le gata i le faalavelave i le ola lelei o laueleele susu, o le                  * Pollpting up-stream water
                                                tele o nei mea e ono afaina ai le soiftia o tagata. 0 le faama'i                  - Clearing wetland vegetation to plant crops, using
                                                ate fefete na pipisi i le nuu o Nu'uuIi i le vaitaimi o le 1980                     pesticides, and filling wetlands to plant dryland
                                                ona o tugage faaleagaina mai paipa mo le otaota ua ta'i aga'i                       crops.
                                                i le pala. Na pipisi le cholera (faama'i faigata e tupu ai le                 Besides interfering with the continued productivity and
                                                manava tata, faa'asuatigofie, ma le manava tiga; a le togafitiia              survival ofrwetlands, some of these threats pose health
                                                vave e i'u lava ina maliu ai se ua maua ai) i Truk i le 1984 na               hazards tdresidents. A hepatitis outbreak in Nu'uuli in the
                                                tupu mai i se togatogo ua faaleagaina. 0 lenei mea na

                                                                                                                          30






                              maliliu, ai nisi, faaitiitia ai turisi, ma faaitiitia ai le tupe maua i                           1980s was caused by clams contaminated with sewage
                              le falei'a.                                                                                       piped into the pala. An outbreak of cholera on Truk in 1984
                                                                                                                                was traced to a polluted mangrove swamp. This incident
                                                                                                                                resulted in loss of life, a decline in tourism, and a drop in
                                                                                                                                fisheries income.



                                                                                                                                                                                                         - ------------- -
                                 Faoititia a laueleele susu i Amerika Samoa, mai le 1961 e oo i le 1991
                                 Wetland losses in Ameflcan Samoa from 1961 to 1991                                                                       200
                                                                                                                                                          180-    = 1961
                                                                                                                                                          160-    M 1991

                                                                                                                                                          140-

                                                                                                                                                          120-

                                                                                                              463 eka i le tairni
                                                                                                                                nei - 77%                 100 -
                                                                                                              463 acres still present - 77%               80 -
                                                                                                                                                   LU     60 -
                                                                                                                                                          40 -
                                                                                                              137 eka ua faaleagaina - 23%
                                                                                                                                                          20
                                                                                                              137 acres lost - 23%                                        Lim                      AP,                      F-Im
                                                                                                                                                            0
                                                                                                                                                                            .9                               J9
                                                                                                                                                                            <


                                                      Tu'uaofa'iga o fanua laueleele susU                                                                                                           Fanua laueleele stisij
                                                              Total wetland area                                                                                                                       Vetla@d area

                                                                                                                                                                                                           - ---------- -


                              Nisea e tatau ai ona puipuia                                                                      Why wetlands need to
                              laueleele vaia                                                                                    be preserved

                              E fesoasoani tele laueleele susu i le ola ma le tamaoaiga o                                       Wetlands contribute to the overall quality of life and
                              Amerika Samoa. Ae ui i lea, e faaeteete gata ona o mea e                                          economy of American Samoa. Yet, these are fragile ecosys-
                              faia i isi itu e tafe mai iai. 0 latou tulaga olaola ma le vaia e                                 tems easily affected by activities elsewhere within a water-
                              ese lava ma e faigata ona toe maua. E taua laueleele vaia. e                                      shed. Their biological and physical features are unique and
                              ola a'e ai le tele o figota ma meaola vai e aoga lea mo le                                        largely irreplaceable. Wetlands provide important breeding
                              si'omaga atoa o le teritori.                                                                      areas and habitat for a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial
                                                                                                                                species, and this is critical to the overall environmental
                                                                                                                                health of the territory.




                                                    faapefea ona puipuia                                                      ow wetlands are
                                              laueleele vaia                                                               being protected

                                              0 le Polokalama o le Vaaia Lelei o le Gataifale o Amerika                    The American Samoa Coastal Management Program
                                              Samoa; le Ofisa o Puipuia le Si'omaga; o le Ofisa o Paka ma                  (ASCMP), the American Samoa Environmental Protection
                                              Ta'aloga; le Ofisa o Gataifale; ma le Ofisa o le Soifua                      Agency (ASEPA), the Department of Parks and Recreation
                                              Maloloina o loo gafa ma le va'aia ma le puipuiina o laueleele                (DPR), the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
                    _!L                       susu.                                                                        (DMWR), and the Division of Public Health (DPH) are all
                                                                                                                           responsible for overseeing and protecting wetlands.
                                              PNRS ma pemita e faaaoga ai fanua
                                              0 le aupega taua o lo o puipuia laucleele vaia ole PNRS po                   The PNRS and land use permits
                                              o le Vaega e Faailoa ma Tuufesiliina Galuega Fai a le                        The strongest mechanism for protecting wetlands is the
      E manaomia muamua                       Teritori. E tatau lava ona iai se pemita e faatagaina ai le                  Territory's Project Notification and Review System (PNRS). A
      pemita a o le'i amataina se             faaaoga o se fanua po o se galuega e fai ai. 0 le PNRS sa                    land use permit is required before starting any land use or
      galuega. Uafaatulagaina                 faavaeina mo le faagaoioiina o le faiga o pemita ia aofia ai                 construction project. The PNRS was designed to streamline
      JaigapemitaaAmerika                     matagaluega uma i le faataunu'uina o nei pernita. 0 le Ofisa                 the permitting process (and time required to get a permit) by
      Samoa mo lepuipuia o                    o Tamaoaiga Atina'e latou te faafoeina le PNRS.                              including all agencies' requirements into one permit pro-
      laueleele susu.                         0 le pemita lea a le PNRS e tatau ai i e talosagaina ona                     cess. The EDPO/ASCMP oversees the PNRS.
      Permits are required before             tuuina mai ni tali i fesili e tusa i le galuega, o fea o fai ai, ma          The PNRS's land use permit requires applicants to answer
      starting a buildingproject.             mea e oo iai le si'omaga faapea le soifua maloloina o tagata                 certain questions about the proposed project, its location,
      American Samoa'spermitting
      process is designed to protect          o lea nuu. 0 se faata'ita'iga, a fausia se fale e mafai ona                  and its likely impacts on the environment and the health and
      local wetlands.                         afaina ai le vaitaurnafa o se nuu, le laueleele vaia pei ona                 wellbeing of residents. For instance, building a house could
                                              sau ai, ma isi mea taua e oo iai. 0 le agaga o le pernita i le               affect a village's water supply, damage a pristine wetland, or
                                              faaaogaina o le fanua ina ia auiiiiliina ai ia atugaluga.                    have other serious impacts. The purpose of the land use
                                                                                                                           permit process is to spot and address these concerns.
                                              Fuafuaga 0 le vaoia o laueleele vaia
                                              Ua iai nei se fuafuaga ua saunia e le Ofisa o Atina'e mo                     Wetlands management plan
                                              laueteele susu. I le faamatataina o tulaga ua iai laueleele vaia             A wetlands management plan has been prepared recently by
                                              i Amerika Samoa, o nei fuaftiaga o lo o iai f6i ni fautuaga. e               EDPO/ASCMP. In addition to describing the status of
                                              puipuia A ma faagaoioi ai.                                                   American Samoa's wetlands, the plan makes several recom-
                                              0 nei fuafuaga e o tutusa ma isi sitete ma teritori ua latou                 mendations to protect wetlands and their functional values.
                                              faaaogaina se manatu ia aua ne'i toe iai se mea e faaleagaina                The plan's overall recommendation is that American Samoa,
                                              o laueleele vaia. E le faasaina. ai atina'e uma e fia faia. Afai e           in keeping with other states and territories, should adopt a
                                              fia suia pe faatama'ia se laueleele susu, e mafai ona faia pe a              "no net loss" wetlands policy. With a no net loss policy, the
                                              afai e le faaleagaina ai isi laueleele faapea. E faapea f6i ona              American Samoa Government (ASG) can direct its agencies
                                              faatatau lenei fuafuaga i soo se galuega a le Maio o Amerika                 only to permit activities not resulting in,a net (or overall)
                                              Samoa e faia.                                                            32  loss inIwetland acreage, type (e.g. mangrove, freshwater







                      I le faataunu'uina o nei fuafuaga, ua saunia ni tulaga e                  marsh, etc.), and/or value (e.g. the wetland's capability to
                      fesoasoani ma faagaoioi ai e le Malo ni ala e puipuia ma                  provide flood protection or recreation value). This policy
                      faigofie ai i le Malo ma ona tagatanu'u ona malamalama i le               does not prevent development entirely. If a project requires
                      taua o laueleele vaia. E faapitoa nei fautuaga aga'i i mea e fai          wetlands to be modified or destroyed, it may be approved
                      ai galuega, pemita, o le faamalosia, auai o le lautele, ma                only if other wetlands on the island are restored or rehabili-
                      a'oa'oga, faapea ma le toe faalelei ma fausia o nisi laueleele            tated. This policy will also apply to all of the ASG's public
                      vaia fou.                                                                 works projects.
                      Faata'ita'iga, i le "sone" (zoning), ua vaevaea pala ma taufusi           To carry out the policy of no net loss, the wetlands manage-
                      i ni vaega e faatatau i le ituaiga laueleele vaia; (c, auvai ma           ment plan makes recommendations in relation to processes
                      auvai tetele; pala ua faato'aina, ma laueleele ua faapitoa ona            the ASG can adopt to make wetlands protection easier to
                                                                                                                                                                            I
                      vaavaaia) 0 laueleele i tafatafa ane o pala ma tauhisi ua                 implement for both the ASG and residents. These recom-
                      faailogaina foi ina ia puipuia ai ma mea e faia e ono afaina ai           mendations focus on zoning, permitting, enforcement,
                      pala ma taufusi.                                                          public participation and education, and restoration or
                                                                                                                                                                             AW,
                                                                                                creation of new wetland areas.
                      0 nei fautuaga ua faia ina ia faalelei ai mea e mana'omia e 'e
                      Malo e tusa o nei fanua, ina ia aua ai ne'i faapea tagatanuu o            For instance, with zoning, wetlands have been divided into
                      iai nisi faaopoopoga i mea e tatau ona fai. 0 e finagalo e faia           tiers or categories, according to the character of the wetland
                      ni sulga e ono afaina ai pala ma tauftisi, ia o latou faia ni             (n amely, pristine; mixed uses, which includes wetlands used
                      tulaga e sili atu ae Ic'i taliaina a latou talosaga. E le ina ia          for agriculture; streams and open water bodies- disturbed                 Uafuafuaina ni sone ina ia
                      faateleina galuega a tagatanuu ae ina ia puipuia laufanua mo              wetlands; and wetland Special Management Areas). Buffer                   puipuia ai togatogo mai
                      tagata uma o Amerika Samoa.                                               zones have been identified around some wetlands to                        galuega e ono afaina ai.
                                                                                                prevent activities with the potential for adverse effects.                Bu&r zones have been estab-
                                                                                                In most cases, these recommendations firm up processes or                 lisbed around certain ivetland
                                                                                                requirements the ASG has always had in place, so most                     areas toprotect tbemfrow
                                                                                                residents will not notice any additional requirements.                    harmful activities.
                                                                                                However, residents who wish to make adverse changes to
                                                                                                wetlands will be required to take extra steps before being
                                                                                                given approval for the project. The overall purpose is to not
                                                                                                make more work for residents but to protect an important
                                                                                                resource for all of the people in American Samoa rather than
                                                                                                sacrificing it for the benefit of a few.
                                                                                                                                                                          KAt






























                                                                                             33




















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                        0 ni meo e mufai ona faia nei                                           Steps you can take now
                           Vaai po o e alala i se pala po o se taufusi. A fia                     Determine if you live near a wetland. If you want to
                           fausia sod maota pe faia se sai o au mea tuaolo, po                    build a house, construct a piggery, or undertake
                           o se isi lava galuega, ia faia tulaga faapitoa e tatau                 some other activity, special precautions may be
                           ona fai. la faata'ita'i i mea uma ua uma ona                           required. Follow the process outlined on page 17
                                                                                                  under the heading "rule of thumb" to determine if
                           faatulaga atlu i luga e saili muamua po o lea
                           laueleele o se taufusi. 0 le Ofisa o Atina'e o le                      the area in question is a wetland. EDPO/ASCMP
                           Tamaoaiga e mafai ona fesoasoani atu. 0 lo o iai                       staff can help you decide. Maps showing the
                           faafanua e faailoa ai tuaoi o pala ma taufusi o                        boundaries of Tutuila and Aunu'u's wetlands are                                       V.
                           Tutuila ma Aunu'u , e maua i lea Ofisa.                                available for review at the EDPO/ASCMP office.
                           Fesoasoani i isi tagata o lou nuu po o nonofo i se                     Help others in your village determine if they live
                           pala po o se taufusi.                                                  near a wetland.
                           Fautua atu i le fono a le tou nuu po o e fai ma sui, ia                Suggest to your village council that the council, or
                           iloa patino tuaoi o pala ma taufusi ma su'eina fanua                   representatives of the council, identify-wetland
                           latalata ane e puipuia ai.                                             boundaries within their village and decide where
                                                                                                  buffer zones should be maintained to protect the
                           Aua le faaotaota, lafoa'i ai asuemu, po o nisi otaota i
                                                                                                  wetlands from outside impacts.
                           pala ma taufusi.                                            1    1
                                                                                            1   - Don't dump trash, cinders, sewage or othe
                           Ta'u atu i faia'oga a lau fanau o lo o e fia                                                                         r wastes
                           malamalama i pala ma taufusi ma ia latou valaau i le                   into wetlands.
                           Ofisa o Atina'e o Tamaoaiga mo ni faamatalaga                          inform your children's teachers of your interest in
                           a'oa'oina.
                                                                                                  wetlands and suggest they contact EDPO/ASCMP
                                                                                                  for educational infon-nation.












                                       A%




                                                                                          315






                                                Mea e ao ono fai pe a afai o fia faia se goluego i                        Steps to take if you are proposing a land use
                                                lugo o fanua e tau one i pala ma taufusi                              I   activity that may affect a wetlang area
                                                   Fuafua lelei lau. galuega ma toe su'esu'e lelei lau           I          Plan your activity before you start and critically
                                                   fuafuaga. Pe mana'omia se pernita e faatagaina ai le                     review your plan. Will it require a land use permit?
                                                                                                                            (See the list below for examples of actions requiring
                                                   faaaogaina o le fanua (vaai i lalo e tusa ai.) Pe mafai
                                                   ona faia i se isi lava fanua? 0 se fanua o le a le                       a land use permit.) Can another site be used
                                                   afaina ai pala ma taufusi. la e tausu'e foi po o le                      instead? (A site not negatively affecting wetlands
                                                   pala po o le taufusi e vaia tele, latalata i le gataifale                may facilitate the approval process for the land use
                                                   ma nisi mea e ono afaina ai oe.)                              I          permit. You may also find, upon further reflection,
                                                                                                                            the wetland site you have chosen may be too
                                                                                     - ---------                            muddy, too close to the shore, or have other
                                                                                                                            problems, and another site may more suitable.)
                                                Faata'ita'iga o mea e faia i totonu Poo autafa
                                                0 Palo ma taufusi e mana'omia ai pernita mo le
                                                faaaogaina o le fanua                                                     Examples of actions within or near wetlands for
                                                9 0 le tuuina iai o ni mea tanu.                                          which a land use permit is required
                                                # 0 mea e iai ni eli ma o mea ua eliina ua tuu autafa                     e Placement of fill material
                                                * Faamamaina o fanua, o fea e toe tuu iai le palapala                     e Where ditches are built and the excavated material
                                                * Faagatusaina o le palapala                                                is deposited on the side
                                                e Fausiaina o se auala                                                    * Land clearing, where the soil is relocated
                                                a Fausiaina o se mea tali vai                                             e Land leveling
                                                                                                                          * Road construction
                                                Faafesoota'i i le Ofisa o Atina'e o le Tamaoaiga mo se
                                                fesoasoani e tusa ma pernita. I itulau 37 ma le 38, e                     - Dam construction
                                                tele matagaluega e mana'omia tulaga fuaftiaina mo                         Contact EDPO/ASCMP for advice and guidance
                                                pala ma taufusi. 0 le Ofisa o le Atina'e o le Tamaoaiga                   through the permitting maze. As the diagrams on
                                                o lo o iai se lisi o mea e tatau ona fai mo pemita ma le                  pages and 37 and 38 demonstrate, a number of
                                                taimi e mafai ai ona fai.                                                 agencies have mandatory requirem        'ents associated
                                                Faamatalaga: E iai sala tupe tetele e tuuina atu i e                      with wetlands. EDPO/ASCMP can provide you with a
                                                e le ofaia nipemita efaaaoga aijanua ae ua                                checklist of actions you need to take to go through
                                                amataina a latou galuega.                                                 the permitting process and the approximate amount
                                                                                                                          of time these actions will take.

                                                                                                                          Note.. there are strictfines andpenaltiesfor those who
                                                                                                                          fail to obtain a land usepe?7nit, if required, before
                                                                                                                          starting their activity.


                                                                                                                   36


















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                                          o Tutuila ma Aunuu                                                   Tutuila and Aunuu

                                          0 laueleele susu e sefulu-tasi o Tutuila ma Aunu'u, e iai o          Each of the eleven wetland areas on Tutuila and Aunu'u is
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                                                        Ato ma e na pulea
                                                        Photography/iMustration credits




                                                        I     Art Whistler
                                                        3     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
                                                        4     BioSystems
                                                        5     Art Whistler
                                                        6     DMWR, BioSystems
                                                        7     Art Whistler
                                                        8     Niki Yonkow, Barbara Moricsch, Tom Grignon
                                                        9     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
                                                        10    Art Whistler, Barbara Moritsch
                                                        11    BioSystems, Betty Gai
                                                        12    BioSystems
                                                        13    BioSystems
                                                        14    Art Whistler, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, BioSystems
                                                        15    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Art Whistler
                                                        M     Barbara Moritsch
                                                        18    Barbara Moritsch, Tom Grignon
                                                        19    BioSystems
                                                        20    Carolyn Fish
                                                        21    BioSystems
                                                        22    Carolyn Fish
                                                        23    Carolyn Fish
                                                        24    Wim Kimmerer, BioSystems, Tom Grignon, Niki Yonkow
                                                        25    DMWR, Wim Kimmerer
                                                        26    Tom Grignon
                                                        27    BioSystems
                                                        28    BioSystems
                                                        29    BioSystems
                                                        30    BioSystems
                                                        32    BioSystems
                                                        33    BioSystems
                                                        34    BioSystems
                                                        35    BioSystems
                                                        36    Betty Gai
                                                        37    BioSystems
                                                        38    BioSystems
                                                        39    BioSysterns
                                                        40-51 BioSystems
































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