Wetlands Program

Wetlands are one of the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world, on par with coral reefs and rainforests. Wetlands come in all different shapes and sizes and make up from peat bogs to prairie potholes to the more familiar swamps and marshes; and are found on every continent of the world minus Antarctica. In American Samoa, we are lucky to have a variety of wetlands, including mangrove swamps, freshwater swamps, freshwater marshes, springs and streams.

Unfortunately, wetlands throughout the world have experienced dramatic declines due to conversion to agricultural lands and development. American Samoa is no different. Since 1961, American Samoa has lost over 30% of its wetlands, yet prior to 1961 a great number of wetland areas were destroyed for the construction of primary infrastructure including roads, schools, hospitals, parks and airports. Some experts estimate that American Samoa has lost in total, approximately 75-80% of its pre- wetlands. And this loss is continuing. 

Wetland loss is not just a number. Wetlands loss is a loss of all the functions and values that maintain the quality of life for us, the humans such as: flood water storage, fish and shellfish nursery grounds, wildlife habitat, taro cultivation, water quality, aquifer discharge and recharge, storm surge protection, recreation, subsistence fisheries and traditional dyes and medicines.

Flood Water Storage: Wetland areas act as natural sponges collecting waters and then slowly releasing them either to the sea, to the sky (evaporation) or underground. When you fill in a wetland, you limit its capacity to hold water. When the same amount of water comes, it has less space in which to be collected and it tends to flood other areas. Think about a cup, that is the wetland. Now fill the cup up with water and slowly add rocks, this is the fill. Eventually, the water in the cup will be forced out as it is displaced by the racks.

Fish and Shellfish Nursery Grounds: Because wetlands offer a safe, nutrient rich environment, many fish and shellfish utilize wetlands as nursery grounds. When mature, these fish and shellfish then venture out of the coastal wetlands and back into the ocean where they are consumed as food by humans and other animals further up the food chain.

Wildlife Habitat: Wetlands are home to a variety of animals including fish, shellfish, insects, amphibians including: pa'a limaga/mangrove crab, tuna/eel, ula vai/shrimp, tugane/clam, mullet/fuafua, ipo/sand worm, fo/cardinal fish, malauli/jack, aua/mullet, sali/silverside, mumu/ponyfish, sesele/perch, apofu/goby, mano'o/mud skippers, ula/lobsters, lage/marine toad, pili/skink, mo'o/gecko. But if we take a step back from the wetlands, we will find many birds such as toloa/greyduck, ve,a/banded rail, manualii/purple swamp hen, ti'otala/white-collared kingfisher and bat/pe'a which depend on wetland plants and animals as well. When the wetlands go the animals go as well.

Taro Cultivation: Taro has been a staple crop of Samoans from the beginning of Samoa forming an integral component of the diet as well as the culture. Ask any Samoan and they will tell you the best tasting taro comes from the wetlands. Taro grown in wet conditions are stressed causing the plants to concentrate its energy in the root thereby creating a sweeter and tastier taro.

Water Quality: As water rushes off of the mountains it picks up sediment and other pollutants on its way down to the sea. As the water enters a wetland In an ever-increasing urbanized culture, wetlands offer a small piece of the natural world.

Traditional Dyes and Medicines: Wetland plants have for centuries provided Samoans with dyes for tapa as well as medicines for various illnesses. Most of our modern day medicines have their origins in plants from around the world. Who knows, the cure for cancer may be a plant in the American Samoa wetland.

ASCMP Wetlands Program

The American Samoa Coastal Management Program Wetlands Program is made up of four components, Education and Outreach, Rules and Regulations, Community Based Wetlands Management, and Wetlands Restoration. These parts overlap and feed into each other at all levels, forming a seamless, comprehensive, and culturally sensitive arsenal for the struggle to protect wetlands.

EDUCATION/OUTREACH

ASCMP targets all ages and backgrounds in the attempt to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands. ASCMP has developed videos, posters and signs, conducts tours and presentations, prints regular messages in the media, and plans month long activities to celebrate Wetlands Month each May.

RULES/REGULATIONS

In Public Law 21-35 the Fono passed and the Governor signed into being the ASCMP Administrative Rules. ASCMP administers these rules which include provisions for wetlands, through the Project Notification and Review System.

COMMUNITY BASED WETLANDS MANAGEMENT

This program, begun in 1995, is a grass-roots, bottom-up management effort. Through community negotiations, education, and delineations, the village councils draw up and sign wetland resolutions and ordinances protecting wetland resources.

RESTORATION

Through the CBWMP or mitigation requirements for violations, restoration plans have been developed and carried out through this office. Opportunities for restoration are small in scale yet big in results as communities are often key in on-the-ground work creating ownership and pride.