A comprehensive strategy for wildlife conservation in American Samoa
Utzurrum RC, Seamon JO, Saili KS. 2006. A comprehensive strategy for wildlife conservation in American Samoa. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. Pago Pago, American Samoa
The Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy presented here provides guidance for the allocation of resources and efforts to those species that for reasons of lack of information, low or declining abundances, highly localized or restricted distributions, and great vulnerability to threats are considered deserving priority conservation attention. Among these are select species of invertebrates (coconut crab, a Papilio butterfly, and endemic terrestrial snails) and vertebrates (Pacific boa, 2 species of skinks, green and hawksbill turtles, rare and poorly known species of land birds, ground-nesting sea birds, the sheath-tailed bat). The statuses of these species are described to the extent possible with available information, and priority conservation actions for each are defined. The expanding human population coupled with the lack of land use guidelines in the Territory make it imperative to develop and implement a wildlife habitat plan as a strategy necessary for the conservation of most species. When implemented with local and regional partners, in full consideration of the traditional and cultural sensitivities of the local community, the strategies identified should improve information on the status of species, their ecological needs, vulnerability to threats, resiliency to disturbance, and prospects for maintaining viable populations through the future.