F24AF03135

The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Wildlife Division is responsible for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat in the territory of American Samoa.

This grant is aimed at preserving critical wildlife habitat on the Tafuna Plain of Tutuila, American Samoa, by continuing a short-term conservation lease on approximately 5 acres of the Naumati Forest from imminent development by a church while contributing to the purchase of the remaining 22 acres of the Naumati (Ottoville) lowland lava flow rainforest, which is proposed to be acquired through the USFS Forest Legacy Program.

This grant will also aid in the development of a draft land management plan for the protected lands to allow for public access.

The Naumati Forest is the last remaining significant stand of lava flow rainforest remaining in Tutuila (Whistler 1993), which once covered most of the Tafuna Plain.

The forest has a high diversity of wildlife and provides the only refuge on the Tafuna Plain for rare species including the Samoan flying fox, purple-capped fruit doves, and many-colored fruit doves.

Protection of this forest is vital to the long-term health of rare wildlife species in the Tafuna Plain of Tutuila and will provide wildlife recreational access, as well as preserving important cultural and educational resources.

American Samoa Government

TRADITIONAL WILDLIFE RESTORATION PROVIDES FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING TO THE 50 STATES AS WELL AS THE COMMONWEALTHS AND TERRITORIES NOT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HEREAFTER STATE OR STATES FOR THE SELECTION RESTORATION REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF WILDLIFE HABITAT. ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH WILDLIFE POPULATION SURVEYS AND INVENTORIES LAND ACQUISITION COORDINATING DEVELOPING OPERATING AND MAINTAINING FACILITIES PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC USE OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE PREVIOUSLY LISTED ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY STATES MAY CHOOSE TO ALLOCATE UP TO 10 PERCENT OF THEIR CURRENT APPORTIONMENT TO BE COMBINED WITH OTHER FUNDS FOR ACQUIRING LAND EXPANDING OR CONSTRUCTING PUBLIC TARGET RANGES.

15.611 - Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education

Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1: Pacific [DOI - FWS]

American Samoa United States

State-Wide

F-FWS-WSFR-24-027

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/25 to 09/30/27 and the total obligations have increased 36% from $1,105,423 to $1,505,423.