Central Savai'i Rainforest
Encyclopedia
The Samoan tropical moist forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest
ecoregion
in the Samoan Islands
. They cover an area of 3100 km² (1,196.9 sq mi).
The Central Savai'i Rainforest, comprising an area of 72,699 hectares on the island of Savai'i
in the Samoan Islands, is the largest continuous patch of rainforest in Polynesia
. The area contains more than 100 volcanic craters including recent lava flows.There are three broad types of rainforests, the most extensive is lowland
forest, followed by montane and cloud forest
. The rainforest spans the inland region of the island and contains most of Samoa
's endemic native species, many of which are threatened or near extinction.
These include the rare and unusual Tooth-billed Pigeon
(Didinculus strigirostris) known locally as Manumea, the national bird of Samoa and other birds such as the Maomao
honeyeater (Gymnomyza samoensis). The Samoan White-eye
(Zosterops samoensis) and Samoan Moorhen
(Gallinula pacifica) are both endemic to Savai'i. The Samoan Moorhen was last recorded in 1873 with possible sightings in 1984 at the upland forests and at Mount Silisili
in 2003.
In 1994, Samoa
ratified the international and legally binding treaty, the Convention on Biological Diversity
to develop national strategies for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In 2010, protected areas in the country cover 5% of land.
Approximately 30% of Samoa's biodiversity is endemic, found only in Samoa, with new species still being discovered including two new butterflies in 2009 and freshwater fish new to science. The country has more native species of ferns and butterflies than New Zealand
, a country 85 times larger.
Most of Samoa's land is under customary
ownership, about 81%, which is governed at the local level by matai
, the chiefly heads of families. Conservation projects therefore take place in partnership with matai, such as the lowland rainforest preserve in Falealupo
village, at the western tip of Savai'i and Tafua
village on the south east coast.
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
in the Samoan Islands
Samoan Islands
The Samoan Islands or Samoa Islands is an archipelago covering in the central South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia and the wider region of Oceania...
. They cover an area of 3100 km² (1,196.9 sq mi).
The Central Savai'i Rainforest, comprising an area of 72,699 hectares on the island of Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
in the Samoan Islands, is the largest continuous patch of rainforest in Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
. The area contains more than 100 volcanic craters including recent lava flows.There are three broad types of rainforests, the most extensive is lowland
Lowland
In physical geography, a lowland is any broad expanse of land with a general low level. The term is thus applied to the landward portion of the upward slope from oceanic depths to continental highlands, to a region of depression in the interior of a mountainous region, to a plain of denudation, or...
forest, followed by montane and cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
. The rainforest spans the inland region of the island and contains most of Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
's endemic native species, many of which are threatened or near extinction.
These include the rare and unusual Tooth-billed Pigeon
Tooth-billed Pigeon
The Tooth-billed Pigeon also known as Samoan Pigeon, is a medium-sized, approximately 34 cm long, dark pigeon with reddish feet and bare skin around eye. The underparts, head and neck are blackish with a slight blue-green iridescence, and the tail, wings-coverts and tertials are chestnut,...
(Didinculus strigirostris) known locally as Manumea, the national bird of Samoa and other birds such as the Maomao
Mao (bird)
The Mao is a passerine bird belonging to the genus Gymnomyza in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is an endangered species and is endemic to the Samoan Islands. Little is known about its feeding and breeding habits....
honeyeater (Gymnomyza samoensis). The Samoan White-eye
Samoan White-eye
The Samoan White-eye is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family.It is endemic to the island of Savai'i in Samoa....
(Zosterops samoensis) and Samoan Moorhen
Samoan Wood Rail
The Samoan Wood Rail , also known as Samoan Moorhen, is a nearly flightless rail endemic to the Samoan island of Savai'i, and probably extinct...
(Gallinula pacifica) are both endemic to Savai'i. The Samoan Moorhen was last recorded in 1873 with possible sightings in 1984 at the upland forests and at Mount Silisili
Silisili
Mount Silisili is the highest peak in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is located in the centre of a mountain chain running the length of Savai'i island.Mount Silisili rises to a height of 1,858 m...
in 2003.
In 1994, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
ratified the international and legally binding treaty, the Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
to develop national strategies for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In 2010, protected areas in the country cover 5% of land.
Approximately 30% of Samoa's biodiversity is endemic, found only in Samoa, with new species still being discovered including two new butterflies in 2009 and freshwater fish new to science. The country has more native species of ferns and butterflies than New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, a country 85 times larger.
Most of Samoa's land is under customary
Customary land
Customary land is land which is owned by Indigenous communities and administered in accordance with their customs, as opposed to statutory tenure usually introduced during the colonial periods. Common ownership is one form of customary land ownership....
ownership, about 81%, which is governed at the local level by matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
, the chiefly heads of families. Conservation projects therefore take place in partnership with matai, such as the lowland rainforest preserve in Falealupo
Falealupo
Falealupo is a village in Samoa situated at the west end of Savai'i island from the dateline. The village has two main settlements, Falealupo-Uta, situated inland by the main island highway and Falealupo-Tai, situated by the sea...
village, at the western tip of Savai'i and Tafua
Tafua
Tafua is a seaside village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. It is situated on a peninsula on the southeast coast of the island in Palauli district.The population is 408 .-Tafua Rainforest Preserve:...
village on the south east coast.
See also
- List of protected areas of Samoa
- List of birds of Samoa
- Samoan plant namesSamoan plant namesThese are some Samoan plant names in alphabetical order in the Samoan language and their corresponding descriptions in English. Many are used in traditional medicines in the Samoa Islands comprising Samoa and American Samoa.-See also:...
, includes many plants used in traditional Samoan medicine. - List of mammals of Samoa