Wetlands and mangrove forests store massive amounts of natural carbon sink that helpmitigate the climate crisis UMD science, 2017

The American Samoa Government Department of Commerce, under the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs' Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories program (CFDA 15.875), received a $500,000 Project Grant award on January 7, 2025. The award will support the establishment of healthy wetland ecosystems in Vatia Village (15.5 acres) and Aunuu Island (4.5 acres) through cleanup and restoration of disturbed mangrove forest zones. Key activities include removing waste, scrap metals, debris, and household trash, as well as replanting degraded areas with native mangrove and riparian tree seedlings. This project aims to increase carbon sequestration, purify freshwater, and raise awareness about the benefits and importance of wetlands and mangrove rainforests restoration in American Samoa. The award will be completed by November 30, 2029.

They are a vital natural solution to climatechange ramsar 2019. Around 40% of the worlds species live and breed in wetlands ramsar,2021, including many that are found nowhere else on the planet, such as the nowendangeredpeapeavai or sheathtailed BAT in american samoa. Wetlands provide numerous benefits andact as a buffer against the devastating effects of flooding, drought, and natural disasters, protecting vulnerable village communities during extreme weather events ramsar, 2017.wetlands provide essential services to people, but as an ecosystem, they are often misunderstoodas swamplike things that you want to eliminate UMD science, 2017. Wetland destructiondeprives communities of these benefits and can lead to decreased forest productivity, biodiversity loss, and an increase in pests and diseases ramsar, 2022. The governorsbiodiversity conservation office gbco proposes to establish healthy wetland ecosystems bycleaning up and restoring disturbed mangrove forest zones in vatia village 15.5 acres andaunuu island 4.5 acres please refer to figures 1 and 2 for aerial views and information onthe proposed wetlands. This proposed project will help protect the biologically rich and culturalsignificance of wetland areas in american samoa. The gbco proposes to help 1 establishhealthy wetland ecosystems by removing wastes scrap metals, debris, household trash, etc. AND2 replanting degraded mangrove forest zones with native mangrove and riparian tree seedlingsto support a healthy and resilient environment, increasing carbon sequestration and purifyingfreshwater by absorbing pollutants and excess nutrients before reaching adjacent coral reefs areasgovernment of australia, 2012, 3 raise awareness about the benefits and importance ofwetlands and mangrove rainforests restoration, and 4 support the american samoa islandwidecleanup and habitat restoration initiative, which