Seacology Helps Create 50th National Park
The National Park of American Samoa was formally dedicated this spring by U.S. Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbit. This action follows by ten years the signing by President Ronald Reagan of legislation initiated by Seacology scientists and board members.
Present for a celebration and tour of the 50th National Park of the United States was former Chair of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Congressman Bruce Vento, National Park Trust Chairman Dale Crane, Seacology Donors and Bat Conservation International Founders Verne and Marion Read, Bat Conservation International President Dr. Merlin Tuttle and his wife Carolyn Love, National Park Planner Gary Barbano, National Park Superintendent Chris Stein and his wife Meryl Goldin and Seacology Chairman Dr. Paul Cox.
The new national park protects over 9,000 acres of spectacular tropical rainforest and coral reef on three different islands in American Samoa: Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta'u. It is the only park on U.S. soil to protect paletropical rain forests. "The new national park is unique," explains Paul Cox, "in that indigenous people played a key role in the design of the park from its inception. Under the legislation local villagers are allowed to use the park forests and reefs for subsistence purposes, as long as they use traditional techniques and tools and do not damage the resource. Furthermore, given indigenous views about the sacredness of the land, all of the park areas have been acquired through long-term leases from village chiefs and families."
During the tour, villagers were clearly enthusiastic about the park. The Seacology/Bat Conservation International Group was greeted in three villages: Fagasa, Ofu and Fitituta with traditional kava cermonies, and twice enjoyed dinner with American Samoan Governor Tauese Sunia. Even park wildlife seemed to participate in the celebration: in Tutuila, the group was greeted by the majestic soaring of several endangered Samoan flying foxes, and in the island of Ofu, a humpback whale and its calf appeared in park waters to bid the group farewell.
"This new National Park has resulted from careful cooperation of village chiefs, the American Samoan Government, the United States Congress, and Seacology Scientists," Cox reported. "Seacology donors, including Verne and Marion Read, Rex Maughan, and Carol Lambert played a key role in convincing Congress and the White House of the need for this new National Park."
Cox particularly acknowledged the bipartisan leadership of Congressman Bruce Vento in guiding the legislation through Congress. "I though it marvelous that Republicans and Democrats worked together in both the House (Bruce Vento, D-Minnesota and James Hansen, R-Utah) and the Senate (George Mitchell, D-Maine and Orrin Hatch, R- Utah) to save Samoan rain forests."
Seacology Indigenous Conservationist of the Year A. P. Lutali, and Seacology Friend, Samoan Congressman Eni Faleomavaega showed great wisdom in suggesting leaseholds as an alternative to outright purchase of park lands.
There is much in this new park for Seacology donors to be proud of, and it certainly sends the world a strong indication of the importance that the people of the United States place on conservation of tropical rainforests and island cultures.
