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ISLAND DIRECTORY
Islands of Samoa [Western Samoa]
Savai'i (Savaii) [966]
Group: Archipelago: Samoa Islands
Country: Samoa Region: Oceania 9
Lat: 13.60º S Long : 172.45º W
Area: 1717.6 sq. km Altitude: 1858 m
Shoreline: 192.4 km (scale 1:1000000) Coastal Index: 0.1120
Depth to nearest land: 4000 m
Nearest island: 10 km group: 500 km
Nearest continent: Australia Distance: 3800 km Isolation Index: 87
ISLAND TYPE: high volcanic shield Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Active volcano last erupted in 1905-1911, lava flows with
different stages of colonization
CLIMATE: wet tropical
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: volcanic eruptions, cyclones
Threat Indicator: 2
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 15
Lowland and montane rain forests with different types depending on age
of
volcanic substrate; cloud forest with many endemics; scrub and
grasslands on
recent lava flows and uplands; crater marshes; swamp forest; mangroves,
rocky
shores, fringing reefs along some of coast Forest Coral reefs, Mangroves
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land birds |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
rich endemic flora at higher elevations
Insects:
Hypolimnas thompsoni (butterfly) group endemic
Papilio godeffroyi (butterfly) group endemic, rare/indeterminate
Birds:
Aplonis atrifuscus (Samoan Starling) group endemic, Rare
Didunculus strigirostris (Tooth-billed Pigeon, Manume'a) endemic,
Savai'i
and Upolu, Vulnerable (RDB)
Erythrura cyaneovirens (Red-headed Parrot-Finch) declining
Gymnomyza samoensis (Black-breasted Honeyeater) group endemic, Rare
Halcyon recurvirostris* (Flat-billed Kingfisher) group endemic
Lalage sharpei (Samoan Triller) group endemic
Myiagra albiventris (White-vented Flycatcher) group endemic
Pachycephala flavifrons (Yellow-fronted Whistler) group endemic
Pareudiastes pacificus (Samoan Wood Rail) group endemic, probably
extinct
Rhipidura nebulosa (Samoan Fantail)
Zosterops samoensis (Savai'i White-eye) endemic
SPECIES RICHNESS:
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
moderate
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 1 Group: 2
plant group endemism 25%
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
active volcano
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 3
some weeds affecting forest regeneration
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: logging, subsistence agriculture
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Subsistence agriculture and plantations in most coastal areas; extensive
logging destroying most harvestable forest areas; some reforestation
Habitat: villages Urban Pop: 0 Urban Indicator: 0
Accessibility: airport
Percent population in agr/mining/fishing: 61% Human Threat Indicator: 2
Gross Domestic Product: $ 831 per capita Economic Pressure Indicator: 0
Conservation support: government support, legislation
DATA RELIABILITY: partial Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 5
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 15 High
CI-Marine: 2 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 23/12/90
Upolu ('Upolu) [965]
Group: Archipelago: Samoa Islands
Country: Samoa Region: Oceania 9
Lat: 13.95º S Long : 171.70º W
Area: 1125.1 sq. km Altitude: 1143 m
Shoreline: 188.3 km (scale 1:1000000) Coastal Index: 0.1674
Depth to nearest land: 4000 m
Nearest island: 10 km group: 500 km
Nearest continent: Australia Distance: 3800 km Isolation Index: 87
ISLAND TYPE: high volcanic shield Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Volcanic cones along east-west ridge
CLIMATE: wet tropical
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 13
Several lowland and montane rain forest types; swamp forest; scrub and
fernland; grasslands; crater lakes, streams and other fresh water
habitats;
mangroves; extensive broad fringing reefs and shallow lagoons with
seagrasses
along most of coast. Forest Coral reefs, Mangroves
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land birds |
33 |
0 |
1 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Insects:
Hypolimnas thompsoni (butterfly) group endemic
Papilio godeffroyi (butterfly) group endemic, rare/indeterminate
Other invertebrates:
Thaumatodon hystrellicoides (land snail) threatened by ants
Birds:
Aplonis atrifuscus (Samoan Starling) group endemic, Rare
Didunculus strigirostris (Tooth-billed Pigeon, Manume'a) endemic,
Savai'i
and Upolu, Vulnerable (RDB)
Gymnomyza samoensis (Black-breasted Honeyeater) group endemic, Rare
Halcyon recurvirostris* (Flat-billed Kingfisher) group endemic
Lalage sharpei (Samoan Triller) group endemic
Myiagra albiventris (White-vented Flycatcher) group endemic
Pachycephala flavifrons (Yellow-fronted Whistler) group endemic
Rhipidura nebulosa (Samoan Fantail)
SPECIES RICHNESS:
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
moderate
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 2
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
some turtle nesting
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 3
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, capital Apia and urban area
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: government, coconuts, tourism
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Capital and urban centre with some small industry; lower slopes largely
cultivated, coconut plantations; increasing agricultural clearing at
high
elevations and in water catchment areas; some logging
Habitat: villages Urban Pop: 0 Urban Indicator: 0
Accessibility: port, airport
Percent population in agr/mining/fishing: 61% Human Threat Indicator: 2
Gross Domestic Product: $ 831 per capita Economic Pressure Indicator: 0
Conservation support: government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
Number: 4 Area: Terrestrial: 29.2 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
O Le Pupu - Pu'e National Park (II) 2,857 ha
Palolo Deep Marine Reserve (IV) (CRD) (marine 22 ha)
Tusitala Historic and Nature Reserve 64 ha
Togitogiga Recreation Reserve 3 ha
Proposed protected areas in the 1975 National Parks System report:
Lake Lanoto'o National Park
Lake Olomaga National Park
Mount Vaea Nature Reserve (expansion)
Apolimafou Nature Reserve
Vaipu Nature Reserve
Tiavi Nature Reserve
Fuipisia/Sopo'aga Nature Reserve
Matautu Nature Reserve
Pata Nature Reserve
Fusi/Tafitoala Nature Reserve
Sa'anapu Strict Nature Reserve
Aganoa Nature Reserve
Nu'usafe'e Island Nature Reserve
Salamumu Nature Reserve
Satuimalufilufi/Fuailolo'o Coral Sanctuary
Fusi/Tafitoala Coral Sanctuary
Nu'usafe'e Island/Tafatafa Coral Sanctuary
DATA RELIABILITY: partial Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 5
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 10 Moderate
CI-Marine: 1 Low
REFERENCES:
Nunn, Patrick D. 1988. Potential impacts of projected sea-level rise
on
Pacific Island states (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Western
Samoa): a preliminary report. In: Interim report on potential impacts
of
greenhouse gas generated climate change and projected sea-level rise
on
Pacific Island states of the SPREP region. UNEP(OCA)/WG.2/20
Last updated: 05/12/88
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Page last updated: 09/05/10