12.07.2015 Views

american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa Botany Department

american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa Botany Department

american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa Botany Department

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

The portions <strong>of</strong> the wetland selected for taro production would initially require the excav<strong>at</strong>ion<strong>of</strong> fill m<strong>at</strong>erial to a minimum soil depth <strong>of</strong> about one to two feet. In terms <strong>of</strong> soil prepar<strong>at</strong>ion,the production <strong>of</strong> talo toto i le vai (wetland taro) will require manual and/or mechanical tilling<strong>of</strong> the soil and the possible applic<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> some limited nutrients to the soil.Taro cuttings from disease-free propag<strong>at</strong>ing m<strong>at</strong>erial would be used to establish the taro. Thecuttings are part <strong>of</strong> a taro plant stem about 12 to 18 inches long th<strong>at</strong> is <strong>at</strong>tached to a 2 to 3-inchsection <strong>of</strong> the corm. Such cuttings would ideally be obtained from the Samoa Ministry <strong>of</strong>Agriculture in Apia or the ASG <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Agriculture. Before planting, selected tarocuttings should be carefully inspected, washed with potable w<strong>at</strong>er, soaked in a 10 percentbleach solution for 30 seconds, and stored in a dry, cool, and well-ventil<strong>at</strong>ed area for 3 to 5days before planting.Compar<strong>at</strong>ive Benefits and ImpactsPPC’s evalu<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the two altern<strong>at</strong>e restor<strong>at</strong>ion and enhancement str<strong>at</strong>egies is summarized inTable 11-2. Both options gener<strong>at</strong>e a comparable overall level <strong>of</strong> project benefits. However,slightly gre<strong>at</strong>er benefits are afforded by Option 1 (Figure 11-3).Option 1 desirably removes solid waste m<strong>at</strong>erial from the wetland and likely restores thewetland to a coastal marsh through the planting <strong>of</strong> selected wetland plants. Theimplement<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Option 2 also would remove solid waste m<strong>at</strong>erial as well as wetland plantsto permit some subsistence agricultural use.Despite their apparent project benefits, both options are moder<strong>at</strong>ely expensive to implement iflight <strong>of</strong> the extensive requirements associ<strong>at</strong>ed with the removal and hauling <strong>of</strong> solid wastem<strong>at</strong>erial. It also likely th<strong>at</strong> both options may not be well received by local residents. Oneresident suggested to PPC in November 1999 th<strong>at</strong> Fusi residents would likely appreci<strong>at</strong>e theremoval <strong>of</strong> solid waste m<strong>at</strong>erial. However, once this m<strong>at</strong>erial would be removed, villageresidents would likely prefer to use the land for general residential land uses.TABLE 11-2COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONWETLAND RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIESFUSI WETLANDOptionProjectCostResidentialLand UsesSubsistenceAgricultureFish &Invertebr<strong>at</strong>eHabit<strong>at</strong>WetlandVeget<strong>at</strong>ionHabit<strong>at</strong>Stormw<strong>at</strong>erDetentionFloodHazards &PropertyDamage1 MC LB NBC NBC SB NBC NBC2 MC LB SB NBC LC NBC NBCNotes: Potential project benefits were r<strong>at</strong>ed by PPC as follows:SB Significant project benefitsLC Limited undesirable consequencesMB Moder<strong>at</strong>e project benefitsMC Moder<strong>at</strong>e undesirable consequencesLB Limited project benefitsSC Significant undesirable project impactsNBC No anticip<strong>at</strong>ed project benefits orundesirable consequencesSource: Pedersen Planning Consultants, 2000American Samoa Wetlands/Streams Restor<strong>at</strong>ion and Enhancement PlanFebruary 2001, Fusi Wetland, Page 11-9

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!