The US Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than one hundred thousand US dollars to conserve and protect mangrove wetlands on the American Samoan islands of Tutuila and Aunu'u.
Population growth and development have been the major threats to the mangrove areas, the majority of which have been filled in the last hundred years.
Today only five significant mangrove stands remain.
The money will go to the American Samoa Coastal Management Programme which will monitor the mangrove wetlands and set up an education programme to teach the local community the importance of conserving the areas.
