American Samoa's High Court has ruled that there will be no further clearing or development of the Tafuna lowland rainforest area in Ottovile unless the owners of the property or their agents obtain a land use permit.
The High Court has granted the government's request for a preliminary injunction to stop Avamua David Haleck, representing the owners of the rainforest acreage, from clearing virgin bush or carrying out any development activity within the existing Tafuna lowland rainforest area, without first obtaining a land use permit.
In April the administration petitioned the court for an injunction after Avamua threatened to begin bulldozing the forest.
This was after the government announced plans to impose a moratorium on development in the area.
The government said that the rainforest is home to trees, plant and bird species not found anywhere else and should be protected,.
The High Court said in its ruling that the land at issue is a unique area and its unlawful and unauthorized development would result in irreparable injury to the land.
