§ 410qq. — Findings and purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC410qq]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 1--NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES
SUBCHAPTER LIX-O--NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA
Sec. 410qq. Findings and purpose
(a) Findings
The Congress finds that:
(1) Tropical forests are declining worldwide.
(2) Tropical forests contain 50 percent of the world's plant and
animal species, contribute significantly to the advancement of
science, medicine, and agriculture and produce much of the earth's
oxygen. The loss of these forests leads to the extinction of
species, lessening the world's biological diversity, reduces the
potential for new medicines and crops and increases carbon dioxide
levels in the atomosphere \1\ contributing to the greenhouse effect
that is altering the global climate.
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\1\ So in original. Probably should be ``atmosphere''.
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(3) The tropical forest of American Samoa is one of the last
remaining undisturbed paleotropical forests.
(4) The tropical forest in American Samoa is the largest such
forest under direct control of the United States.
(5) The tropical forest of American Samoa contains the habitat
of one of the last remaining populations of Pacific flying foxes.
(6) The flying foxes of American Samoa are responsible for a
large part of the pollination which maintains a significant portion
of the species which inhabit the Samoan tropical forest.
(7) Information presently available indicates the existence of
extensive archaeological evidence related to the development of the
Samoan culture which needs to be examined and protected.
(8) The people of American Samoa have expressed a desire to have
a portion of the tropical forest protected as a unit of the National
Park System.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of this subchapter is to preserve and protect the
tropical forest and archaeological and cultural resources of American
Samoa, and of associated reefs, to maintain the habitat of flying foxes,
preserve the ecological balance of the Samoan tropical forest, and,
consistent with the preservation of these resources, to provide for the
enjoyment of the unique resources of the Samoan tropical forest by
visitors from around the world.
(Pub. L. 100-571, Sec. 1, Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2879.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 410qq-1 of this title.
