MEMBERS OF THE SAMOA CONSERVATION SOCIETY participated at the national consultation on Samoa’s national biodiversity strategy and action plan (NBSAP).

The NBSAP stakeholder consultation was held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia yesterday, 22 January 2015 and was attended by government departments, civil society and non-governmental organisations, private sector and other interested groups.

The consultation aimed to engage relevant stakeholders in providing their views and contributions on biodiversity targets for Samoa over the next five years. Five overall goals were agreed to for the NBSAP, which are aligned closely with the Aichi Targets, as agreed to by countries party to the Convention of Biological Diversity.
Participants worked on the goals such as addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society. Other goals include promoting sustainable use, safeguarding species, genetic diversity and ecosystems and building capacity.

Building of capacity, especially of village chiefs and other community leaders was seen as important to allow them to fully participate, engage and oversee projects that take place in their villages.

Participants worked in five working groups to refine some of the actions, indicators and identify key partners that will spearhead the implementation of the NBSAP.

The Samoa Conservation Society members participated in all of the five working groups and were able to make a pledge for SCS to be a key partner to the Government in the implementation of this strategy and action plan.

The current work by SCS on Saving the Manumea and other threatened species makes it a key and active stakeholder in this national consultation.