The SCS Executive Committee Members will have their bi-monthly meeting this 11th February 2015. Members are welcome to submit any items for discussion. Please contact SCS Secretary for more information: samoaconservation@gmail.com or tel. (685) 765 1028.
Author Archives: conservesamoa
Wetlands for the Future – World celebrates wetland day (Feb. 2nd)
HAPPY WORLD WETLANDS DAY to all our SCS members and friends
World Wetlands Day 2015 is being celebrated across the world and here in our region, and it marks the birthday of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted this day back in 1971 in the city of Ramsar in Iran.
The Pacific countries of Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are parties to the Ramsar Convention. These countries are taking steps to ensure the conservation and wise use of their wetlands.
Wetlands include our lakes, marshes, swamps, rivers, mangroves, seagrass beds, lagoons and coral reefs – all aquatic influenced habitats that form the ridge to the reef.
Wetlands provide significant ecosystem services that sustain our island economies and community livelihoods. Let’s think about how we can all incorporate wetlands into our work.
For more information about wetlands and the Ramsar Convention please visit: www.ramsar.org
(article prepared by Seiuli Vainuupo Jungblut – Pacific Wetlands Regional Oceania Officer)
Social-marketing – what you need to know in 20 minutes!
SAMOA CONSERVATION SOCIETY members are invited to attend a short seminar by Steve Menzies on social-marketing.
Social marketing has been used in successful campaigns such as getting people to buckle up in their cars, reduce litter and increase recycling in some communities. The conservation world is embracing social marketing as a way to find solutions to on-going challenges. If we can identify what makes people act or react positively – then we can build solutions to encourage this behaviour. Steve will be able to tell us more and an opportunity to ask questions…such as will it work for us?
Something about Steve:
Former SPREPPIE, Steve, spent five years (2007-12) working for the UK’s National Social Marketing Centre, a world-leader in the development and promotion of evidence-based behaviour change programmes. He has now designed social marketing campaigns and training programmes in more than 30 countries including China, Vietnam and Jordan. Now an independent consultant based in New Zealand, Steve’s clients currently include: the World Health Organisation; the World Bank; the World Meteorological Organisation; the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, SPC and USAID. Steve is also a member the organizing committee for the bi-annual international social marketing conference hosted by the University of South Florida.
Join us at the SPREP Compound from 12.00pm this Thursday 29th January, 2015. Contact your SCS Secretary for more information – posas@sprep.org or tel. 66276
Planning for the future of Samoa’s biodiversity
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.
Samoa to review NBSAP
JOIN US this coming Thursday 22nd January 2015 at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel in Sogi, Apia from 9.30am to review Samoa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The NBSAP is the overall guiding document or plan to chart an environmentally sound and socially just direction for development in Samoa.
Samoa’s NBSAP is our response to the global call following the Earth Summit held in Rio in 1992 for all nations to seriously consider the environment (and the people) in all development initiatives. Samoa’s first NBSAP was developed in the late 1990s and was endorsed by the Government in 2001. The Government is current updating the NBSAP and is encouraging all interested stakeholders to provide comments and inputs toward this process.
Despite efforts by governments, communities and partners, global biodiversity continues to decline and degrade at an alarming rate. Samoa’s biological diversity faces the same scenario with many of our species declining and becoming locally extinct (e.g. one species of giant clam – faisua – and our swallow-tail butterfly – pepe ‘ae).
This Thursday 22nd January, 2015 is an opportunity to work together with the Government, communities and many of our partners toward a sustainable future for our species and our islands.
If you wish to attend this – please contact Juney Ward as soon as possible. If you are interested in any of the documents relating to Samoa’s NBSAP – please contact the Samoa Conservation Society Secretary (conservesamoa@gmail.com).
Manuia le Kerisimasi ma le Tausaga Fou | Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
The President, Sala Josephine Stowers-Fiu and the Executive Committee members – Leilani Iosefa, Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Juney Ward, James Atherton, Leatigaga Mark Bonin & Posa Skelton of the Fa’asao Samoa / Samoa Conservation Society would like to wish all our members, families, friends and supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We thank you for your support over the year and we look forward to seeing you in 2015. It is promising to be a fantastic year in 2015 and it can only be great with your support and participation.
With our alofas and best wishes.
Merry Xmas
Samoa Conservation Society 2014 AGM Minutes
Please click on the link below for the Minutes of the 2014 Annual General Meeting.
Executive Committee Meeting (Wed. 10 Dec. 2014)
Talofa to all our friends, supporters and members.
We would like to invite you to our next Executive Committee Meeting scheduled for Wednesday 10 December, 2014 at the Conservation International Office in Vailima. The meeting starts at 12.00pm concluding at 1.30pm. Please confirm your attendance via conservesamoa@gmail.com.
Thank you and look forward to seeing you there.
Press Release on the launch of the Samoa Conservation Society
Members of the Samoa Conservation Society, CEO of MNRE Suluimalo Amataga Penaia (second from left) and British Consul in Samoa (in white) at the launch of the SCS, Nov 7, 2014
The Samoa Conservation Society (SCS) “Fa’asao Samoa” was launched in a short ceremony as part of the last day of Samoa’s National Environment Week on Friday November 7 at the To’oa Salamasina Hall, Sogi. The SCS is a non-profit organisation made up of a group of volunteers dedicated to conserving Samoa’s natural heritage and in particular, saving Samoa’s many threatened species of plants and animals from extinction. The society’s office is based at Vailima within the Conservation International (Pacific Islands) Office.
Of Samoa’s many thousands of native species of plants and animals, about 76 species are on the IUCN’s (the World Conservation Union) Red List of species considered to be at risk of extinction, although the true figure of Samoa’s threatened native species is probably much higher. The main threats to native species decline include invasive species, overharvesting, habitat degradation, pollution and climate change. Species considered threatened in Samoa include 52 coral species, 11 marine fish, 7 birds, 2 turtles, a land snail and one terrestrial mammal species (the Samoan flying fox). Additionally, there are a number of threatened marine species such as sharks, whales and dolphins which migrate through Samoan waters. The Samoa Conservation Society intends to work with local communities to raise awareness about Samoa’s unique natural heritage and the threats to its flora and fauna and to design conservation projects that could save those native species while helping Samoan communities achieve sustainable development.
The SCS has just received grant from the UK Government to save the Manumea, Samoa’s national bird, over the next 3 years. The Manumea is now considered Critically Endangered with only a few hundred birds remaining and is threatened by hunting, destruction of its forest habitat from logging and development pressures and from invasive species, such as rats and cats, which feed on eggs and young birds. The project is a partnership between the SCS, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in particular its Division of Environment and Conservation, the Australian NationalUniversity (ANU) in Canberra and other partners and will involve working with local communities to identify where the Manumea is still found, to raise awareness about its current status and to implement actions to save it.
The launch event was MC’d by Leatigaga Mark Bonin, a founding member of the society. The key note address was given by the Associate Minister of MNRE Faumuina Tiatia Liuga who welcomed the new partnership between MNRE and SCS and underscored the need to save the endangered biodiversity of Samoa. An address was also given by the British Consul in Samoa- HE Taulapapa Brenda Heather Latu who was proud to announce the UK Government’s support for the SCS and especially for the conservation of Samoa’s “little dodo” the Manumea. The President of the SCS Tofilau Tepa Suaesi noted the importance of working with communities to raise awareness and understanding of Samoa’s unique biodiversity and the development of village based programs that benefit the biodiversity as well as local communities. Finally, the Project Coordinator of the Manumea project, Rebecca Stirnemann, explained the objectives of the project including locating the Manumea and putting transmitters on them to better understand their breeding and feeding habits and the threats to their survival. She appealed to the public to support the project and to help the SCS locate the Manumea- which she called “Samoa’s treasure”.
At the end of the launch the audience was treated to a dance by two Manumea mascots used by the MNRE for their schools outreach programs while the beautiful call of the Manumea was played.
The SCS plans to have an AGM on Saturday Nov 29, 2014 at the Yacht Club 10am-12noon which will be open to any members of the public who may wish to join SCS. For more information on the Samoa Conservation Society please visit:https://samoaconservationsociety.wordpress.com/
From SCS Executive
Samoa Conservation Society AGM planned for Saturday Nov 29@10am@Apia Yacht Club
The AGM for the Samoa Conservation Society will be held on Saturday Nov 29 from 10am- 12 noon at the Apia Yacht Club.
The AGM is open to the public and will be an opportunity for you to learn more about the society.
A new SCS Executive will also be voted in. Currently the Executive is:
- Tofilau Tepa Suaesi – President
- Leilani Duffy Iosefa – Secretary
- Juney Ward – Treasurer
- James Atherton
- Sue Mulvany
- Mark Bonin
- Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson
If you wish to vote at the AGM you must become a member by completing the membership form and returning it to: conservesamoa@gmail.com
See you there!
Fa’afetai lava,
SCS Executive
samoaconservationsociety.com 