Group conserves natural heritage, looks at saving threatened species

A non-profit organisation made up of a group of volunteers dedicated to conserving Samoa’s natural heritage and save Samoa’s many threatened species of plants and animals from extinction has been set up.

The Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S) “Fa’asao Samoa” was launched on the last day of the National Environment Week last week.

The launching was emceed by Leatigaga Mark Bonin who is a founding member of the Society. As the keynote speaker, the Associate Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E), Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, welcomed the new partnership between M.N.R.E and S.C.S and underscored the need to save the endangered biodiversity of Samoa.

The Honourary British Consul in Samoa, Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu announced the U.K. Government’s support for the S.C.S and especially for the conservation of Samoa’s “little dodo” the Manumea.

S.C.S’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 S.C.S has just received grant from the U.K. Government to save the Manumea, Samoa’s national bird, over the next three 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 S.C.S, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in particular its Division of Environment and Conservation, the Australian National University (A.N.U) in Canberra and other partners.

They will also work 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 President of the S.C.S, 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 programmes that benefit the biodiversity as well as local communities.

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 S.C.S 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 M.N.R.E for their schools outreach programmes while the beautiful call of the Manumea was played.

The S.C.S plans to have an AGM on Saturday Nov 29, 2014 at the Yacht Club 10a.m.-12 noon which will be open to any members of the public who may wish to join S.C.S.

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