The 2 main inhabited islands of Samoa called Upolu and Savaii are experiencing biodiversity loss on its coastal and marine ecosystems due to overharvesting, sedimentation and pollution from upper lands and poor management of waste which runs off at the lower parts (coastal areas) of the islands. Communities and local NGOs have been supported by the SGP Samoa programme to protect, rehabilitate and restore its natural environments through conducting biodiversity audits of marine and mangrove areas to identify the current status of its marine and coastal ecosystems.
Management plans were developed for these 4 communities and 1 NGO. YCAN Samoa NGO services 12 communities with 8 of its communities which focussed on marine, coastal and waste management initiatives. Community consultations were crucial to conducting the biodiversity audits with environmental, social-economic impact assessments in place to verify loss of biodiversity in these communities due to man-made activities and natural hazards.
Each of these communities have the technical in -kind support and some financial contribution of the Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and some NGOs as well such as Conservations International, Samoa Umbrella for Non Governmental Organisation to name a few.
Progress reports
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
- Community or Locally Managed Marine Areas
- Integrated Coastal Management
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Type of commitment
- No take marine protected area
- Marine protected area with partial protection
- Multiple use marine protected area
- Locally or community managed marine areas
- MPA management and/or enforcement
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
Type of commitment
- Economic benefits from sustainable fisheries
- Economic benefits from sustainable tourism
- Economic benefits from sustainable aquaculture/mariculture
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
Type of commitment
- Scientific, socioeconomic and interdisciplinary research
- Research capacity development
- Training and professional development
- Actions that support SIDS and LDCs
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
Type of commitment
- Legal/policy/institutional measures
- Access to coastal fishing grounds
- Community empowerment for fisheries management
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
December 2017
Samoa
