Moata’a Village Restores Mangrove Development

Moataa restored mangrove sites now frequented by locals. (photos/Aiga Elisara)

APIA, SAMOA -17 MAY 2021: The village of Moata’a came together last Friday to celebrate another milestone under its community project to help restore its mangrove ecosystem and build its climate resilience.

More than 2,500 trees have been planted by the village women’s group that has been charged with the tree planting project.

A special tree seedling nursery has been erected to assist with the on-going propagation of seedlings.

Situated on the eastern side of Apia, the village is vulnerable to problems faced by coastal residents such as sea level rise.

Moata’a has one of the best rooted mangrove swamps on the island. The village council realized the growing threats to the mangrove ecosystems and wetlands across Samoa, and the world and a draft Community Integrated Management Plan was drawn up in 2018 and followed by the Moata’a Mangrove Conservation Area Management Plan in the same year.

Three years later, the village is on the verge of implementing the best mangrove and coastal management possible to cope with the rapidly changing global climates with its partners, the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (MAF).

The Village Council appreciated the advice from the United Nations General Secretary in a meeting last year to “respond in an ambitious manner, as indicated in Samoa’s Climate Policy 2020.”

The council together with the village are prepared to voice their concerns, set an example nationally, regionally and globally.

The village is aware that it is not a cheap exercise as they are relying on a team of mangrove ecosystem experts from Samoa and also from the USDA Forest Service who have supported and funded the project which was officially launched last Friday.

Village council to implement Conservation Management plans
The Conservation Management Plan was launched in 2018 but has not really reached its full potential due to the lack of funding.

The village council and STA are proud stakeholders of the project and they are calling upon support from MNRE, especially from the DEC, Forestry Division and Environment Sector Coordination Division, for the on-going implementation of the Moata’a District CIM Plan and the Moata’a Mangrove Conservation Area Management Plan.

The village council is especially appreciative to the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service for funding the climate resilience project.

The efforts made to date by the village and all its community service groups coincide with the celebration of the World Environment Day (June 2020 /June 2021) and World Ocean Day (June 2020 /June2021).

Of note are the work of the Moata’a village mangrove clean-ups and tree-plantings and the level of support from all members of the village, Moata’a Community Service Organizations, Sporting clubs, Moata’a Primary School and Pre-School.