Green Canopy Tree Planting Honours Her Majesty’s 70 years of Service

APIA, SAMOA – 07 JUNE 2022: The British High Commissioner to Samoa, HE David Ward, and Seumalo Afele Faiilagi, ACEO of Division of Environment Conservation planted a tree at the Vailima Botanical Garden to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 70 years of service to the UK and across the Commonwealth.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the globe to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”

The talafalu tree was specifically selected as it is the host/food plant for the Samoan swallowtail butterfly. The MNRE division of Environment Conservation and the Samoa Conservation Society plan to reintroduce the talafalu tree back to Samoa from American Samoa; and then to reintroduce the Samoan swallowtail butterfly.

As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy celebrations, HE David Ward announced UK’s funding contribution of £10,000 (SAT $33.2K) towards the Vailima Botanical Garden Zoning Project for the installation of accessibility resources for persons with disabilities including the extension of the wheelchair accessible pathway.

The Art Whistler Memorial Garden at the Vailima Botanical Garden (VBG) is the only wheelchair-accessible natural tourist attraction in Samoa. The VBG is one of the most highly visited tourist locations in Samoa, but the uneven trails make it difficult for everyone to enjoy the surrounds.

The installation of assistance resources for people with disabilities ensure that the VBG can be enjoyed by all.