Celebrating Youth in Conservation

Apia, Samoa – 22 August 2024 – As Samoa celebrates National Youth Week, Conservation International would like to highlight the contributions of young leaders who are playing a crucial role in environmental conservation through citizen science.

This week’s theme, “Youth at the Centre of Sustainable Development: Matimatiga for a Strong Tomorrow” echoes with the recent achievements of Samoa’s youth in the ongoing mangrove biodiversity assessment project.

In partnership with the Samoa Voyaging Society, CI and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, trained a group of young citizen scientists important skills for environmental monitoring. Under the close supervision and guidance of both organizations, these passionate individuals applied their training in the field such as conducting the first biodiversity audit of the mangroves in Lano village.

Their work not only provided vital data for national conservation efforts but also demonstrates the impact that youth can have when empowered through collaborative initiatives to protect and preserve Samoa’s natural heritage.

Young people from MNRE, Samoa Voyaging Society, Conservation International and Communities leading the mangrove assessment.

Opening the National Youth Week, Minister Mulipola Anarosa Molio’o emphasized the importance of youth-driven action in Samoa’s development.

“We focus on aligning regional priorities and putting youth at the centre of development agendas in the Pacific. These actions go beyond dialogue; they are about creating tangible solutions that reflect the unique strength and aspirations of our young people.”

These words resonate strongly with the young citizen scientists, whose active contributions to preserving Samoa’s mangroves demonstrate that they are not just future leaders but are already making significant impacts today.

“Apart from the technical skills I gained through the citizen science programme, its also helped me connect with nature, understand the dynamics of working with communities and contribute my abilities as a youth to the preservation of our environment. My participation reminded me that conservation work is not just about the ecosystems we aim to preserve, but also about the people who depend on them.”

Kylamarie Misi and Marlene Lameta of Samoa Voyaging Society, assessing samples collected during the survey in Lano

It also made me realize that there is an urgent need for collaborative efforts in protecting our environment, not only for us but for future generations of Samoa and the Pacific” says citizen scientist Kylamarie Misi.

As Samoa celebrates National Youth Week, CI is committed to continuing its support for youth engagement in conservation.

This project was made possible through collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Samoa Voyaging Society and the Lano community as well as the generous support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs Manaaki Project and the Blackmore Foundation, whose contributions have been instrumental in empowering Samoa’s youth to take an active role in environmental conservation.