“To improve the sustainable and costs-effective utilization of indigenous renewable energy resources for energy production in ”

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment through a collaboration between the ‘IMPRESS Project’ and the ‘2 Million Tree Planting Campaign’ under the Forestry Division; will be conducting a Tree Planting Event on Friday 14th June 2019. It is part of a three (4) days tree planting campaign starting from 12th June (refer to program attached).

A tree has various components that are valuable to our communities and the environment. Apart from the ecological services in which it provides, a tree is also considered a source of Renewable Energy as it can produce Electricity. But how? The IMPRESS Project is constructing the very first ever Biomass Gasification Plant at Afolau. It is a technology of its kind which converts stored potential energy contained in trees to electric energy; making Biomass Energy the fifth (5th) source of Renewable Energy available in Samoa. This Gasification plant will assist our electricity sector in meeting its current target goal and Nationally Determinded Contributions (NDC) of “100% Renewable Energy target for Electricity generation by 2025.” By harvesting only invasive species that are available at certain plots of Afolau.

The purpose of the Tree Planting event on 14th June is to showcase the various importance of trees and to offset harvest operations which will take place in Afolau. The Tree Planting event will take place at Faleolo Reserve (refer to diagrams attached). Registrations of all participants will start at 9am (refer to program attached). An estimate of 75 students altogether from five (5) Schools will be participating in this event. They include;

1. Aana 1 College 2. Aana 2 College 3. Nu’uausala College 4. Paul VI College 5. Leulumoega Fou College

We respectfully invite the media to be part of our event in providing news coverage for Samoa’s awareness. It is important for us all to continue promoting the importance of Biodiversity and sustainable developments that supports and integrates society, environment and economy.

Lastly, we acknowledge the continuous support of our Donor – GEF in financially assisting our Government in the implementation of this initiative for the better development of Samoa.

For more information please contact Toiata Uili (IMPRESS Project Coordinator – Renewable Energy Division) [email protected] or Susau Siolo (Principal Policy & Planning Officer – Forestry Division) [email protected]

EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS & TREE PLANTING ACTIVITY (EATA) STAGE 1 ‘TWO MILLION TREE PLANTING CAMPAIGN 2015 – 2020 ‘ “Save a Life by Planting a Tree” APRIL – JUNE 2019

DATE TARGET SCHOOLS/SITE NO. OF VENUE PARTICIPANTS/STUDENTS 12 June Anoamaa College Students: 15 @ school Mt. Vaea Nature 2019 Letogo Primary School Teachers: 2 @ school Reserve/Forestry Office, Primary School MNRE staff – 25 VAILIMA Vailoa Primary School Primary School 13 June Aleipata College Students: 15 @ school O Le Pupu Pu’e National () Lepa Primary School Teachers: 2 @ school Park (OLPP), Forestry Lalomanu Primary School MNRE staff – 25 Office, Togitogiga Lotofaga Primary School (Lepa/Lotofaga) Vailoa (Aleipata) Primary 14 June Aana No 1. College Students: 15 @ school Faleolo Reserve/STEC (UPOLU) Aana No. 2 College Teachers: 2 @ school land, IMPRESS/Forestry Nu’uausala College MNRE staff – 25 Office, Vailima Paul VI College Leulumoega Fou College

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PROGRAM:

9:00am Registration & distribution of giveaways

10:00am Welcome Remarks & Prayer

10: 15am Introduction of schools & staff

Forestry Division Overview Presentation

10:45am MORNING TEA & GROUP PHOTO

11:30am Presentations:

1. Status of Forest in Samoa/Two Million Tree Planting Campaign

2. SMSMCL/IMPRESS/Greening of the Games Presentations

3. Tour directives/highlights

12:30pm Forest Educational Tour - Divide into 4 groups

1:30pm Tree Planting Activity (1 hour)

2:30pm CLOSING REMARKS & LUNCH

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FALEOLO AIRPORT

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