Samoa 2013 State of the Environment Report diversityy Fa’a-Samoa coral reef integrateateddenvironment management aa community conservationc island nation climateli t changeg livelihoodindicatorswater sustainable forests developmentculture Samoa’s State of the Environment (SOE) Report 2013 Government of Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) Government of Samoa SAMOA'S STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT (SOE) REPORT 2013 Government of Samoa Page 1 Samoa’s State of the Environment (SOE) Report 2013 MNRE Resource Information Centre Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment ( MNRE ) Review and drafting Samoa's State of the Environment by Tuaifaiva Samuelu Sesega Pacific Social & Environment Safeguards Consult ( PSES ) final editing - Tuiolo Schuster ( MNRE ) 147 p. 28.5 cm ISBN: 978-982-539-001-5 Cover Photos: Front page layout from the 'Samoa 2012 Environmental Outlook: Developing a vision for the next 50 years'. Samoa State of the Environment Report Card with photos from: MNRE, SPREP ( Paul Anderson, Stuart Chape, Jill Key ), Ms Tracey Saxby ( University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science), Rebecca Stirnemann 1. Community consultation at Uafato Village 2. Fine mat weaving at Salua village, Manono 3. Samoa fale at Tiavea-tai village 4. Upland Upolu 5. Native bird - Vasavasa ( Samoan Whistler ) 6. Coastal settlement, Savaii Copy right MNRE 2013 All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or non- commercial purposes are authorised without any prior written permission from the copyright provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright. Applications for such permission should be addressed to: Chief Executive Officer Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment Private Bag Apia, Samoa Telephone: + 685 67200, Fax: + 685 23176 www.mnre.gov.ws or by email to [email protected] Copyright MNRE 2013 Printed by Commercial Printer Ltd Motootua, Apia, Samoa Page 2 Samoa’s State of the Environment (SOE) Report 2013 Acknowledgement In preparing this State of the Environment Report there are so many who deserve thanks. Clearly a large part of this acknowledgement goes to our Consultant Tuaifaiva Samuelu Sesega ( Pacific Social & Environment Safeguards Consult ) in conducting the review and drafting the report. Resource persons and trainers during the Integrated Environmental Assessment training in April 2011 ( UNEP ) and the SPREP Communication Tools Workshop ( DPSIR ) in May 2012 tested the soundness of the initial approach and model and sensitized us to the ways in which we might adjust the substance of the review report. We similarly acknowledge their gracious contribution in particular the work of SPREP who have been involved from the start through Mr Tofilau Tepa Suaesi, Ms Easter Galuvao and team. This include preparatory work in promoting the Integrated Habitat-based approach through the use of the DPSIR model and in securing assistance by the team from Maryland University Centre for Environmental Science in developing Samoa’s first Environment Report Card which forms the basis for the new approach adopted for this review. We are indeed grateful to everyone who has contributed towards the SOE review which we hope will greatly assist government officials and all stakeholders in further developing environmental monitoring and reporting as an effective tool for sustainable development. We hope the report proves useful to those who read it and we welcome any suggestions for its improvement in future editions. Sincere appreciation is also expressed for the financial assistance by AusAID under the Australian Partnership Fund ( NAPA 4 ). Lastly, we acknowledge the support and contributions by various Government Ministries and Government Corporations and organizations, NGOs and all our stakeholders through various consultative teams and Technical Working Groups ( TWG’s ). As well, the unlimited support by the public and various communities. Very special thanks to the MNRE SOE Working Group who provided much valuable input to this edition: Corporate Services Division Peseta Elisaia Talouli, Ailepata Manila, Tuiolo Schuster Legal Services Sala Josephine Stowers- Fiu, Shirley Malielegaoi Land Management Division Filisita Heather, Faainoino Laulala, Faanimo Warren, Moira Faletutulu Disaster Management Division Filomena Nelson, Toai Bartley Water Resources Division Suluimalo Amataga Penaia, Malaki Iakopo, Lameko Simanu, Toiata Apelu Technical Services Division Safuta Toelau, Muaausa Pau Ioane Forestry Division Moafanua Tolusina Pouli, Sooalo Tito Alatimu, Anae Aokuso Leavasa, Elizabeth Kerstin, Maiava Veni Gaugatao, Joe Reti Planning & Urban Management Agency Tagaloa Jude Kohlhase, Ferila Brown, Tumau Peni Renewable Energy Division Sala Sagato Tuiafiso, Anne Trevor GEF Division Anne Rasmussen Water Sector Coordination Unit Frances Reupena Environment & Conservation Division Faleafaga Toni Tipamaa, Juney Ward, Setoa Apo, Fuatino Leota, Czarina Iese-Stowers, Malama Momoemausu, Talie Foliga Meteorology Division Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea, Lameko Talia, Fata Sunny Seuseu, Tumau Faasaoina, Siosina Lui Communication Tool Workshop 2012: MNRE, SROS, MoF, SPREP, Maryland University & PSES Consultant Page 3 Samoa’s State of the Environment (SOE) Report 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS No. Section Page No. List of Acronyms 8 Foreword 9 Executive Summary 10 1 Introduction 18 2 Approach and Methodology 19 2.1 Background 19 2.2 SOE Format and Organization 19 2.3 Habitat-based approach to assessing the environment 19 2.4 Constraints and Limitations 23 3 Drivers of Environmental Change in Samoa 24 3.1 Geographical Isolation and Smallness 24 3.2 Demographics 24 3.3 Land tenure system 25 3.4 Economic development 26 3.5 Changing consumption patterns and lifestyles 27 3.6 Climate change and climate variability 27 4 Pressures in Samoa’s Environment 29 4.1 Invasive species 29 4.2 Wastes and Pollution 29 4.3 Atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gas emissions 30 4.4 Natural disasters 31 4.5 Unsustainable exploitation of resources 32 4.6 Land-based pollution 33 4.7 Poor sanitation 34 4.8 Poorly planned development activities 34 5. Indicators for Assessment 36 6. States and Trends 39 6.1 Upland habitats 40 6.1.1 Upland and Cloud forests 40 6.1.2 Overall assessment 42 6.1.3 General Recommendations 43 6.2 Lowland habitats 44 6.2.1 Cultivated areas 44 6.2.2 Lowland forests 47 6.2.3 Overall assessment of Lowland Habitats 48 6.2.4 General Recommendations 48 6.3 Coastal habitats 50 6.3.1 Mangroves 50 6.3.2 Coastal forests and strand vegetation 52 6.3.3 Coastal marshes 54 6.3.4 Beaches 54 6.3.5 Overall assessment of coastal habitats 55 6.4.6 General Recommendations 56 6.4 Inshore and Offshore Marine Habitats 57 6.4.1 Corals and coral reefs 57 6.4.2 Seagrasses 64 6.4.3 Algae 66 6.4.4 Sea mounts 67 6.4.5 Important Marine Species 69 6.4.5.1 Mammals – whales and dolphins 69 6.4.5.2 Marine reptiles 68 6.4.5.3 Marine Fish 70 6.4.5.4 Tuna 75 6.4.5.5 Marine Molluscs 77 6.4.5.6 Crustaceans 79 6.4.5.7 Echinoderms 81 Page 4 Samoa’s State of the Environment (SOE) Report 2013 6.4.6. Overall assessment of Marine/Offshore Habitats 82 6.4.7 General Recommendations 82 6.5 Rural and Urban Built Environment 84 6.5.1 Population 86 6.5.2 Housing 86 6.5.3 Sanitation 88 6.5.4 Wastes 90 6.5.5 Environmental Safeguards 94 6.5.6 Energy Consumption 95 6.5.7 Overall Assessment of Rural and Urban Built Environment 97 6.5.8 General Recommendations 99 6.6 Rivers and Streams 99 6.6.1 Current State 99 6.6.2 Rivers and Streams 99 6.6.3 Grounwater 100 6.6.4 Lakes 100 6.6.5 Watershed Areas 102 6.6.6 Current Status 102 6.6.7 Water Quantity 103 6.6.8 Water Quality 103 6.6.9 Catchment area health 105 6.6.10 Assessment 107 6.6.11 Overall Assessmnet of Rivers and Streams 107 6.6.12 General Recommendations 108 6.7 Protected Areas, Sanctuary and Key Biodiversity Areas 109 6.7.1 Current State 110 6.7.2 Overall Assessment of Protected Areas and KBAs 118 6.7.3 General Recommendations 118 6.8 Atmosphere, Weather and Climate 119 6.8.1 Current States 119 6.8.1.1 GHG Emissions 119 6.8.1.2 Cos Removals 122 6.8.1.3 Ozone 122 6.8.1.4 ODS Consumption 123 6.8.1.5 Ecosystem based Adaptation – NAPA Implementation 123 6.8.2 Overall Assessment 128 6.8.3 General Recommendations 129 7 Conclusions 130 Appendices 1 References Used 134 2 IUCN Red list of Threatened Marine Species 136 3 Distribution of Trees Under One-Million-Trees Program in Upolu 138 4 Distribution of Trees Under One-Million-Trees Program in Savaii 139 5 List of Protected Areas 140 6 Terrestrial and Marine Key Biodiversity Areas 141 7 Preliminary List of indicators from MNRE SOE Workshop 142 8 Priority invasive or Potentially Invasive Plants and Animals Species 144 9 List of Samoan Plants in Coastal habitats 146 10 Locations of sightings of whales and dolphins in Samoa’s EEZ from 2001 to 147 2012 11 List of donor funded projects addressing climate change mitigation and 148 adaptation 12 Legal framework for NESP - National environmental legislation, regulations policies and international agreements Figures 1 Key Habitats based on Samoa’s Island Type 11 2 Assessment of health of the key habitats are summarized 19 3 Stages of the IEA Process 20 4 DPSIR Framework 39 5 Samoa’s unique habitats and culture 88 6 Typical profile of Samoa’s marine/offshore habitats showing distribution of Page 5 Samoa’s State of the Environment (SOE) Report 2013 fish and other marine