𝐌𝐍𝐑𝐄 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐍𝐀

The team from the Vailima Botanical Garden have been contributing to the global knowledge about Samoa’s unique flora by collecting samples to share with overseas institutions, through a GGI-Gardens Partnership Award from Botanic Gardens Conservation International. The Global Genome Initiative for Gardens is an international partnership dedicated to collecting and preserving genome quality tissues for all species of plants on Earth.

This project follows successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2024 between Vailima Botanical Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in the United Kingdom, for the purpose of knowledge sharing and capacity building.

As part of the GGI project, staff from MNRE and Samoa Conservation Society have increased their botanical skills by participating in training to collect and process pressed plants for herbarium specimens and DNA samples. So far 49 species have been collected, from reserves and conservation areas including Malololelei, Togitogiga, Mount Vaivai and Lake Lanoto’o in Upolu, and the Aopo community in Savaii.

The samples collected have included some rare species that only occur in Samoa, in addition to less common species like Talafalu, which is the host plant for the Pepe ae (Swallowtail butterfly). The butterfly is now extinct in Samoa but still present in American Samoa, and this plant is important for potential plans to reintroduce it here. Another significant species is fau pata (Cypholophus macrocephalus) which was previously used to make ie sina, the white shaggy mats.

In the coming months these samples will be sent to the UK for laboratory processing so that the genomes of these unique plants can be conserved and studied to understand their ancestry in a global context and advance critical plant conservation efforts.

The project has also enabled collection of some live native plants to be grown in Vailima Botanical Garden, working towards the goal of increasing the number of Samoan native and cultural plants in the garden for conservation and education purposes.

An announcement from GGI-Gardens states that “These projects embody the vital role botanic gardens play in preserving plant genomic diversity—safeguarding rare and threatened species, supporting global research, and building the foundation for future conservation breakthroughs. We are honored to support this important work and inspired by the dedication and vision of our global partners. Together, we are helping secure a richer, more resilient future for the world’s plants—and all who depend on them”.