𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

On Monday, 28th July, the Samoa National Invasive Species Task Team (SNITT), met for the first time of the new financial year to present updates of Invasive Species (IS) management initiatives conducted since the last meeting, discuss key matter related to IS management, finalize the committees Terms of Reference, and work towards further refining the coordination of the country’s IS management efforts. The meeting was chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown Reupena, funded by Samoa’s GEF7 project and hosted at the MNRE conference room.

“Invasive species continues to pose a significant threat to Samoa’s unique biodiversity, fragile ecosystems, and livelihoods,” explained Assistant Chief Executive Officer for MNRE’s Division of Environment and Conservation, Suemalo Tumutalie Foliga, also the Secretariat of the SNITT.

“These non-native plants, animals, and pathogens can outcompete, prey on, or displace native species, leading to a loss of biodiversity and ecosystem imbalance. In Samoa, invasive species such as rats, myna birds, and certain invasive plants have damaged native forests, agricultural crops, and endangered endemic species.”

He continued to explain that IS also contributes to soil degradation, reduce water quality, and increase the vulnerability of ecosystems to climate change, making the effective management of invasive species a national priority which warrants the Nations efforts towards effectively controlling, eradicating and/or containing IS to restore Samoa’s unique biodiversity, improve livelihoods as well as the economy through the reduction of damaged/hindered agricultural products.

The SNITT is a technical working of local IS experts and practitioners from various government agencies and organizations dedicated to effectively managing IS in Samoa. The Ministry would like to thank the GEF7 project and its SNITT partners for your part and dedication in working to reduce the impacts of IS on Samoa’s environment, economy, and livelihoods