The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), continued its programme of community consultations 🀝 under the Geospatial Mapping of Loss and Damage Sites in Samoa Project πŸ—ΊοΈ with the Rural SavaiΚ»i Community Consultation held on Monday, 27 July 2026. πŸ“…
The consultation forms part of a nationwide initiative to identify and validate priority climate Loss and Damage sites πŸ“ throughout Samoa. Through engagement with communities πŸ‘₯, the project is gathering local knowledge alongside geospatial information πŸ›°οΈ to better understand the impacts of climate change on infrastructure πŸ—οΈ, ecosystems 🌿, livelihoods 🏑, and the natural environment. 🌊
The Rural SavaiΚ»i consultation provided an opportunity to engage directly with communities 🀝 and strengthen the information needed to support the mapping and validation of sites affected by climate-related impacts. 🌦️ Community knowledge plays an important role in ensuring that the information collected accurately reflects local experiences and priorities. πŸ’¬
The consultation is one component of a broader programme of activities that also includes field assessments πŸš™πŸ“ and stakeholder engagement across Upolu, SavaiΚ»i, Manono, and Apolima. 🏝️
Information gathered throughout the consultation process will contribute to the development of geospatial datasets πŸ—ΊοΈ, climate impact assessments πŸ“ˆ, and decision-support tools πŸ› οΈ that will strengthen climate risk planning 🌱, inform adaptation priorities 🌍, and support Samoa’s efforts to access international Loss and Damage financing. πŸ€πŸ’š