The Government has begun the process to review National Invasive Species Plan 2008-2011 and replace it with a new national plan.

The Division of Environment and Conservation within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment recently started the process with the support of the United Nations Development Programme, through the Global Environment Facility-United Nations Development Programme -Government of Samoa Project on Strengthening Multi-Sectoral Management of Critical Landscape.

The National Stakeholder Consultation was held at the Millenia Hotel recently.

Making brief remarks at the event, the M.N.R.E. Chief Executive Officer Ulu Bismarck Crawley highlighted the importance of reviewing the National Invasive Species Plan 2008-2011, with a view to developing the National Invasive Species Plan 2018-2022.

The objectives of the recent stakeholder consultation process were:

1. Review and assess the status of implementation of the N.I.S.A.P. 2008-2011 to identify any significant issues that affected the successful operation of the plan.

2. Identify any potential gaps in the old N.I.S.A.P. to be reflected in the new National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan 2018-2022.

3. And review the National Invasive Species Plan (N.I.S.A.P. 2008 – 2011) as part of Samoa’s commitment to support the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (C.B.D.) which Samoa ratified in May 1994. 

In order for Samoa to accomplish the targets and goals it has drawn up, there is a need to develop and manage invasive species with relevance to the local context, hence the development of the N.I.S.A.P. 2008-2011. 

Representatives from Ministries and Local N.G.O.s (M.A.F., F.A.O., U.S.P., N.U.S., U.N.D.P., S.R.O.S., and S.C.S. shared their knowledge and expertise in helping the Consultant reviewing the old and the new plans.