National workshop on the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Samoa

Abstract

Participants of the villages who participated in the Aopo workshop paid tribute to the donor and OLSSI for opening their eyes to the issue in question. Of particular importance to them is the fact that it took this workshop to enable them fully understand what it really means to agree with business ventures to harvest their invaluable native rainforests. The field work to the loggers operations demonstrated clearly to them as land owners how very little they are getting for their trees when compared with what the loggers are getting in return for the harvest. The workshop was welcomed by the villages that were already approached by loggers to cut their forests as they are now in a much better position to negotiate and to decide on ways that will best give them the real benefits of their forests by conservation measures.