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The government in collaboration with the Aleipata District (eleven villages) and IUCN developed a management plan - the last update being for the period 2008-2010 (MNRE 2008) - with the aim to guide the protection and conservation of the marine environment of the Aleipata District.

The Aleipata islands are considered to be of great regional conservation significance because they are uninhabited (with the exception of Namua), relatively pristine as forest ecosystems, hosting many species threatened throughout the greater Samoa, and still not invaded by most invasive alien species (IAS) present within Upolu main island. Due to this reason they were included in the list of the 7 key biodiversity areas of Samoa (Conservation International et al. 2010).

This report describes the results of the simulation exercise carried out to test the understandability, relevance, practicality and effectiveness of the Samoa Invasive Species Emergency Response Plan (SISERP) to invasive species emergencies. The exercise was conducted on June 26, 2015 at the MAF Crops Research Centre at Nu'u. A hypothetical invasive species outbreak of the Little Fire Ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) was simulated in the exercise. This exercise allowed the members of the Invasive Species Emergency Response Committee (ISERC) to better understand the proposed SISERP by role playing key roles in the SISERP and to then be able to provide constructive feedback so that the plan can be made most effective, appropriate and relevant to Samoa. Details on the exercise are given in the Exercise Manual at Annex 1 and the Powerpoint Presentation at Annex 2.

The Aleipata Marine Protected (MPA) Management Plan is a partnership between the Government of Samoa and all the villages of the District of Aleipata. Both partners have responsibility for the continuous implementation of this Plan which highlights a collaborative approach to the sustainable use and protection of the Marine resources and environment in the District.

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to Samoa’s natural heritage. In fact the impacts of invasive species are immense, costly and usually irreversible and are being increasingly felt in Samoa. Impacts can range from adversely affecting the productivity and subsequent economic output of primary industry, such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries, to impeding cultural practices and traditions, household food security and sustainable livelihoods, and threatening the integrity and biodiversity of natural ecosystems, including vital ecosystem processes.

To determine the top 20 manageable invasive plants in Samoa and to then prioritises the work that needs to be done to manage them effectively. The workshop will aim: • Complete and cross check the invasive species prioritization spreadsheet for invasive plants in Samoa. • Conduct prioritization to identify the top 20 priority invasive plants for active management in Samoa. • Prepare an outline plan of necessary actions to manage the priority invasive species in Samoa.

Although a monograph, or series of papers, dealing comprehensively with the land arthropod fauna of any group of islands in the South Pacific may be expected to yield valuable results, in connection with distribution, modification due to isolation, and other problems, no such work is at present in existence.