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The village community expressed their support and agreed that village by-laws are necessary for Tafitoala. As expressed this will assist the village council of chiefs in managing resources and set up formal penalties for those who may/will breach the village laws. Following the initial planning workshop the MNRE (WRD) prepared a community consultation with the entire community, to undertake a situational analysis as well as gauge views of the village on what rules were necessary for the continuing sustainability of the resource. It was expected that the community consultation will provide all the baseline information of what problems were and how the village groups foresee by-laws as a means of protecting the resource from these problems.

Technical report

The Government of Samoa under its Environmental Policy Framework established rules and procedures to be followed under IAMP Phase 2 with regard to environmental assessment, monitoring and mitigation of potential negative impacts. For projects with no, or low but acceptable environmental impacts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) may issue a waiver to the proponent from the further requirements of the draft EIA Regulations. In issuing a waiver, the CEO MNRE will rely on the advice of the Assistant CEO, PUMA. Such works are to be covered by Codes of Environmental Practice (COEP) provisions.

The Government of Samoa under its Environmental Policy Framework established rules and procedures to be followed under IAMP Phase 2 with regard to environmental assessment, monitoring and mitigation of potential negative impacts. For projects with no, or low but acceptable environmental impacts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) may issue a waiver to the proponent from the further requirements of the draft EIA Regulations. In issuing a waiver, the CEO MNRE will rely on the advice of the Assistant CEO, PUMA. Such works are to be covered by Codes of Environmental Practice (COEP) provisions.

The Government of Samoa under its Environmental Policy Framework established rules and procedures to be followed under IAMP Phase 2 with regard to environmental assessment, monitoring and mitigation of potential negative impacts. For projects with no, or low but acceptable environmental impacts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) may issue a waiver to the proponent from the further requirements of the draft EIA Regulations. In issuing a waiver, the CEO MNRE will rely on the advice of the Assistant CEO, PUMA. Such works are to be covered by Codes of Environmental Practice (COEP) provisions.

Water is life; it is a resource, a need that is vital for everyone. Samoa’s water resources is at its crucial state. Its management has always been fragmented amongst the key stakeholders including local communities over the past years, however, recently the government through the Water Resources Division has tried to bring together the key players to identify ways for the sustainable management of water resources in Samoa. The increasing social and economic developments have led to the detrimental threat towards this valuable and limited resource. The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC) in partnership with the WRD funded the first initial workshop as an initiative in the formulation of village by laws for the village of Tafitoala. This collaboration aims to raise the awareness of the community in village by-law, its implications towards water resources management and also its essential significance as part of measures towards climate change. It also strengthens the importance of community involvement in watershed management which provides environmental services not only for their livelihoods but also increasing climate change resilience.

The District of Gagaifomauga II is located on the northern side of the island of Savaii west of the tourist precinct of Manase. The district is characterized by rocky coastal shores and estuaries as well as steep coastal cliffs susceptible to erosion and landslip. The inland area is steep and mountainous, covered by plantations and forest and a small number of village houses. The villages of Gagaifomauga II include, Paia, Samauga, Lefagaoali’i, Matavai Safune, Faletagaloa Safune and Fatuvalu. All villages except Paia and part of Lefagaoali’i are located on the coast. Paia is a small village approximately 1.5 km inland, while three quarters of Lefagaoali’i is located inland away from the coast. The coastal villages are all susceptible to coastal hazards.