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Samoa is a small island nation in the South Pacific (comprising the twenty two island nations that make up the members of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Samoa is located between latitudes 14o 10' and 13o2’ South and longitudes 171o20' and 172'50’ West. The capital city of Apia is approximately 4,500 kilometres northeast of Sydney. Australia. 4,235 kilometres south-west of Hawaii, and 2,500 kilometres northeast of Auckland New Zealand (GWS 1966). The total land area of 2,935 square kilometers consists mainly of the two larger islands Savaii and Upolu with land areas of 1,825 square kilometers and 1,100 square kilometers respectively. Two other inhabited smaller islands Manono and Apolima and several smaller uninhabited islands make up the remaining land area. Samoa has an exclusive Economic Zone of approximately 130,000 square kilometers (SPC 1982), and a total reef and lagoonal area (where water is less than 5 metre deep) of 23.100ha (Johannes 1982). Settlement is concentrated almost entirely along the coast in a series of villages.

In the past two decades Samoa has made sound progress in terms of economic and social development. In the early 1990s, two cyclones caused major devastation to the economy and in 1994 the Taro Leaf Blight destroyed Samoa’s major export earning commodity, taro. However, infrastructure has been restored, and macroeconomic stability has been achieved as a result of the bold reforms measures taken by government in the public sector, financial sector and to the tax and tariff systems. The economy is now benefiting from strong economic growth. Social indicators have improved and a host of activities are presently directed to improving health and education.

Since the first Statement of Economic Strategy the government has continued to view the private sector as the engine for development and growth. This SDS again places great emphasis on the importance of developing the private sector. The ultimate goal for stimulating private sector investment is to create employment opportunities in addition to providing goods and services and generating a solid source of government revenue. Promoting private sector investment therefore is a key prerequisite for achieving the national vision of a better quality of life.

Samoa's National Implementation Plan (NIP) for POPs was initiated and developed in partnership with the Government of Samoa and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). With funds made available from GEF through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Samoa's Enabling Activity for POPs began, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) as the National Execution Agency.

Biotechnology has been used by Samoan farmers for many years to crossbreed plants and animals. However, modern biotechnology, where genes are transferred between species, is a relatively new concept in Samoa. The products of modern biotechnology are often referred to as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Bio-safety is a way of reducing the potential risks that may result from modern biotechnology and its products. It is a way of protecting a country’s biodiversity, or its environment and human health from any possible adverse effects of GMOs.

The Barbados Plan of Action provides a framework for specific actions and measures to be taken at the national, regional and international levels in support of the sustainable development of small island developing states. Many of the issues faced today are related to the surrounding oceans such as climate change and sea level rise, global warming and the preservation of biodiversity.

Since the adoption of Agenda 21 following the United Nations Conference on Environment and development in 1992, this report constitutes the first opportunity for Samoa to assess its situation with regard to sustainable development in the past decade.

The Mauritius Strategy provides a framework for specific actions and measures to be taken at the national, regional and international levels in support of the sustainable development of small island developing states. Many of the issues faced today are related to the surrounding oceans such as climate change and sea level rise, global warming and the preservation of biodiversity.