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As a small island developing state, Samoa is expected to be particularly vulnerable to climate change. Projected sea level rise could increase coastal erosion, cause loss of land and property, and dislocate island inhabitants. Changes in tropical cyclone systems may alter risks to life, property and ecosystems. Water supplies and food security could be threatened by changes in climate. As a Least Developed Country, Samoa is considered to have limited ability to cope with the risks associated with changes in climate. This has been recognized by the international community, and in Article 4.4 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which makes explicit commitments to the most vulnerable developing countries:

Mi laik tok hamamas na tenkyu long Martin Negai long skruim na kliaim toktok istap long dispela buk. Wankain mi laik tok tenkyu long Toby Ross long stretim na edim samplea tok istap long dispela buk. Na tu Dr. Lisa Dabek i saplaim sampela tingting na mi laik tok tenk yu long en. Mi laik tok tenkyu tru long Ruby Yamuna, James Slotta, James Qasarike, na Damlap Qasarike. Ol i givim bikpela helpim long mipela na tanim tok i stap long dispela buk i go long Tok Pisin. Mi laik tok tenkyu long Damein Ase bilong Senta bilong Lo bilong Envairamen na ol Raits bilong gras-Ruts (CELCOR) na Almah Tararia na Paula Nato bilong Senta bilong Lo bilong Envairamen (ELC), long strongim mi long dispela wok na halivim mi long kamapim dispela buk. Na tu mi laik tok tenkyu long John Chitoa na Yat Paol bilong Bismak-Ramu long soim mi ol kontrak bilong lukautim na tambuim bus na graun, na tu mi laik tok tenkyu long ol papagraun bilong Tokain long tok klia long mi long as tingting bilong dispela kontrak. Las tru mi laik tok tenkyu long Ed Mayer na Sue Brown bilong Netsa Kansevensi long wok bilong ol long kamapim sampela tingting long wei we Lokal Leval Gavman iken lukautim ol hap busgraun long en.

Leonard Usongo knows he has sacred sites inside his protected area, but they are so sacred that he is not allowed to learn where they are. The Baka (pygmy) people, who live in the forests of Lobeké National Park in southeast Cameroon, follow a complex faith system that includes the adoption of a personal god in adolescence and the veneration of particular sites – groves and trees – within the forest that are believed to be of high spiritual value. Dr. Usongo, Chief Technical Advisor for WWF’s capacity-building programme in Lobeké, spends months of the year in a tented encampment in the park and has many friends among the Baka, working with them on a day to day basis, but it is against their beliefs to allow anyone else to enter a sacred area. Reliant on the Baka for guidance in the dense forests when he is carrying out biological surveys, Leonard has learned over time roughly where the sacred sites are because they are the places he never reaches, however often he asks to be led there…but he also knows that these places are safe for wildlife, being meticulously protected by the Baka1.