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Samoa's national bird, the Manumea, is a scientific curiosity a key player in a healthy Samoan rainforest and a cultural icon for Samoa. Unique to Samoa it is also highly threatened and at risk of extinction in our lifetimes. The purpose of this campaign is to identify and adopt the specific changes in behaviour that we need to take to save our national bird, before it is too late.

The critically endangered Manumea or Tooth-billed pigeon is found only in Samoa and is highly significant in its cultural heritage. The pigeon only lives within and on the edges of intact mature native forest. Its number appear to have dropped dramaitically during the last 10-15 years, mostly through loss of habitat, hunding and possibly due to the impact of introduces invasive predators.

The Samoa Waste Analysis Report provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of waste generation, composition and management across the country. It serves as a foundational document to guide policy formulation, infrastructure and stakeholder toward a more efficient, inclusive and sustainable waste management system. Data and information captured in this report is guided by the overarching Regional Waste Data Collection, Monitoring and Reporting Framework (DCMR)

The Commonwealth Youth Forum brought together young people from across the Commonwealth to discuss emerging issues impacting them including the plastic pollution crisis. We spoke to some young delegates to hear how the plastic pollution crisis is impacting their communities, their role in addressing the issue and the kind of future they would like to see. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) brings together delegations from 56 nations from Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Samoa is hosting the meeting this week, the first time it's held in the Pacific Islands. SPREP through the Australian Government-funded, Pacific Ocean Litter Project #POLP is working together with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Samoa to support the Greening of #CHOGM2024 activities.

As part of the Greening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) initiative, young people have been actively involved in waste audits, and monitoring waste collected across CHOGM venues. This provides insights into the source, types and quantities of waste generated during CHOGM to help plan for effective waste management strategies for the future. SPREP through the Australian Government funded, Pacific Ocean Litter Project #POLP is working together with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Samoa (MNRE) to ensure a more sustainable and environmentally friendly Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting #CHOGM, currently underway in Samoa. This includes raising public education and awareness of plastic pollution and the single-use plastic issue in Samoa as well as provisions of waste and skip bins for proper waste segregation, collection and transportation for proper waste management including waste audits and monitoring.

Waste is a global issue and is increasingly recognized as a major challenge for world communities. Proper waste management is essential for thriving societies, livable cities, and robust economies. In addition to the ongoing waste management issues of mainland countries, Pacific Island countries (PICs) are faced with a unique set of challenges – such as geographic isolation, vulnerability to climate change, high cost of transporting waste, limited availability of suitable land, and a small consumer base.