Education and Public awareness programme on valuing the importance of environment conservation at the community level. (WSM/OP3/01/05/05)

Project Details & Results

This project is about education and public awareness of local environmental concerns that affects not only the community of Gautavai, but also everyone in Samoa. The issue of environmental degradation is caused by unsustainable activities because of the lack of awareness about the value of protecting the environment. The high rate of forest clearance, waste disposal near water resources (waterfalls, natural springs and watershed areas), the use of dynamites for fishing are all contributing factors to the degradation of environmental resources in Samoa. Therefore the youth group is proposing to conduct an education and public awareness workshop for the village to enhance their understanding about the value of protecting natural resources and conservation of the environment. The workshop intend to encourage our own village to become active participants in managing our own natural resources, by considering sustainable uses of our natural resources

Notable Community Participation
Strong community participation from everyone in the village; church youth group village council of chiefs women's committee sunday school children

Capacity - Building Component
- workshops and educational programme conducted for the village; to improve understanding about natural resource management, for the community to learn that increase forest clearance can pose adverse consequences on the community

Gender Focus
Strong gender equity

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
Most people are indigenous people and were all involved

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Project promoted public awareness and education of global environmental problems that also affects people in communities

Project Results
Outcome of the project; youth and the community at large are now being made aware of the importance of protecting and concserving the environment and natural resources; demonstration on replanting trees by the Forestry Division, helped each family in the village to replant fallow areas with trees the participants have been taught about the importance of sustainable management of existing resources a village council ban has now been imposed to ban any future affiliation with any logging company that wish to log our forest