All women can learn cultural and environmental imperatives of the sites. Women are going to be a tour guide for the cultural heritage and play significant role in generating income for the community.
As a result of this SGP funded project, the STA (Samoa Tourism Authority) is now actively engaged in supporting similar cultural heritage projects in Samoa. There is strong support and interest from local partners such as Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports to be part of this natural heritage sites of Samoa for schools curriculum and tourism development.
Replication of project activities
Based on the success of this project, the National University of Samoa (NUS) and STA (Samoa Tourism Authorit\y) are working together to replicate this cultural heritage project in other parts of the countries for tourism purposes.
Project sustainability
Grantee will seek additional funding from other development partners and local government to sustain this project. Revenues from tourists and visitors will also help continue project.
Notable Community Participation
Learning about the preservation of cultural landscapes.
Students develop skills in Eco-heritage work
Opportunities to engage in eco-heritage tourism
Planning non gef grant
NUS was able to secure additional funding from US AID agency in Apia to support the research part of this project for the village.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The grantee conducted the opening ceremony and reach out to the media. The meeting and the ceremony was on the biggest media "Samoa Observer" with the picture of the grantee, community, and SGP Samoa team.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Under this projects, villages are able not only to conserve their cultural heritage, but also develop as a tourism site, which generates profits to them. At the same time, it can be a great model of sustainable development by utilizing what they already have with them.
Project Results
Activity 1: GIS Mapping and Research ? COMPLETED
All available written and oral histories associated with the Palauli area (that are relevant to this
project) have been compiled and collected. This research will be used by CSS staff, students
and Palauli Heritage Trust to finalize the Interpretive Strategy for the final tour narrative and
signage.
Activity 2: Eco-heritage Tourism Sites in 3 villages ? COMPLETED.
Beginning in late 2017, and until March 2019, CSS held numerous consultations on Savai?i to
work with the three villages of Vaitoomuli, Vailoa, and Fa?ala to establish the Palauli Heritage
Trust as the governing body of the Palauli Heritage Trails. This involved writing a Trust
Deed/Constitution and creating the foundational infrastructure for the Trails to be managed by
the three villages collectively as a commercial venture. By December 2018, the three villages
had agreed to the Trust and the reasons behind this ?maliliega?. Unforeseen circumstances
unrelated to this project, however, forced the village of Fa?aala to withdraw from the Trust in
March 2019. A meeting was convened with representatives from the remaining two villages of
Palauli, Vaitoomuli and Vailoa, who agreed to move forward with the Trust.
On April 25, 2019, the Palauli HeritageTrust was officially signed by the representatives of
Vaitoomuli and Vailoa, in the presence of the CSS Project Director Meleisea Dr. Malama
Meleisea, Research Manager Dr. Brian Alofaituli, archaeologist Greg Jackmond and researcher
Dionne Fonoti. The Trustees also elected officers: President ? Lemoa Ioelu, Secretary ? Fiso
Leali?ifano, Treasurer ? Mataafa Malu. Risale Toala was appointed Project Manager to oversee
this project and continue to liase with CSS? Project Team. The Trust Deed will now be delivered
to MCIL?s Department of Lab
Activity 3: 20 heritage sites identified ? COMPLETED
Over 500 sites have been identified in Palauli and Satupaitea. At least 30 will be on display
through the Palauli Heritage Trails. Satupaitea is not a part of this project.
The village dynamics play a very important part in the flow of this project. We are working very
closely with the two villages of Palauli to achieve this cultural heritage project. In each village
consultation we focus on the main objective of this project ? preservation and education of
cultural heritage sites of ?Old Samoa.
