The village of Moataa is located within the town area of Apia, and the only village in the urban area that still has a mangrove site compared to the rest of the villages around town, which have reclaimed most mangroves for settlements. According to the current survey conducted during phase-1 of the project (planning phase), the existing mangrove area has declined tremendously over the years. These have caused a number of noticeable problems;
Loss of habitat for food species and decline in fish catch of the community
Decline in the traditional value and knowledge on the usefulness of the mangrove
Loss of income for some poor families who rely on fishing for income.
Objectives of the project are;
Alleviation of poverty for some low income families depending on fishing
Revival of mangrove species
Management of the mangrove area to expand growth
Increase awareness on the importance of mangrove conservation through economic and ecological values