Samoa: Respecting the Mangroves

Case Study: Profile

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Location

• Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean
• The capital, Apia, is 4,500 km from Sydney

Area

• 1,110 km2

Climate

• Tropical with average temperature 26.5oC
• Wet season between November and April
• Local storm patterns may cause destructive cyclones

Population

• 110,000

Language

• Samoan and English

Economy

• Agriculture
• Foreign aid and money from Samoans working overseas

Land Ownership

• 80% of the land is in traditional ownership
• Balance is mainly government owned

History

Pre European:

It is believed that Polynesians settled in the Samoan islands about 3,000 years ago, after migrating from Southeast Asia through Melanesia. Samoan explorers later discovered and settled Tonga, the Society and other island groups in the South Pacific.

Post European

• 1722 - Sighted by Dutch explorers
• 1787 - First Europeans land (French)
• 1830 - First missionaries land
• 1855 - Colonised by Germany
• 1890 - Treaty gives Samoa officially to Germany
• 1914 - New Zealand takes over Samoa at start of World War 2
• 1920 - Becomes a trust territory of New Zealand
• 1962 - First South Pacific country to gain independence

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