Samoa: Respecting the Mangroves

Case Study: Working for the Mangroves

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The O le Siosiomaga Society and Komiti Tumama

These two non government organisations work with communities to raise awareness about the environment. O le Siosiomaga is campaigning to save the Moataa mangrove swamp from further rubbish dumping and reclamation, and to protect another large area, Saanapu Satoa. They also lobby the government to restore the Vaiusu Bay mangroves.

Komiti Tumama is a women's group that works to educate people about waste and other issues. The members run waste education workshops for small communities. They train village leaders who in turn train others. Another of their projects encourages local villagers to have tourists stay in their homes. Local people train as guides and in this way the villagers learn more about their own environment.

Tourism such as this is sometimes called ecotourism. By working in local and small ways and with the environment in mind, everybody is rewarded.

Next: Maintaining the Mangroves