PROTECTION OF SAMOA S ENVIRONMENT. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Gillian Shirley Malielegaoi (Legal Officer)

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1 PROTECTION OF SAMOA S ENVIRONMENT Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Gillian Shirley Malielegaoi (Legal Officer)

2 Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ( MNRE ) Vision: Improved quality of life for all Samoans that is premised on sustainable development of the country s natural resources and environment. Mission: Working together in close partnerships with communities and stakeholders for the pursuit of sustainable development.

3 Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ( MNRE ) Composed of 14 Divisions: - Environment and Conservation Division - Renewable Energy Division - Land Management Division - Technical Services Division (Survey) - Water Resources Division - Water and Sanitation Coordination Unit - Planning and Urban Management Agency - Forestry Division - Meteorology Services Division - Disaster Management Division - Legal Division - Corporate Services Division - GEF Division - Environmental Coordinator

4 Multilateral Environmental Agreements in Samoa United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change 2005 Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 Nagoya Protocol Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1985 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 1987 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 1994 Convention on the Protection of World Heritage and Natural Heritage 1972

5 Multilateral Environmental Agreements in Samoa Cont d Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Convention of Wetlands of International Importance Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals Conventional on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

6 Multilateral Environmental Agreements in Samoa Cont d Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention of Biological Diversity International Treaty on Plant and Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Minamata Convention (recently) Plant Protection Agreement for the South East Asia & Pacific Region Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

7 Environmental Legal Frameworks Lands Survey and Environment Act 1989 ( LSE ) - Principal law that ensures and promotes the conservation and protection of Samoa s natural resources and environment. Water Resources and Management Act Provide for the management, protection and conservation of Samoa s water resources. Waste Management Act Provide for the collection, disposal and management of solid wastes. Forestry Management Act Provides for the effective and sustainable management of Samoa s forestry resources.

8 Environmental Frameworks National Parks and Reserves Act Establish, administer and preserve national parks and reserves for the benefit of all Samoans. Planning and Urban Management Act 2004 ( PUMA ) - Establishes an Agency to implement a framework for planning the use, development, management and protection of lands in Samoa in the present and long term interests of all Samoans. Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation - Identifies the need for all developments to undertake EIA Policy to Combat Climate Change

9 POSITIVE ACTIONS Environment Management and Conservation Bill 2015 CITES Bill (early drafting stages) Recent review of the Climate Change Policy resulting in a policy instruction that will soon, or is already with the AG drafters to draft a Climate Change Bill Empowering MNRE officers as authorised officers to carry out investigation / compliance and enforcement roles Launched a Compliance and Enforcement Manual Launched a Community Law Booklet Building and strengthening infrastructures as methods of adaptation to CC impacts (shortcut / in-roads, seawalls and relocation to higher grounds etc) Capacity for Implementing the 3 Rio Conventions Project. The Project shall focus on expediting Samoa s efforts to meet its international obligations through mainstreaming the Conventions into national development plans by (1) strengthening legislative and regulatory instruments governing them, (2) developing a centralized knowledge and information management system & public awareness and (3) engagement of stakeholders in the mainstreaming of Rio Conventions multi sector coordination.

10 CHALLENGES Competing priorities (eg. EMC v. Immediate issues / CITES Bill) Cultural setbacks - community conservation areas Political interference Authorised officers lack of experience and confidence Territorial issues / tension between stakeholders (MNRE v. Other Govt Agencies v. NGOs) Not enough budget / resources

11 WAY FORWARD (Key Priorities) Promoting environmental campaigns through continuous workshops / radio talks / television programs and school visitation programs to build capacity of the stakeholders / public or community in relation to environment issues; Strengthening partnerships with stakeholders / NGOs and CSOs / Community Continuous training of authorised officers for better monitoring / compliance and enforcement Awareness clean-up campaigns focusing on rivers/waterways/town-area/seawalls etc involving the community

12 Thank You.