It may have been necessary to allow the Electric Power Corporation to build through a forest reserve but the step needed to be taken with more thought. We have now lost trees, some older than 25 years.

It is shameful we wear the green hats when the situation suits us. For the last few years, Samoa has made waves on the world stage at various environmental events representing the small island states. We have criticised the bigger nations for not doing enough to protect the environment and contributing to climate change and global warming.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster has stood on that stage and made many comments in that regard. He has now defended the decision to cut trees —some more than 25 years old—in the Faleata Nature Reserve and Faleata Golf Course, saying it was necessary to restore electricity after recent storms damaged underground power cables.

Quite many trees were cleared to make way for the hanging power lines. It was also noted that no environmental impact assessment was done for the process. It was a nature reserve with trees that provided habitat to Samoa’s wildlife. They had not been disturbed for so many years and then suddenly they were cleared.

Despite the defence, there was degradation of the environment. Clearing the land of trees, cutting them down, or removing them in any other way, whether by human hand, by nature, or by accident, is the definition of deforestation.

The disappearance of trees and other forms of vegetation can have a variety of negative effects, including an altered climate, the development of deserts, the acceleration of soil erosion, a reduction in agricultural production, an increase in the concentration of glasshouse gases in the atmosphere, and a variety of difficulties for native populations. None of these were considered when allowing the EPC to cut through the reserve.

It is also amazing how the minister pushed the blame on the media reports. “Unfortunately, we cannot control the way journalists write their articles if the intention is to smear and portray the government as this arrogant and ignorant tyrant that is doing things without consideration for the people and the environment,” Toeolesulusulu stated.

It was a proper process that the journalist followed when asking for an interview with the minister. His office was approached and he was made aware of the questions that would be posed to him. During the interview he insisted the loss was necessary due to the power crisis, stating, “The trees, they will grow back.”

“Which is more important – we don’t have electricity? Because that’s the alternative,” Toeolesulusulu said when questioned about the impact of clearing trees to make way for power lines. “Don’t cut down the trees because we’re greenies? Okay, then no electricity.”

When asked if there was an alternative to cutting the trees, he said, “No. Either that or you run it through the golf course – but if you do that, you basically, render the whole golf course useless.” These were his words and none were twisted to suit the smear campaign as he has suggested. As the minister responsible for the environment, the questions were rightfully posed to him because cutting off so many trees impacts the environment.

The Samoa Observer will continue to hold people accountable even when it concerns the environment. The environment needs to be protected and given a voice. The notion of necessity should not be used to degrade the environment. We are living in a time when climate change’s devastating effects are being felt daily. We are supposed to be protecting the environment instead of damaging it.

Toeolesulusulu said the Planning and Urban Management Agency (PUMA) is responsible for reviewing and providing development consent. However, in times of crisis, they are still required to process the EIA.

“In terms of using the land to cut down the trees so they can put the temporary lines, yes, I had the authority to give that consent so they could run it while they're completing the development consent process,” he said.

The trees have been cut and now the focus should be on replanting. The number of trees that have been cut down should be replaced at the soonest possible opportunity. This also should be a norm whenever trees or ecosystems are disturbed for infrastructure development they should be replaced immediately.

Let us hope this incident was one of learning for everyone including the EPC and the minister. The world is where it is now because of these neglectful activities to the environment. More thought needs to go towards such an action. Otherwise, we become the biggest hypocrites when we say something else and do another.