There is so much of Samoa to be proud of and the Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S.) with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) are working hard to bring these natural wonders to light. 

One of these natural wonders is the size of Samoa's tropical rainforest with the S.C.S. President James Atherton pointing out that Samoa has the largest tropical rainforest in Polynesia. 

"Samoa has the biggest tropical rainforest in tropical Polynesia, even compared to Hawaii which is many times bigger than Samoa," Mr. Atherton said. "This rainforest is located in central Savai which is the lungs of Samoa."

According to Mr. Atherton, the central rainforest of Savai'i, spanning an area of 727 km on the big island, is the largest continuous patch of rainforest in Polynesia and is home to many of Samoa's endemic native species, many of which are threatened or near extinction.

In his guide on Samoa’s natural Heritage, he said the country has a tropical climate, without any marked seasonal variations typical in temperate countries. Instead, it usually experiences moderate rainfall seasonality and spatial variability in rainfall related to elevation and location on the island.

The annual rainfall in Samoa ranges from around 2,500 mm in the driest areas in northwest Savai'i to over 6,000 mm in the mountains on both main islands. The main rainy season is from November to April, although heavy rain may fall in any month.

While the average annual temperature is 26.5 degrees Celsius with a daily range at sea level from 23 to 30 degrees Celsius. There is a marked temperature lapse rate of 1 degree Celsius drop for every 140 to 160m increase in elevation.

Last month a 400-metre natural trail under the canopy of the tropical rainforest was opened by Falealupo villagers in Savai'i. The work was funded by New Zealand's Department of Conservation with the S.C.S. staff also assisting the villagers. The SCS said in a post on its social media page that the trail starts at a threatened plant nursery on the main road to Falealupo Tai and features interpretive panels on many of the trees in the reserve.