Conservation and proper use of soil and its resources was the topic of the day as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment met with women's committees and village chiefs.

A consultation workshop at the EFKS Youth Hall in Sogi was held to discuss the regulation of soil and land resource developments in commemoration of the National Environment Week program.

The ultimate objectives were to promote sustainable land management strategies and tools that ensure the prudent use, acquisition, and disposal of land as a limited resource in addition to ensuring the long-term preservation and utilisation of soil resources.

The Ministry provided the Soil Resources Management Bill which aims to control practices and activities regarding the use, development, and exploitation of soil resources in order to ensure the sustainable use and management of Samoa's soil resources.

These practices and activities include soil extraction, reclamation of land and coastal seas, slope and mountain cultivation, logging forestry, as well as road and infrastructure development which involves laying of drainage pipes.

As part of the program for sustainable management and conservation of soil resources in the villages, bylaws were also discussed. These include prohibitions on the removal of earth from water sources, sand from beaches and waterfronts, mountain quarrying, and the removal of rocks from other soil resources.

Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Land Management Division within the MNRE, Manumaleuga Felisita Ikenasio Heather said the initiative was more of an educational tool that will assist communities in Samoa in learning about environmental challenges.

She said the program will place a special emphasis on soil resources because they are crucial to Samoa and the livelihoods of its people.

"The goal of this is to raise awareness, and we aim to educate leaders in the community about the advantages of conservation efforts and the potential consequences of their actions on the environment," she said.

“It will be too late if we do not take action right away, and community action is where it all begins. With our own surroundings and environment serving as models, I sincerely think that this program will be beneficial to our people as an experimental education.”

According to the Ministry, managing soil resources sustainably and achieving the goals of conserving soil, halting soil erosion, and resolving land degradation are the general responsibilities of landowners, occupiers, and users.