The Sosaiete Faasao o Samoa/Samoa Conservation Society (SFS) has strengthened its ongoing efforts to protect the nation's rare plant species by expanding its conservation initiatives at the Malololelei Nature Reserve. 

SFS recently gifted rare native seedlings, including Alectryon samoensis and Taipoipo (Genistoma rupestre), to help establish a montane forest garden in the reserve.

SFS in partnership with Tuiaopo Andrew Ah Liki and his family, has been using the reserve as a sanctuary for endangered flora, supporting conservation efforts such as rare plant preservation, rodent management, and the release of an injured dove.

“By growing these rare plants at Malololelei, we are creating a safe haven that ensures their survival in case of threats to their native habitats,” said Aloma Black, Threatened Species Conservation Coordinator at the Samoa Conservation Society. “This is the first time that these two species have ever been planted at Malololelei to my knowledge.”

Malololelei Nature Reserve, situated 600 meters above sea level, provides an ideal refuge for these species to grow outside their original habitats. Conservationists say planting in alternative locations safeguards biodiversity and enhances species' resilience against potential environmental disasters.

The Alectryon samoensis tree, which thrives between 300 and 1,300 meters in elevation, was grown from seeds collected during a field expedition in July 2024 on the slopes of Mt. Silisili. Meanwhile, the Taipoipo seedling, native to forests from near sea level up to 1,600 meters, was sourced from the Mata o Le Afi campsite before the Mt. Silisili summit during a February 2023 field survey.

Black also highlighted the importance of protecting Samoa’s rare and endemic flora, stating, “About 30 per cent of Samoa’s flora is only found in Samoa. If we don’t look after them, who else is going to? If Samoa loses these plants, then the whole world loses them.”

Encouraging environmental stewardship, Black added, “We should all be looking after our environment and our biodiversity. We’ve been entrusted with this land to care for it. We are all guardians of Samoa, and that includes our birds, our plants, and our butterflies.”

Black emphasised the importance of safeguarding these species through reinforcement planting, also known as ex-situ conservation. “If there is an environmental disaster that comes and wipes out the species where they are normally found, we could lose them forever,” she explained. “By planting them in an alternative location, we ensure that if that event does happen, we can go back and reintroduce them to their natural habitat.”

SFS collaborates with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and local village communities to monitor and protect species. According to Black, they work with Tuiaopo’s family and MNRE at Malololelei Nature Reserve and support forest restoration in villages like Falealupo, Uafato, Moamoa, and Magaigi. This involves regular fieldwork to track plant growth, health, and potential threats like weed growth.

SFS and its partners hope to expand the initiative by introducing more rare montane species to the reserve in the future. They have also supported the Peace Garden at the National University of Samoa and aim to develop more conservation gardens across Samoa to protect the country's rich biodiversity.