Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster has defended the government’s 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.

In a statement on the Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Lands Facebook page addressing the issue, the minister also criticised the media coverage of the decision, particularly an article in the Samoa Observer published on April 2.

“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.

The damage to the underground cable, which runs from the Fiaga Power Station to the Tuanaimato electricity distribution centre, left the Electric Power Corporation (EPC) with little choice but to install overhead lines, he further stated. 

“The temporary alternative therefore was to install overhead powerlines that unfortunately have to go through the current Tuanaimato Nature Reserve and part of the Faleata golf course,” he stated. “This meant that to ensure the powerlines will not be affected, some trees needed to be cut down.”

“Although the trees that are over 25 years old were cut down, they will be replaced with new trees,” he said. “More importantly, the service on the provision of electricity can be returned to normal sooner rather than later.”

The minister stated that the EPC had received government approval for the work but was still required to conduct a Preliminary Environmental Assessment Report to minimize environmental impact. He also emphasized the government’s commitment to conservation, citing Samoa’s ongoing national tree-planting initiative.

“To allude to the notion that we are cutting down trees indiscriminately or without care for the environment is stretching the truth to suit the journalists’ intention,” he stated.

The minister maintained that the government remains committed to protecting Samoa’s biodiversity while balancing infrastructure needs.