The Samoa Meteorological Service (SMS) is reviving efforts to integrate traditional knowledge into climate and weather forecasting with support from the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac) Phase 3 project implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

A three-day workshop in February aimed at strengthening the understanding of SMS climate and weather officers on traditional knowledge processes and protocols for climate and weather.

With support from the COSPPac3 project, SMS hopes to revive its traditional knowledge programme. Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) of the Meteorology Division, Afaese Luteru Tauvale, said there have long been connections between traditional knowledge indicators and scientific understanding of changing climate and weather patterns.

“Even though we now have access to state-of-the-art technologies and the latest science, it is important that we also continue to use traditional knowledge indicators that were used by our forefathers,” he said.

Traditional knowledge indicators are natural signs and signals in the environment that local communities have learned to interpret over generations to understand environmental changes or anticipate weather conditions. 

“There are many indicators that have been used by farmers and fishermen for many years, passed down from generation to generation, that can be backed by science. An example of this is the observed behaviour of the frigate bird or the ‘atafa, which is often said to be an indicator of strong winds,” Afaese said.

He said reviving the programme is part of a long-term vision to strengthen early warning systems by combining traditional knowledge with scientific forecasting.

Siosinamele Lui, COSPPac 3 Traditional knowledge adviser, said one challenge facing Pacific meteorological services is the limited uptake of warnings by communities.

“When the Met Service issues forecasts or warnings, not everyone can contextualise the information or understand the terminologies that are being used,” Lui said.

“Traditional knowledge was introduced towards the end of the first phase of COSPPac, during a time when a lot of extreme weather events were occurring, and we recognised that the NMHSs were issuing warnings, but people were not responding in time,” she added.

Kotoni Fa’asau, principal scientific officer, said traditional knowledge can make climate information easier to communicate.

“As a seasonal forecast scientist, traditional knowledge simplifies the methodologies that we use to generate climate outlooks,” he said.

“From my experience in communicating these outlooks to the community, we get more attention and response when we use traditional knowledge in our communications."