Flash floods in Samoa will continue to intensify as climate change continues to impact the country’s weather patterns, says two environmentalists.

Samoa Conservation Society Executive Board Member, Faleafaga Toni Tipama'a, told the Samoa Observer in an interview on Thursday that floods are intensifying and based on his own observation the impact of flooding was not that bad as it is today.

"So as you know looking from an environmentalist point of view, this is a concern for me especially with the people who are very close to waterways," Faleafaga said, while emphasising the effects that flooding could have on families living in low-lying areas. "I think relocation is the best option, but at the same time you know you don’t want to lose your land.”

He then pointed to the Vaisigano area, where he says the waterways are being opened wider with the incoming tide from the ocean.

"Just imagine if the water just overflows, you know, go beyond those walls. 

“Engineers know what they are doing so if that's what they think is the best solution, that's how it is, but the way I see it for the Apia area, is it's not going to get any better.”

When asked if the solution lies at the water catchment areas, he concurred and explained that the catchment areas should be well managed and planned, and should be taken up by those who live close to it. 

He then emphasised the need to plant more trees instead of cutting them down and said the people should be aware and properly informed of weather changes and the impacts of climate change.  

Former MP and environmentalist Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster shared similar sentiments to Faleafaga, connecting climate change to the increasing intensity of flooding, which he says will worsen in the future. 

He blamed the clearing of trees in the higher elevation areas of Upolu for the increasing intensity of flash floods, and used as an example flooding in Faleata, which he claims occurred due to the loss of forest in Tanumapua and Fiamoe where the rivers originate.

With the clearing of large tracts of land and the loss of forests, Toeolesulusulu said the water flow from the rain is not absorbed by trees and the soil, which are contributing factors in the rise in flash floods. 

The impact of human activity on the environment is widespread that Toeolesulusulu says whenever there is a cyclone it destroys the forest, consequently there is a lot of water runoff due to the less forested areas.

Discussing the effects of a meandering versus a straight flowing river, he said a meandering river slows the flow of water, though rivers with a straight flow can create “flushes” which can impact communities living in the low-lying areas. 

"There are different options that can be looked at but the safest and the best option is in the uplands, the watershed areas that need to be protected and replanted," he said. 

Toeolesulusulu said that has to be a priority and a lot of Government resources need to be put into protecting it.

"Well let’s say there are what we call 50 year floods, 20 year floods and 100 year floods,” he said in an interview. “From what I have seen in the floods, what we used to estimate as 20 and 50 year floods we are now getting to become 10 year floods.”

Looking ahead, he said as the temperatures get warmer, there will be more evaporation of the sea thus creating more heavy rain and cyclones.

Nevertheless Toeolesulusulu says the best solution is at the "top" and the solution for downstream is for people to relocate, as maps have already been designed to identify flood production prone areas.

He added that there has already been plans designed such as the Coastal Infrastructure Management Plan and Coastal Community Integrated Management Plan which districts signed up to assess the best options for those areas. 

“The plans are there, we've got the plans on how to resolve these issues,” he added. 

He emphasised the need for the Government to be firm with families and finance and explore  possible options available.