A memorial garden at Vailima that is currently home to threatened endemic plant species will be expanded, says the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Currently the Dr. Art Whistler Memorial Garden, which is dedicated to the late botanist and is located in the Vailima botanical gardens, is home to eight threatened plant species that are endemic to Samoa.

The C.E.O. of the Ministry, Frances Debra Brown-Reupena credited the Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S.) for its help with the upkeep of the memorial garden and added that the area of the total reserve is 459 acres.

"Vailima [botanical gardens] is doing well, thanks to James Atherton and Samoa Conservation Society, so now we are going to expand the botanical garden,” Mrs Brown-Reupena said in an interview with the Samoa Observer. “The total area of the reserve is 459 acres – that covers the whole mountain area as well.

"The botanical  garden is where people will go to learn that the species are endemic to Samoa and also a threshold of safety and longevity for the threatened plants.

"People can now walk across where the late Dr Art Whistler's memorial garden is at, though small with rock platforms, it is beautifully designed by Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale.”

Information centres were set up under the auspices of the Ministry, with the C.E.O. making reference to the ones in Togitogiga and Asau, while emphasising that they are critical to raising awareness on endemic plant species in Samoa.

“We also have Togitogiga and Asau information centres that need revival,” added Mrs Brown-Reupena. “And we have asked James Atherton to help us through his networking to enable the same kind of exhibit for Asau and thus for Savai’i schools to visit and learn from.”

The Ministry C.E.O. then acknowledged the contribution of the S.C.S. and community-based organisations, such as Falese'ela Environment Protection Society as well as the district’s communities who help to “fine-tune” a lot of the work that is undertaken by the M.N.R.E.

Mr Atherton, in an interview with the Samoa Observer, said the botanical gardens at Vailima is currently only 13 acres but the plan is to expand it in phases.

“The garden will be designed in zones, so each zone will be a different ‘theme’ or environment type and we will try to plant as many threatened plants in its natural zone as possible,” he said.

Making reference to his organisation’s partnership with the Ministry, the S.C.S. President said the gardens are owned and run by the M.N.R.E. and the S.C.S. is only assisting with its development.

"The gardens are owned and run by M.N.R.E. while in partnership with them, the Samoa Conservation Society is assisting with development of the gardens, along with rare plants collection and conservation," he said.

Mr Atherton also said 13 acres is sufficient land for the society to work on in terms of conservation of rare endemic plants.