Samoa has set her sights on planting three million trees, and possibly more, to protect the environment and fight back against the adverse impact of climate change.

As of 2020, more than 2 million trees had been planted by school children, community based groups, N.G.Os, sports people and other relevant stakeholders. 

This time, the C.E.O of the M.N.R.E, Frances Brown Reupena, said the next campaign will have a new target.

"In the upcoming campaign, we now have apt experience and capacity to raise the number to three million trees," she said.

 "The project is a continuation from the two million trees campaign that was successfully achieved by the Ministry and its stakeholders, in 2020."

The new target is expected to be launched in March.

"The target is to plant three million trees in the span of six years after launching on the third week of March this year," said the C.E.O

The chief executive officer also highlighted the government's commitment to cut emissions due to the adverse effects of climate change.

"One of the government's priority areas in the environment has to do with reducing carbon emissions," she said. "To help and join the global fight Samoa has been one of the leaders in tree planting.  This is despite the fact that Samoa’s GHG emissions are negligible by global standards."

The Ministry will again hope to work with members of the public and local communities to achieve the new planned target.

"We want to give the implementation of the campaign to the local committees. That way, they are empowered to own, nurture and continue to restore the environment through tree planting."