A number of sites in Samoa with the potential to be listed as part of the country’s natural heritage will need funding and resources according to experts.

Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S.) President James Atherton told the Samoa Observer on Monday that they are committed to assisting communities identify areas that could potentially become heritage listings. 

He said one example is in Falealupo where the S.C.S. is assisting with surveying to build another trail for the canopy walk as the old one has been closed down.

According to Mr Atherton, one of their S.C.S. staff members, Faleafaga Toni Topamaa has gone to Falealupo to discuss establishing the canopy trail with the village, and is also looking into rare plant nurseries at Aopo and Falealupo.

"We are a community focused organisation, so we do work to empower communities to take ownership of their own environment, their natural and cultural sites," he said. 

Mr Atherton also said funding for the various projects is a challenge but they realise that they have to lobby for funding every year in order to get their programs to run effectively. 

“We are finding that we are always writing proposals for grants and it is a hard job because most donors don't go for long term projects,” he said. “Some of the donors only run 6 months projects and we have to adhere to those timelines.”

The ideal arrangement is to have long-term grants, according to the S.C.S. President, as he says environment work is a continual process especially when dealing with communities. 

Mr Atherton said the last time they went to Falealupo, the villagers were so happy to see them.

“They thought that we would not be back so soon to continue with our endemic plants workshops, but we had funding for it so they got the training required," he said.

A caretaker of the Afu Aa'u waterfalls, when asked by Samoa Observer how much income they generate from the preservation of the natural waterfall site, he said that the village does not make much money.

"We used to get paid about $100 tala a week if we were rostered to look after the waterfall compound but that was before the shut down,” he said. “Now we just come to clean up with my wife and sons.”

Aopo, Letui, Fagae'e and Sasina and the highest point in Savai’i, Mt Silisili make up villages that comprise the largest cloud forest of tropical Polynesia. But even that project is also underfunded with Aopo being the only community that suggested that the site be considered for community preservation. 

The Vanu River canyon lies northwest of Gataivai and Sili and goes as high as 500 metres with the Sinaloa waterfall dropping some 200 metres. The canyon in Savai’i is twice the height of Upolu’s deepest canyon on the Mulivai Fagatoloa river which flows out at Salani. The canyon and Sinaloa waterfall remain two of Samoa’s untapped tourism jewels. There were several villages in the area at one time according to old maps held in the Alexander Turnbull Library in New Zealand. 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment C.E.O. Frances Brown Reupena told the Samoa Observer in an interview last Friday that the sites are potential heritage sites.

She also highlighted the role of the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) in the preservation of heritage sites.

"The M.N.R.E. is responsible for natural heritage (environment) while the M.E.S.C. is responsible for the cultural aspect of Samoa’s National Heritage Policy," she said.