One of the country’s top resorts has thrown its support behind a coral reef restoration project and highlighted the benefits of ecotourism to the country.

The Taumeasina Island Resort General Manager, Tuiataga Nathan Bucknall, told the Samoa Observer on Thursday that they support a project to restore coral reefs led by local environmentalist Ferron Fruean.

"A hundred percent support for this kind of work, we will continue our partnership with Ferron," Tuiataga told the Samoa Observer. 

"Samoa has been promoting ecotourism for many years now and Taumeasina Island Resort is privileged to be part of such projects.  

“It is a great learning activity for the community and of course Taumeasina's guests will only benefit from more coral around our small island.” 

Mr. Fruean, the director of non-profit organisation Artificial Reefs, runs an outreach interactive session with National University of Samoa (NUS) students at Taumeasina Island Resort's beachfront. 

He hopes to convert what initially was a trial-and-error research into growing coral gardens, in order to create an ecotourism tour, which will add flavour to the experiences of tourists coming to Samoa. 

"The kids really enjoyed their time at Taumeasina doing the coral nursery and paddling out and getting swept away by the strong winds and current yesterday.

"This is turning into the beginning of ecotourism, a climate change activity that would be of interest to Taumeasina Island Resort clients once borders open up next month.” 

The partnership between the resort and the non-profit organisation has seen the environmentalist getting support from the business.

"We are able to use the kayaks and snorkel when we come here and I think it is also good for the students and others who are interested to learn of coral restoration that this resort is open to ideas of helping Samoa rescue our environmental perils," Mr. Fruean said. 

Third-year NUS students, who major in environmental studies, shared their testimonies as participants in the project with this newspaper.

Lorenzo Pelenato said that as a small island nation in an era of global warming Samoans should prioritise the environment as changes continue to occur. 

"I feel that my current studies majoring in the environment is very important to the future and I hope that I will be of some use to Samoa when I graduate," he said. 

"I live in Moata'a and my family considered an inland shelter but today we are right on the beach due to soil erosion. 

“So my grandfather used to say that he used to walk to the beach and it was quite a distance from our house, it is soil erosion because there is no sand.

"My advice for children is to get to know your land and environment better so you can see the changes.”

Joshua Saaga of Vaimoso and Malua said that as far as the restoration of coral reefs go he is proud to be part of the project. 

"Tourism is so important to us so we need to keep the beaches healthy. If coral dies, then fish die, and the cycle continues. 

“My grandmother always talks about how there were a lot of fish before but we don't want to be the generation that tells our kids there's no more fish.” 

According to Mr. Saaga, young people should do what they are passionate about and keeping the island beautiful and safe is our responsibility.

"Keep our island beautiful and safe for the future generations, not just ours," he said. 

For Ramona Sio of Solosolo the restoration of coral reefs is important because few people are working to rescue marine life. 

"Learning from Ferron what is happening out there is great. Their last project from two years ago that the coral actually grows if we make nurseries then we are able to make a change,” she said. 

“It will have a big impact in the next few years.”

Ms. Sio said that she noticed a lot of coral bleaching and overfishing in the village as well as sand-mining which goes unchecked. 

As for Evangal Eserashe she is of the view that a university degree is not necessary to care for the environment. 

"We can do our part, no matter if we do not have a degree to care for the environment. Many villages can contribute by doing coral restoration, or other things that we each know is good for the environment.”