NEWSPAGE 09 July
2010

(Photo: Pacific Underground)

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

Pacific Plan Action Committee meets

Cabinet has approved the attendance by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Faalavaau Perina Sila of two meetings to be held in Fiji, on the 12th - 14th July 2010 and the 15th - 16th July 2010.

The Pacific Plan Action Committee will meet first to discuss different Programs scheduled by Leaders of the Pacific to improve the economy, promote health and joint efforts by the Pacific countries. These Regional Programs include:

• Fisheries;
• Climate Change;
• Boarder Control;
• Purchasing of Petroleum Products;
• Education;
• Health;
• Trading; and,
• Energy.

The Second meeting, which will be held on the 15th - 16th July 2010 for the Forum Officials Committee will look at Programs under the Forum Secretariat.


Association of Pasifika Staff in Tertiary Eduation invites Minister

Cabinet has approved travel of the Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa, to attend the Association of Pasifika Staff in Tertiary Education’s (APSTE) annual conference which will be held in Christchurch New Zealand, from the 7th - 9th July 2010.

The Conference’s main objective is to work collaboratively to address Pasifika student’s participation, retention and success in Tertiary Education in Aotearoa. The Hon. Minister will be the Keynote Speaker for the Conference.


Financial Assistance for Samoa Golf Incorporated

Cabinet has approved financial assistance of $20,000.00 for the Samoa Golf Incorporated to assist them in preparations for the Samoa Masters International Golf Tournaments, to be held at Le Penina Golf Course at Mulifanua from the 7th - 10th July 2010.

The Golfers which will participate in this tournament will be from around Asia, Oceania Region and Samoa. This tournament will be broadcasted on a special program on the Australian Television, which is a good opportunity for publicity of our country.
 

(Photo: Archaeological Consultants of the Pacific)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Archaeologists take first step in developing Heritage Trail system
Source: Samoa News

A team of six archaeologists from the firm Archaeological Consultants of the Pacific (ACP) has begun work on a project which hopes to “uncover” the past as well as promote the future of tourism in our islands.

They are here under the sponsorship and direction of the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office (ASHPO) and their work is part of an ongoing effort by ASHPO to survey and inventory all archaeological and historic properties in American Samoa.

It will be their task to identify and map the locations of archaeological and historic sites in the mountains above Fagatogo, Utulei, and Fagaalu.

The project was initiated through a House resolution introduced earlier this year by Fagatogo lawmaker Maugaoali’i Le’apai Sipa Anoa’i.

In his resolution, the Fagatogo faipule called on the governor to designate the American Samoa Visitors Bureau and the Historical Preservation Office to take the lead in a two -phase project. The first part of the project would be the development of a Trail System that runs through the Fagatogo, Utulei and Faga’alu mountains—and it will begin with the work of these archaeologists.

The second part of the project is even more ambitious, as it involves restoring the Aerial Tramway Cable Car, whose panoramic view of Pago Pago harbor and the natural beauty of the island has long been a part of every good tourism plan.

Maugaoali’i said that the resolution unanimously passed the House and the Governor’s Office has responded quickly by engaging the Historic Preservation Office as well as the National Park.

According to Historic Preservation Officer David Herdrich, the survey will cover approximately 200 acres of mountain ridge tops and has the potential to identify a wide range of sites.

Possible sites that may be found include star mounds (tia seu lupe), prehistoric basalt stone quarries, prehistoric villages, World War II features such as gun emplacements, prehistoric fortifications, and prehistoric and historic trails.

Maugaoali’i stated, “At this point we’re all very excited about this because the ground work is already in progress with the work ACP is doing at the present time. He noted that “the success or failure of the proposed project is going to depend largely on the assistance from our local community, in particular the residents of Fagatogo, Utulei, and Faga’alu, as well as the American Samoa Government”.

Once the design for a heritage trail system is developed, Maugaolai’i said, he will then call on the three respective villages to partner with the government to provide the labor to build the trail.

In addition to the six archaeologists, three local workers — one from each of the villages involved in the survey — are assisting the archaeologists with the field work. They will act as guides and interpreters, with a schedule being carried out over a four week period.

The survey, which began on June 11 last month, is scheduled to finish on July 11, 2010.

HPO Herdrich told Samoa News, “I’m excited about the survey because a large number of historic sites may be discovered — and it will provide a baseline of information to develop a Heritage Tourism Trail system that can benefit the local economy.”

Herdrich explained that, “once we know where the historic sites and historic trails are located, we have a commitment from the National Park of American Samoa to assist in designing a trail system so tourists and local people can go hiking and visit interesting historic sites.”

During a recent power point presentation at the Fono by the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, they explained that of their main focuses is to develop walking trails where tourist and locals can enjoy the natural beauty and historic sites of our island.

ASVB is also looking forward to restoration of the Ariel Tramway, which was once was the iconic landmark for American Samoa tourism.

Representative Maugaoali’i noted, “With the current trend of lost jobs and the downturn of our economy, we have to look at other ideas and options to stimulate our economy, and tourism is untouched in many respects. We have a responsibility to the people of this territory to do what we can to help.

This is just one idea that I believe is attainable with a little effort from our village communities and the government. David Herdrich and his office at ASHPO have taken the first step by contracting ACP to do the historic site survey.”

Working also with the Office of Samoan Affairs, the Pulenuu and guides from Fagatogo, Utulei and Faga’alu will certainly help expedite the survey said Maugaoali’i.

Photo Caption: A team of six archaeologists from the firm Archaeological Consultants of the Pacific (ACP) has begun work on a project which hopes to “uncover” the past as well as promote the future of tourism in our islands. (L to R) Rep. Maugaoali’i Anoa’i with visiting archaeologists Bill Kendig, Amira Ainis, Sany Ireland, Ephraim McDowell, Mike O’Shaughnessy, and Representative Vailoata Amituana’i (Not shown- archaeologist Jake O’Callagahan).
 

FIJI: Pacific Youth in Agriculture Strategy consultation
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

A consultation on the Pacific Youth in Agriculture Strategy was held yesterday (July 08, 2010) at Studio 6 Conference Room in Suva. The public meeting in Fiji kicks off a 3-week Pacific wide consultation to seek views from relevant stakeholders on the recommendations made to increase youth participation in agriculture in the Pacific.

Pacific youth comprise about 20% of the total population of Pacific Island countries and territories and their proportion is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.2%. This rapid rise in the number of young people will increase demands for essential social services such as education and health, and for employment opportunities.

Many young people in the region already struggle to find formal employment when they leave the education system. Agriculture has often been regarded as a fall-back option - something to do if you don’t find anything else. But with high-levels of youth unemployment, increasing pressure on urban areas and high food import bills should we not be doing more to encourage, support and empower our young people to realise the full potential of a career in agriculture? And in the process help to improve food security, livelihood opportunities in rural areas and reduce pressure on urban areas.

The purpose of the youth in agriculture strategy is to recommend actions and initiatives that all stakeholders can pursue to encourage the active engagement of youth in agriculture across the region and the development of young agricultural entrepreneurs. We aim to present the Youth in Agriculture Strategy at the next Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (HOAFS) meeting in September 2010 and the Ministers of Youth in October 2010 for their endorsement and to take back and adapt to the national level.

As part of the strategy development process, sessions on youth in agriculture were held at the Pacific Youth Festival in 2009 and field work was conducted in three countries (Fiji, Kiribati and Tonga) to inform the strategy recommendations. This public consultation provides an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide their views on the issue and recommended actions. It also aims to further collect examples of successful case studies of youth in agriculture with good potential for replication.

The draft strategy and a response form to provide comments are available online at:
http://www.spc.int/lrd/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=313&Itemid=130
 

(Photo: New Zealand Defence Force)

TUVALU: NZ Defence Force arrives in Tuvalu for Pacific relief exercise
Source: New Zealand Defence Force Press Release

Three hundred and fifty New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are arriving this week in Tuvalu as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight.

Exercise Tropic Twilight is an annual exercise to a Pacific nation which is used to rehearse and improve the ability of the NZDF to respond to disasters within the South Pacific Region.

The exercise is also used as a means to deliver and support the NZAID South Pacific development programme by completing numerous medical, engineering and development tasks on the Island.

“Our people take great pride in being able to give something back to our Pacific Island neighbours. Exercise Tropic Twilight is a good opportunity for us to enhance cooperation and relationships in the Pacific,” says Lieutenant Colonel Todd Hart, Senior National Officer for the Exercise.

The large NZDF contingent deployed to Tuvalu include the Multi Role Vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY and crew, Air Force C-130 Hercules, Army Engineers, Army Medics and support personnel. Also taking part in the exercise is a Puma Helicopter and support crew courtesy of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (Forces Armees De La Nouvelle-Caledonie - FANC).

“The NZDF trains for a wide spectrum of operational environments, from providing humanitarian aid like we're demonstrating here in Tuvalu, right up to preparing for conventional combat situations,” says Lt Col Hart.

“We need to train across this spectrum because while you can scale down the skill set required to conduct Humanitarian and Disaster Relief operations, it is not as easy to scale up.”

Exercise Tropic Twilight provides an excellent opportunity to exercise all three services of the NZDF in conjunction with other Government and Non-Government agencies alongside FANC who also have regional responsibilities.

The exercise is scheduled to conclude on the 17 July with all NZ forces returned when HMNZS CANTERBURY arrives back in Auckland on the 23rd of July.

Photo Caption: HMNZS CANTERBURY in Tuvalu for Pacific Relief exercise.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Important Bird Areas in the Pacific region identified
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

A quarter of the World’s critically endangered birds hovering on extinction are from the Pacific region, the challenge now is to do everything possible to save endangered Pacific bird species before it is too late.

During the thirteenth meeting of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation in Apia this week, BirdLife International presented a compendium of Important Bird Areas in the Pacific, to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Palau, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Samoa are the SPREP members featured in the compendium with studies now underway to highlight the Important Bird Areas in the Cook Islands.

Important Bird Area’s (IBA) are determined by a number of international criteria.

“It means that a site in Samoa where we have completed the IBA study is just as globally significant as a site in the Ukraine or Nepal,” said Don Stewart, the Director of Bird Life International’s Pacific Programme.

“This is just the first stage in doing something to address the crisis facing the birds and biodiversity, the second stage is to use those sites that are demonstrated to be vital for bird and biodiversity conservation to actually start conservation action on the ground.”

The compendium of Important Bird Areas for seven of the SPREP member countries has taken over four years to complete. The evaluation was carried out with the non government organisation partners of BirdLife International in the different countries however in the absence of an NGO partner there were desk based research literature studies.

BirdLife International and SPREP have a Memorandum of Understanding to assist bird conservation in the Pacific region.

“SPREP is pleased that this IBA compendium is completed and now available to assist and guide bird conservation programmes in the Pacific to recover the population of birds that are on the verge of becoming extinct. This marks another milestone achievement in the partnership between SPREP and the BirdLife International,” said David Sheppard the Director of SPREP.

20 IBA’s were identified in Fiji, Samoa has eight and Australia has 400 Important Bird Area’s. Altogether there are 190 birds on the critically endangered list, of which 44 are in the Pacific region. The Fiji Petrel and the Red-throated Lorikeet are two species from Fiji that are close to extinction, in the Solomon Islands the Makira Moorhen and the Beck’s Petrel are named on the critically endangered bird list.

Now that BirdLife International has highlighted some of the important bird areas in the Pacific region, work is underway to assist the formation of conservation areas to help the bird numbers grow.

“We try to encourage a form of protected statues for these IBA’s as they don’t have any legal status but are a powerful tool for encouraging conservation areas and establishing protected areas,” explained Stewart.

“There are a number of challenges to doing this in the Pacific which are different from other places in the world. One of them is the nature of land ownership which is communally owned so communities must get behind conserving our biodiversity and work with Governments to help ensure protected areas.”

“This compendium is all aimed at saving what is left before it is gone.”

BirdLife International is a member to the charter of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation. The thirteenth meeting of the PIRT is held in Samoa from 5 to 9 July, hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

Photo Caption: (L-R) Mr. David Sheppard (SPREP), Mr. Don Stewart (BirdLife International).