Last Friday I was invited to plant trees with the Samoa Conservation Society to offset my carbon emissions for my trip from Australia to Samoa. I jumped at the opportunity to be out in the national park and see the ISLAND Project (Improving and Strengthening Leadership and Nature-based Development). This project seeks to address the critical issue of deforestation and degradation in ‘O le Pupu Pu’e National Park. To date, more than 6000 seedlings have been planted for forest restoration. The planting on Friday was conducted as part of the Samoa Conservation Society’s carbon offset programme, in collaboration with the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The Conservation Society is one of the members of SUNGO – Samoa’s Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations, where I am assigned for work this year. My invitation came from Faleafaga, a SUNGO part-time employee who also works for the Conservation Society.
Faleafaga picked me up at the Baha’i Temple that is near my house at 8am on Friday morning with a van full of men who had volunteered to come along and help for the day. As we drove the half an hour down the Cross Island Road, various landmarks, walking trails and native flora were pointed out to me.
We arrived at the ‘O le Pupu Pu’e National Park and immediately joined a few others who had already started planting trees. They had dug 300 holes and our job was to drop the seedlings into the hole. The project manager, Clive, showed me how to loosen the plastic sacks that protected the roots and then drop the seedlings in the hole with as much soil intact as possible. Clive manages the nursery and the team that gather seeds from native trees and grow them into seedlings.
It didn’t take long for us to plant 300 trees. Unlike planting temperate forest species, we barely had to cover the roots with soil. The team showed me how to quickly pile leaf litter around the seedlings and explained that in the tropical heat and the rain, the leaf litter quickly decomposes to feed the seedlings. They told me that it takes about 15 years for these trees to reach adulthood and asked me to come back in 15 years to see ‘my forest’. It’s something I’ll keep in mind!
Once we finished and took the obligatory team photos that are so expected at every event here, the guys and I all jumped back into the van for a quick trip to Togitogiga Waterfall. This is a lovely two level waterfall that is well maintained and is a great place to have a swim. There are changing rooms, toilets and even a shower facility there as well as fales and picnic tables. We didn’t have time for a swim unfortunately, but it’s on my list of places to go back to.
We then headed towards the coast, still in the national park and drove to the Coast Walk. The access road into the Coast Walk is accessible by 2WD cars, but since we had a 4WD van, we were able to access a track that took us further into the forest. This is some of the coast line and forest where Survivor: Samoa was filmed and as we drove slowly (due to the nature of the track), I could see why. It’s pure jungle. I can’t imagine trying to survive in it for even a day.
The coast walk is spectacular! Lava cliffs, blowholes and ocean spray. It was glorious! All of us agreed that it was stunning and the ocean spray was welcome as the day had heated up quickly and we were all dirty and sweaty from our planting expedition.
On our way back to the van, Faleafaga tested some of the young men on their plant knowledge and I enjoyed learning how some of the plants are used medicinally. They also found the vines that are traditionally used for leis and made me a rudimentary vine lei. I felt honoured to have them put it around my neck.
The team all thanked me for wanting to plant with them as it gave them an excuse to play tourist and take the Palagi (Western or white person, in this case, me) to see some of their beautiful island. I kept thanking them for sharing these beautiful places with me.
I had gotten up early in the morning to make fresh passionfruit friands for their morning tea. When I had first climbed into the van, Faleafaga’s face lit up when he saw the friands. I had made them for my first day in the office and he had loved them, so I knew they would be a hit. I had made a dozen. Faleafaga only let the guys have one each and he kept the rest for himself! If I had realised that was going to happen, I would have made more! I will know for next time! They all enjoyed what them and thanked me enthusiastically.
It was a great day out and I felt good about offsetting my carbon emissions. The trees are planted right next to the Main South Coast Road and each time I drive past, I will send them a bit of love to help them grow. And I will just need to come back in 15 years to see how ‘my’ little forest turns out.
Believing in Me 
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