Development of forest health surveillance systems for south Pacific countries and Australia: country report Samoa
2003. Development of forest health surveillance systems for south Pacific countries and Australia: country report Samoa. Pages 1-7. In Iosua F and Peseta O: Pacific Forest Health Workshop. Suva. 31 March - 3 April, 2003
Samoa's Indigenous merchantable forests are declining rapidly and the plantation forests (severely damaged by cyclones Ofa and Val in 1990 and 1991 respectively) are now not able to immediately replace the indigenous reserve as the main source of domestic sawn timber and wood. This has prompted Samoa's Forestry Division to review and formulate a National Forest Policy which will set in place strategies to address the urgent issues of resource management. The Samoa's forests are managed in accordance with its National Forest Policy which was reviewed 1994, and such was adjusted with the continuing changes in overall Government policy as well drawing government attention to the underlying importance of the Samoan Forest Resource for the present and future societies. The National Forest Policy is guided by principles as (i) Optimal and Sustainable Use, (ii) Forest Protection, (iii) Environmental Protection, (iv) Individual and Collective Responsibilities and (v) Economic Development. The various Acts and Regulations provide the Forestry with mandatory status relating to the management of the forest resource of Samoa.